FINANCIAL AID FOR STUDENTS IN THE MASTER'S IN STATISTIC PROGRAM

FINANCIAL AID FOR STUDENTS IN THE MASTER'S IN STATISTIC PROGRAM (University of Texas at Austin)

The Master's in Statistics Program is considered a professional program. Students in professional programs are generally expected to provide their own financial support. Therefore financial aid for students in this program is limited. It includes the following forms of aid:

Teaching Assistantships in the Mathematics Department:

In most years, a small number of Teaching Assistantships in the Mathematics Department is reserved for students in the Statistics Program. In years when some TA positions are reserved for statistics students, they are awarded based on a ranking given by the Statistics Graduate Advisor. This ranking is based on academic performance, oral English ability, and (in the case of continuing students) past performance as a TA. Students not initially offered TA positions may be put on a waiting list if they are qualified to be a TA. It is usually not possible to offer TA positions to all students on the waiting list.

Students who wish to be considered for a Teaching Assistantship should apply before January 15 to be considered for the ranking for the following Fall semester. New students can do this in the appropriate place on the application for admission. Continuing students should contact the Statistics Graduate Advisor.

The Master's in Statistics Program normally takes two years or less to complete. Therefore students should not expect to receive a TA position beyond their second year in the program.

International Students are required to pass (fully, not just conditionally) an International TA Oral English exam given by the Graduate School before the Mathematics Department will consider them for a TA position with student contact. Thus international students will normally not be recommended as TA's unless there is evidence that they can pass the TA Oral English exam. In particular, international students who are applying from outside the U.S. will not be considered for financial aid unless they have attended an English-speaking college or university. However, passing the oral TA exam is not sufficient to receive a TA position. Unless the math department has already offered a TA position, the student is responsible for the fee for taking the oral TA exam. Appeals to take the exam a second time will not be granted except in very unusual circumstances (for example, if a student who was generally regarded by faculty members as proficient in oral English failed the exam because of emergency dental surgery the day of the exam.)

The math department does not hire statistics graduate students as graders except through the TA positions discussed above.

Division of Statistics and Scientific Computing Graduate Student Fellows Program

This program was instituted in Fall, 2007. See their web page for more information, including qualifications and application procedures.

Scholarships and fellowships:

These usually have restrictions on who is eligible. The following are the only ones known to the graduate advisor at the time of this writing:

South Texas Graduate Fellowship. Restricted to graduates of public universities in South Texas (including San Antonio).
Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans. Restricted to permanent residents of the US, naturalized citizens, and children of naturalized citizens.

Student loans:

Restricted to U.S. citizens or permanent residents. For more information, see http://finaid.utexas.edu/sources/loans/index.html

Other Employment Possibilities:

Occasionally students are able to obtain a TA-ship, Research Assistantship, or other position in another department or facility on campus, or an internship with a local company. These possibilities need to be pursued on an individual basis and will depend on the individual student's qualifications. Qualifications may involve English and/or computer proficiency.

1. Employment in an approved on-campus position for a total of at least 20 hours per week has the added benefit of reduction in tuition to in-state levels. Examples of on-campus jobs which might occasionally be open to statistics students include:

Applied Research Laboratories (U.S. Citizens only)
Tutoring at the UT Learning Center (applicants must have at least one semester at UT Austin)
TA in the Department of Sociology; Department of Information, Risk, and Operations Management (in the McCombs School of Business); Division of Biological Sciences; or other department (especially one in which you have some background and/or which teaches Introductory Statistics courses)
Graduate Research Assistant in the Bureau of Business Research
National Center for Educational Accountability
Tutor for the Athletic Department (Preference to students with excellent English and ability to tutor in two or three subjects.)
The Hire A Longhorn website is a resource for students seeking part-time jobs. Look under Job Bank, and also (on the Quick Links menu) Other Resources.
See the Graduate School's Money Matters website for other possible leads.

2. Off-campus internships need to be arranged by the individual student. Not all internships are paid. International students' visas usually preclude an off-campus internship unless it is required as part of a course. Such a course must have a faculty supervisor and the approval of the graduate advisor. Approval will not be given unless the course can legitimately apply toward the degree requirements.

3. Summer internships need to be arranged by the student on an individual basis. The American Statistical Association maintains a list of summer internships in statistics. (Scroll down to "Internships and Scholarships"). Some internships may have citizenship restrictions.