mit computer science phd stipend

CSStipendRankings: PhD Stipend Rankings

CSStipendRankings is a stipend-based ranking of top-paying computer science departments in US. We may implement support for other countries and you are welcomed to contribute! For a real academic ranking, please refer to CSRankings . For reviewing individual PhD advisors, please refer to PI Review .

• Stipend is the minimal amount of pre-tax allowance graciously granted by the institution to its PhD students. Currently, we support displaying (1) the stipend received by the majority of students , (2) the minimal guaranteed stipend , and (3) the stipend that students receive during the semester only . Note that some departments do not have guaranteed summer funding , and we are currently working to collect such data. For now, this data is not complete.
• Fees are annual non-reimbursible tariffs (including health insurance) reclaimed by said institution. See why health insurance is included in here. If the institution charges a CPT fee or summer enrollment fee for international students, they should also be counted here. In short, this should be the maximum possible fee that the institution charges.
• Living cost is calculated based on the MIT Living Wage Calculator for the institution's city. See why we use this calculator and its limitations in here .
• summer-gtd , indicating summer funding is guaranteed in this department.
• varies , indicating the amount of funding varies from advisor to advisor in this department.
• no-guarantee , indicating this department does not guarantee any funding at all (at least for a subset of its enrolled PhD students, where a PhD student is defined as a graduate student who is required to conduct research under an advisor to graduate and get a degree). Anyone who can prove this is welcomed and encouraged to submit an issue, and we will add this label immediately. See the reason here .
• cpt-fee , indicating international students in this department need to pay a fee for their CPT applications.
• striking , indicating this department is currently under a strike.
• , indicating the stipend is verified for the semesters, but not for the summer. This icon also serves as a hyperlink to the document used for verification, if the document is uploaded to a publicly accessible location, such as GitHub issues.
• , indicating we have a survey for this department. If you are a PhD student at this department, please click the icon to fill it.

To raise issues/comments : We believe issues and comments should be discussed and resolved publicly on GitHub for transparency. If you believe any data is inaccurate or have additional comments, please open an issue or a pull request . The maintainers will not respond to private messages sent to their personal or university accounts regarding this website.

* We have noticed discrepancies in the data reported for this university or department, and we suspect that it may not be entirely accurate. If you have access to more reliable information, we would appreciate it if you could share it with us.

This ranking is part informational and part satire, designed to democratize information on how PhD students in computer science and related areas are paid for their labor – inadequately , in most cases.

Most of the frontend code of this website is from CSRankings , and we intentionally used the same template. The code of this website can be found at https://github.com/CSStipendRankings/CSStipendRankings , and the data presented can be found as a CSV file here .

Contributing: Everyone is welcomed to submit patches or report the stipend via pull requests . Also, feel free to submit issues on GitHub . We encourage submitting datapoints through issues due to its ability to facilitate public discussion. Additionally, it provides the advantage of creating a hyperlink on the checkmark that directs to the corresponding issue. In most cases, we will respond to a submitted issue within a few days.

Frequent-Asked Questions: Please see FAQs here .

Disclaimer: CSStipendRankings is designed to highlight stipend situations across various institutions, based on user-submitted information. We try our best to verify their accuracy, but we cannot guarantee they are correct or up-to-date. Ultimately, while we hope you find this information useful, this should not be used as the primary basis for grad school decisions . We advocate users to do their own research before making life decisions.

THIS SOFTWARE AND INFORMATION IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS “AS IS” AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT HOLDER OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.

CSStipendRankings is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License . The frontend (i.e., CSS and HTML) of this website is based on code licensed from CSRankings, a work at https://github.com/emeryberger/CSrankings . The copyright of CSRankings is owned by Emery Berger . The copyright of the non-CSRankings part of CSStipendRankings is owned by its contributors .

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PhD Program

Program overview.

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Rigorous, discipline-based research is the hallmark of the MIT Sloan PhD Program. The program is committed to educating scholars who will lead in their fields of research—those with outstanding intellectual skills who will carry forward productive research on the complex organizational, financial, and technological issues that characterize an increasingly competitive and challenging business world.

Start here.

Learn more about the program, how to apply, and find answers to common questions.

Admissions Events

Check out our event schedule, and learn when you can chat with us in person or online.

Start Your Application

Visit this section to find important admissions deadlines, along with a link to our application.

Click here for answers to many of the most frequently asked questions.

PhD studies at MIT Sloan are intense and individual in nature, demanding a great deal of time, initiative, and discipline from every candidate. But the rewards of such rigor are tremendous:  MIT Sloan PhD graduates go on to teach and conduct research at the world's most prestigious universities.

PhD Program curriculum at MIT Sloan is organized under the following three academic areas: Behavior & Policy Sciences; Economics, Finance & Accounting; and Management Science. Our nine research groups correspond with one of the academic areas, as noted below.

MIT Sloan PhD Research Groups

Behavioral & policy sciences.

Economic Sociology

Institute for Work & Employment Research

Organization Studies

Technological Innovation, Entrepreneurship & Strategic Management

Economics, Finance & Accounting

Accounting  

Management Science

Information Technology

System Dynamics  

Those interested in a PhD in Operations Research should visit the Operations Research Center .  

PhD Program Structure

Additional information including coursework and thesis requirements.

MIT Sloan Predoctoral Opportunities

MIT Sloan is eager to provide a diverse group of talented students with early-career exposure to research techniques as well as support in considering research career paths.

Rising Scholars Conference

The fourth annual Rising Scholars Conference on October 25 and 26 gathers diverse PhD students from across the country to present their research.

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The goal of the MIT Sloan PhD Program's admissions process is to select a small number of people who are most likely to successfully complete our rigorous and demanding program and then thrive in academic research careers. The admission selection process is highly competitive; we aim for a class size of nineteen students, admitted from a pool of hundreds of applicants.

What We Seek

• Outstanding intellectual ability
• Excellent academic records
• Previous work in disciplines related to the intended area of concentration
• Strong commitment to a career in research

MIT Sloan PhD Program Admissions Requirements Common Questions

Dates and Deadlines

Admissions for 2024 is closed. The next opportunity to apply will be for 2025 admission. The 2025 application will open in September 2024. 

More information on program requirements and application components

Students in good academic standing in our program receive a funding package that includes tuition, medical insurance, and a fellowship stipend and/or TA/RA salary. We also provide a new laptop computer and a conference travel/research budget.

Funding Information

Throughout the year, we organize events that give you a chance to learn more about the program and determine if a PhD in Management is right for you.

PhD Program Events

May phd program overview.

During this webinar, you will hear from the PhD Program team and have the chance to ask questions about the application and admissions process.

June PhD Program Overview

July phd program overview, august phd program overview.

Complete PhD Admissions Event Calendar

Unlike formulaic approaches to training scholars, the PhD Program at MIT Sloan allows students to choose their own adventure and develop a unique scholarly identity. This can be daunting, but students are given a wide range of support along the way - most notably having access to world class faculty and coursework both at MIT and in the broader academic community around Boston.

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Profiles of our current students

MIT Sloan produces top-notch PhDs in management. Immersed in MIT Sloan's distinctive culture, upcoming graduates are poised to innovate in management research and education.

Academic Job Market

Doctoral candidates on the current academic market

Academic Placements

Graduates of the MIT Sloan PhD Program are researching and teaching at top schools around the world.

view recent placements 

MIT Sloan Experience

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The PhD Program is integral to the research of MIT Sloan's world-class faculty. With a reputation as risk-takers who are unafraid to embrace the unconventional, they are engaged in exciting disciplinary and interdisciplinary research that often includes PhD students as key team members.

Research centers across MIT Sloan and MIT provide a rich setting for collaboration and exploration. In addition to exposure to the faculty, PhD students also learn from one another in a creative, supportive research community.

Throughout MIT Sloan's history, our professors have devised theories and fields of study that have had a profound impact on management theory and practice.

From Douglas McGregor's Theory X/Theory Y distinction to Nobel-recognized breakthroughs in finance by Franco Modigliani and in option pricing by Robert Merton and Myron Scholes, MIT Sloan's faculty have been unmatched innovators.

This legacy of innovative thinking and dedication to research impacts every faculty member and filters down to the students who work beside them.

Faculty Links

• Accounting Faculty
• Economic Sociology Faculty
• Finance Faculty
• Information Technology Faculty
• Institute for Work and Employment Research (IWER) Faculty
• Marketing Faculty
• Organization Studies Faculty
• System Dynamics Faculty
• Technological Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Strategic Management (TIES) Faculty

Student Research

“MIT Sloan PhD training is a transformative experience. The heart of the process is the student’s transition from being a consumer of knowledge to being a producer of knowledge. This involves learning to ask precise, tractable questions and addressing them with creativity and rigor. Hard work is required, but the reward is the incomparable exhilaration one feels from having solved a puzzle that had bedeviled the sharpest minds in the world!” -Ezra Zuckerman Sivan Alvin J. Siteman (1948) Professor of Entrepreneurship

Sample Dissertation Abstracts - These sample Dissertation Abstracts provide examples of the work that our students have chosen to study while in the MIT Sloan PhD Program.

We believe that our doctoral program is the heart of MIT Sloan's research community and that it develops some of the best management researchers in the world. At our annual Doctoral Research Forum, we celebrate the great research that our doctoral students do, and the research community that supports that development process.

The videos of their presentations below showcase the work of our students and will give you insight into the topics they choose to research in the program.

How Should We Measure the Digital Economy?

2020 PhD Doctoral Research Forum Winner - Avinash Collis

Watch more MIT Sloan PhD Program  Doctoral Forum Videos

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Below is a list of the MIT Schwarzman College of Computing’s graduate degree programs. The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree is awarded interchangeably with the Doctor of Science (ScD).

Prospective students apply to the department or program under which they want to register. Application instructions can be found on each program’s website as well as on the MIT Graduate Admissions website.

Center for Computational Science and Engineering

The Center for Computational Science and Engineering (CCSE) brings together faculty, students, and other researchers across MIT involved in computational science research and education. The center focuses on advancing computational approaches to science and engineering problems, and offers SM and PhD programs in computational science and engineering (CSE).

• Computational Science and Engineering, SM and PhD . Interdisciplinary master’s program emphasizing advanced computational methods and applications. The CSE SM program prepares students with a common core of computational methods that serve all science and engineering disciplines, and an elective component that focuses on particular applications. Doctoral program enables students to specialize in methodological aspects of computational science via focused coursework and a thesis which involves the development and analysis of broadly applicable computational approaches that advance the state of the art.
• Computational Science and Engineering, Interdisciplinary PhD. Doctoral program offered jointly with eight participating departments, focusing on the development of new computational methods relevant to science and engineering disciplines. Students specialize in a computation-related field of their choice through coursework and a doctoral thesis. The specialization in computational science and engineering is highlighted by specially crafted thesis fields. 

Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science

The largest academic department at MIT, the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS) prepares hundreds of students for leadership roles in academia, industry, government and research. Its world-class faculty have built their careers on pioneering contributions to the field of electrical engineering and computer science — a field which has transformed the world and invented the future within a single lifetime. MIT EECS consistently tops the U.S. News & World Report and other college rankings and is widely recognized for its rigorous and innovative curriculum. A joint venture between the Schwarzman College of Computing and the School of Engineering, EECS (also known as Course 6) is now composed of three overlapping sub-units in electrical engineering (EE), computer science (CS), and artificial intelligence and decision-making (AI+D).

• Computation and Cognition, MEng*. Course 6-9P builds on the Bachelor of Science in Computation and Cognition to provide additional depth in the subject areas through advanced coursework and a substantial thesis.
• Computer Science, PhD
• Computer Science and Engineering, PhD
• Computer Science, Economics, and Data Science, MEng*. New in Fall 2022, Course 6-14P builds on the Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, Economics, and Data Science to provide additional depth in economics and EECS through advanced coursework and a substantial thesis.
• Computer Science and Molecular Biology, MEng*. Course 6-7P builds on the Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and Molecular Biology to provide additional depth in computational biology through coursework and a substantial thesis.
• Electrical Engineering, PhD
• Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, MEng* , SM* , and PhD . Master of Engineering program (Course 6-P) provides the depth of knowledge and the skills needed for advanced graduate study and for professional work, as well as the breadth and perspective essential for engineering leadership. Master of Science program emphasizes one or more of the theoretical or experimental aspects of electrical engineering or computer science as students progress toward their PhD.
• Electrical Engineer / Engineer in Computer Science.** For PhD students who seek more extensive training and research experiences than are possible within the master’s program.
• Thesis Program with Industry, MEng.* Combines the Master of Engineering academic program with periods of industrial practice at affiliated companies. 

* Available only to qualified EECS undergraduates. ** Available only to students in the EECS PhD program who have not already earned a Master’s and to Leaders for Global Operations students.

Institute for Data, Systems, and Society

The Institute for Data, Systems, and Society advances education and research in analytical methods in statistics and data science, and applies these tools along with domain expertise and social science methods to address complex societal challenges in a diverse set of areas such as finance, energy systems, urbanization, social networks, and health.

• Social and Engineering Systems, PhD. Interdisciplinary PhD program focused on addressing societal challenges by combining the analytical tools of statistics and data science with engineering and social science methods.
• Technology and Policy, SM . Master’s program addresses societal challenges through research and education at the intersection of technology and policy.
• Interdisciplinary Doctoral Program in Statistics . For students currently enrolled in a participating MIT doctoral program who wish to develop their understanding of 21st-century statistics and apply these concepts within their chosen field of study. Participating departments and programs: Aeronautics and Astronautics, Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Economics, Mathematics, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, Political Science, and Social and Engineering Systems.

Operations Research Center

The Operations Research Center (ORC) offers multidisciplinary graduate programs in operations research and analytics. ORC’s community of scholars and researchers work collaboratively to connect data to decisions in order to solve problems effectively — and impact the world positively.

In conjunction with the MIT Sloan School of Management, ORC offers the following degrees:

• Operations Research, SM and PhD . Master’s program teaches important OR techniques — with an emphasis on practical, real-world applications — through a combination of challenging coursework and hands-on research. Doctoral program provides a thorough understanding of the theory of operations research while teaching students to how to develop and apply operations research methods in practice.
• Business Analytics, MBAn. Specialized advanced master’s degree designed to prepare students for careers in data science and business analytics.

Pay and Benefits

Health insurance.

• Other Student Benefits

Vacation Policy

Research assistantships, compensation.

The Department strives to offer financial support in the form of departmental fellowships for the fall term of the first academic year to all regular first year doctoral graduate students. Support for spring term of the first year and succeeding years thereafter is generally available in the form of a Research Assistantship from the student’s research advisor(s). Students may find financial support from outside fellowship programs (such as government fellowships, sponsorship by a private company, or from abroad for international students).

Stipend (Salary)

The stipend (or salary) of BE students is similar to the average stipend for MIT Science & Engineering Doctoral Students. This stipend includes health insurance for the full calendar year.

Research Assistants (RA), Teaching Assistants (if arranged), and students supported by fellowships, scholarships, and training grants are paid semimonthly on the 15th of the month and the last day of the month.

Graduate students are automatically enrolled in the MIT Student Health Insurance Plan (MIT SHIP) on September 1st of each year. Once insurance is included in the spring award, it lasts until August 31 regardless of whether a student takes outside work. To learn more about how graduating will affect your Health Insurance, see the Graduating FAQ .

The MIT Graduate Student Dental Plan is available to all MIT graduate students enrolled in a degree-granting program. The dental plan is offered through Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) and is separate from the MIT Student Health Insurance Plan (MIT SHIP). You are not automatically enrolled in the dental plan. If you want dental coverage, you must enroll during the annual enrollment period or have a  qualifying event . The dental coverage plan year lasts from September 1–August 31. 

Other benefits of being an MIT graduate student

MIT tuition is paid on behalf of the student through research grants, fellowships, or other support. Tuition gives students free access access to several facilities on campus, including athletic facilities and libraries . Students are also able eligible to live in MIT Housing and take paid parental leave .

For Research Assistantships, taxes are automatically withheld from each paycheck. Although fellowship, scholarship, and training grant funding may be taxable, taxes are NOT automatically withheld from these payments. You may need to arrange to make estimated quarterly payments on your own.

The Office of the Vice President of Finance has some resources available concerning taxes on some types of income. The International Student Office has tax information and resources relevant for international students.

The year is broken into three periods:

Period 1: Sept 1 – Jan 15

Period 2: Jan 15 – May 31

Period 3: June 1 – August 31

During each period, students receive five days of vacation (excluding Institute holidays).  There is a “use it or lose it” stipulation where vacation days do not carry forward from period to period.  In other words, if you do not take vacation in period 1, you cannot take 10 days in period 2. This applies to all students in the dept regardless of funding.

Research assistants (RAs) are supported from research contracts or grants, and are supervised by faculty members of the Department. In this case, the research advisor(s) has a responsibility to the funding organization to conduct research in specified areas. In most cases, an appointment as a research assistant (RA) coincides with the selection of a research topic and a research advisor(s). That is, the student declares that their thesis will be conducted in the area specified in the research project’s grant (contract).

In the case of research assistants (RAs), an arrangement is made with the research advisor(s) to provide project funds for tuition and stipend. The research advisor(s) will notify the BE Student Office each semester about the funding source, so that appointments can be processed.

A research assistant is an employee of the Institute and is required to devote full time to the research project, at the very minimum during normal working hours, with the exception of the time spent in scheduled lecture or laboratory classes for which the student is registered. Specific details concerning work hours and duties will be explicitly stated in the financial appointment letter sent to student once appointment is processed.

AY2024 Graduate Student Stipend Levels, Insurance Rates, & Additional Support Announced

Dear Students, We hope the final weeks of the semester are going well for you.

We are writing to share information on stipend levels, health insurance and housing rates, and additional support for graduate student fellows for academic year 2023-2024.

Note that while we are sending this email to all graduate students, the information below pertains only to those of you who will have fellowship awards on or after June 1, 2023 (and this will apply only to the fellowship award component for those who have partial fellowship awards combined with RA, TA, and Instructor-G appointments).

It is unusual for us to announce these details for fellowship awards separately from RA, TA, and Instructor-G appointments. However, because MIT is still in negotiations with the Graduate Student Union (GSU) over compensation and other terms and conditions of employment for RA, TA, and Instructor-Gs, we cannot address their salary increases at this time. 

Moreover, since  the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has determined  fellows are not included in the bargaining unit, we did not want to delay these increases and benefits, and accordingly, are notifying you now. 5.25% Stipend Increase for Academic Year 2023-2024 (AY2024) Effective June 1, stipend rates for fellowship awards will increase by 5.25% over current levels. Combined with the 8.7% increase in the prior year, this amounts to a 14.4% increase over two years.

This 5.25% increase also compares favorably against falling rates of inflation: Just this week, the federal government reported that prices are now  4.9% higher  than they were a year ago. This new stipend rate increase will provide additional and immediate support for our graduate students, is fair and sustainable, and upholds the responsibility MIT has to provide support for all students and staff — both today and into the future. Additional Financial Resources & New Grant The stipend increase is coupled with MIT’s ongoing work to provide targeted cash assistance to students with the most pressing needs. Over the past three years, MIT established new programs for graduate students with dependent children and doctoral students who need longer-term support. Combined with a short-term emergency assistance program,  MIT has directed $2 million in grants  that help to address these students’ unique needs. We are pleased to share that, beginning in the August 2023 application period, fellows will be eligible for a new annual needs-based supplemental grant of up to $10,000 for students with dependent children. This is in addition to the need-blind  Grant for Graduate Students with Children , with award levels for one, two, and three or more dependent children of $6,500, $7,500, and $8,500, respectively. Students who meet the eligibility requirements for the needs-blind grant and who are on fellowships during the fall or spring award periods may apply for the supplemental grant.

We committed to develop this supplemental program last year, and also look forward to making it available to RAs, TAs, and Instructor-Gs if the package MIT’s bargaining team has put forward is approved in next week’s GSU vote.

This new program builds on MIT’s other financial assistance programs for students in need:

• Short-Term Emergency Funds  (for one-time, non-recurring emergencies); and
• Doctoral Long-Term Hardship Funding  (a resource for doctoral students who are experiencing recurring financial distress).

A list of key financial support programs is available on the  Office of Graduate Education website .

Health Insurance & Housing Rates Health insurance costs, which are typically covered by a full fellowship award, will increase by 4.8%, after remaining flat for AY2023. MIT’s comprehensive health insurance premiums remain among the best-in-class and are very competitive with those of peer institutions.

We note that MIT’s  on-campus housing rates  will go up by a modest weighted average of 3.5% for AY2024. Last year housing rates went up by a weighted average of 3%, and in the prior year, on-campus housing rates were held flat. This approach allows MIT to position its rates at approximately 10% below market, on average.  The Graduate Student Housing Working Group  has also worked to support license arrangements and policies that make living at MIT more attractive. Building on an effort begun in 2017, MIT is now well on its way to adding over 1,000 new beds on campus for graduate students and anticipates completion for AY2025.

Additional information can be found in this  related FAQ . Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us or to the  Office of Graduate Education  if you have any questions. 

Ian A. Waitz, Vice Chancellor for Undergraduate and Graduate Education Brian Schuetz, Executive Director, MIT Medical Maria T. Zuber, Vice President for Research

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Support for graduate students: Salary, stipend, and health plan rates

Salary and stipend rates.

For a detailed breakdown of 2023–2024 rates, please refer to the Office of Graduate Education site .

Health plan rates

MIT Student Health Insurance Plan rates for 2023–2024 are available through the MIT Student Insurance Office site .

• Postdoctoral Salary and Benefits

The Vice President for Research periodically updates the community on standards related to postdocs. Below please find summary information related to salary/stipend thresholds and health benefits for postdoctoral fellows. We have an outstanding population of over 1500 postdocs at MIT, and we are committed to providing  mentoring  and  career development  that supports each postdoc’s advancement on the path to professional independence.

Mandatory Minimum Salary Level for Postdoctoral Scholars (Associates and Fellows)

Effective January 1, 2024, the minimum salary/stipend for all postdoctoral scholars (Postdoctoral Associates and Postdoctoral Fellows) is $66,950.

The minimum salary/stipend for postdoctoral scholars is reviewed each fall, and adjustments take effect annually on January 1. The annual reappointment of a postdoc does not trigger an increase as a matter of policy; however, PIs retain discretion to provide a salary or stipend above the Institute-wide minimum and are encouraged to consider the competitive landscape when doing so. For more information, see the  letter from the Vice President for Research . 

Health Benefits for Postdoctoral Fellows

We are committed to equalizing the cost of health insurance between postdoc fellows and associates, so that the premiums paid by fellows for the  SHIP/Affiliate health plan  are not greater than what they would be paying if they were postdoctoral associates. At the time of the initial appointment,  MIT administrative contacts  conduct an evaluation, factoring in any health insurance coverage included in the fellowship. When the remaining cost to the fellow would exceed that of a postdoctoral associate, they arrange in advance for the faculty host to provide the difference between the cost to the individual for fellows versus associates. For each category of coverage, the current annual premium cost difference is indicated below.

2024 Annual Rates

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Doctoral Degrees

A doctoral degree requires the satisfactory completion of an approved program of advanced study and original research of high quality..

Please note that the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) and Doctor of Science (ScD) degrees are awarded interchangeably by all departments in the School of Engineering and the School of Science, except in the fields of biology, cognitive science, neuroscience, medical engineering, and medical physics. This means that, excepting the departments outlined above, the coursework and expectations to earn a Doctor of Philosophy and for a Doctor of Science degree from these schools are generally the same. Doctoral students may choose which degree they wish to complete.

Applicants interested in graduate education should apply to the department or graduate program conducting research in the area of interest. Some departments require a doctoral candidate to take a “minor” program outside of the student’s principal field of study; if you wish to apply to one of these departments, please consider additional fields you may like to pursue.

Below is a list of programs and departments that offer doctoral-level degrees.

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MIT Interdisciplinary Doctoral Program in Computational Science and Engineering

• CSE PhD Overview
• Dept-CSE PhD Overview
• CSE Doctoral Theses
• Program Overview and Curriculum
• For New CCSE Students
• Terms of Reference

MIT Interdisciplinary Doctoral Program in Computational Science and Engineering (Dept-CSE PhD)

• Dept-CSE PhD Program of Study Form   (version date 05Feb2024)
• Checklist for Dept-CSE PhD Students (version date 05Sep2023)

Dept-CSE PhD Participating Departments

The interdisciplinary doctoral program in Computational Science and Engineering ( CSE PhD + Engineering or Science ) at MIT allows enrolled students to specialize at the doctoral level in a computation-related field of their choice through focused coursework and a doctoral thesis. This program is offered through a number of participating departments, namely

• Civil and Environmental Engineering (Course 1) ,
• Mechanical Engineering (Course 2) ,
• Materials Science and Engineering (Course 3) ,
• Chemical Engineering (Course 10) ,
• Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences (Course 12) ,
• Aeronautics and Astronautics (Course 16) ,
• Mathematics (Course 18) ,
• Nuclear Science & Engineering (Course 22) .

Program Outline

Once admitted, doctoral degree candidates are expected to complete the host department’s degree requirements (including qualifying exam) with CSE deviations relating to coursework, thesis committee composition and thesis submission that are specific to the Dept-CSE program and are discussed in more detail below.

Academic Performance

Dept-CSE PhD students are required to complete at least five graduate-level subjects, totaling no less than 60 credit units*, in computational science and engineering selected from the approved list of Computational Concentration Subjects . Moreover, students may not use more than 12 units of credit from a “meets with undergraduate” subject to fulfill the CSE curriculum requirement.

In addition to departmental academic performance expectations, Dept-CSE students are expected to maintain a grade point average (GPA) of at least 4.5 (out of 5) in CSE subjects and an overall GPA of at least 4.2 (out of 5) during the course of their studies.

*ChemE-CSE students are required to complete at least four subjects in computational science and engineering, in addition to 10.34, for a total of no less than 57 credit units.

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

A complete description of the doctoral program in Civil and Environmental Engineering can be found at https://cee.mit.edu/resources/ . Deviations associated with the CEE-CSE degree (“1.CSD”) are as follows.

Coursework Requirements

The CEE-CSE doctoral program of study consists of at least five graduate-level subjects in computational science and engineering selected from the approved list of Computational Concentration Subjects . Subjects taken as part of an MIT SM degree can be counted toward this requirement. Doctoral candidates are normally expected to take their major subjects at the Institute. The specific subjects will depend on the student’s thesis topic and background, and will be approved by their thesis committee.

Thesis Committee Composition

The thesis committee composition requirements are identical to those of Course 1, with the additional requirement that that either the advisor be a CCSE member or the committee contain at least two CCSE members.

Thesis Submission

In addition to approval from the Chair of Course 1 Graduate Program Committee, the complete thesis needs to be submitted to and approved by CCSE. Students should provide a copy of the thesis title page to the CCSE academic administrator for review and approval prior to submitting the final thesis.

Thesis Fields

Course 1 will award degrees under the thesis fields “Civil Engineering and Computation” and “Environmental Engineering and Computation.”

Department of Mechanical Engineering

A complete description of the doctoral program in Mechanical Engineering can be found at http://meche.mit.edu/academic/graduate . Deviations associated with the CSE degree are as follows. MechE-CSE PhD candidates (“2.CSD”) are expected to pass the ME qualifying exam in Computational Engineering (present thesis in computational engineering and take computational engineering subject exam).

The MechE-CSE doctoral program of study consists of at least five graduate-level subjects in computational science and engineering selected from the approved list of Computational Concentration Subjects . Subjects taken as part of an MIT SM degree can be counted toward this requirement. Doctoral candidates are normally expected to take their major subjects at the Institute. The specific subjects will depend on the student’s thesis topic and background, and will be approved by their thesis committee.

The thesis committee composition requirements are identical to those of Course 2, with the additional requirement that  either the advisor be a CCSE member or the committee contain at least two CCSE members.

In addition to approval from the ME Graduate Officer, the complete thesis needs to be submitted to and approved by CCSE. Students should provide a copy of the thesis title page to the CCSE academic administrator for review and approval prior to submitting the final thesis.

Thesis Field

Course 2 will award degrees under the thesis field “Mechanical Engineering and Computation.”

Department of Materials Science and Engineering

A complete description of the graduate program in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering (DMSE) can be found via https://dmse.mit.edu/graduate/programs . Deviations associated with the DMSE-CSE degree (“3.CSD”) are as follows.

The DMSE-CSE doctoral program of study consists of at least five graduate subjects in computational science and engineering selected from the approved list of Computational Concentration Subjects . The CSE five-course requirement can be satisfied through courses that simultaneously satisfy the DMSE core, post-core electives, and/or minor requirements. CSE subjects that a student may have applied towards a MIT SM degree may also be applied towards a DMSE-CSE doctoral major field of study requirement. Doctoral candidates are normally expected to take their major subjects at the Institute. The specific subjects will depend on the student’s thesis topic and background, and will be approved by Thesis Committee.

The Thesis committee composition requirements are identical to those of DMSE, with the additional requirement that that either  the advisor be a CCSE member  or  the committee contain at least two CCSE members.

In addition to approval from the Chair of the Departmental Graduate Program Committee, the complete thesis needs to be submitted to and approved by CCSE. Students should provide a copy of the thesis title page to the CCSE academic administrator for review and approval prior to submitting the final thesis.

DMSE will award degrees under the Thesis field “Computational Materials Science and Engineering”.

Department of Chemical Engineering

A complete description of the doctoral program in Chemical Engineering can be found at  http://web.mit.edu/cheme/academics/grad/advising.html#phdscd . Deviations associated with the ChemE-CSE degree are as follows.

ChemE-CSE students (“10.CSD”) are expected to complete the ChemE core curriculum with a CSE minor consisting of at least four graduate level subjects in computational science and engineering selected from the approved list of Computational Concentration Subjects .  The minor subjects shall not include 10.34, which is already part of the Chemical Engineering core curriculum. Subjects taken as part of an MIT SM program can be counted toward this requirement. Doctoral candidates are normally expected to take their major subjects at the Institute. The specific subjects will depend on the student’s thesis topic and background, and will be approved by the student’s thesis committee.

The thesis committee composition requirements are identical to those of Course 10, with the additional requirement that  either  the committee chair be a CCSE member  or  the committee contain at least two CCSE members.

Course 10 will award degrees under the thesis field “Chemical Engineering and Computation.”

Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences

Once admitted, doctoral degree candidates are expected to complete the Course 12 degree requirements as outlined at https://eapsweb.mit.edu/academic-resources/grad-resources , except those relating to coursework in the Major Field of Study, Thesis Committee Composition and Thesis Submission that are specific to the EAPS-CSE program and are discussed in more detail below.

Degree candidates are expected to pass the qualifying exam in Course 12.

The EAPS-CSE (“12.CSD”) doctoral program of study consists of at least five graduate-level subjects in computational science and engineering selected from the approved list of Computational Concentration Subjects . The specific subjects will depend on the student’s thesis topic and background, and will be approved by the Thesis Committee. Subjects taken as part of an MIT SM program can be counted toward this requirement. Doctoral candidates are normally expected to take their major subjects at the Institute.

The Thesis committee composition requirements are identical to those of Course 12, with the additional requirement that either the advisor be a CCSE member or the committee contain at least two CCSE members.

In addition to approval from the Examination Committee, the complete thesis needs to be submitted to and approved by CCSE. Students should provide a copy of the thesis title page to the CCSE academic administrator for review and approval prior to submitting the final thesis.

Course 12 will award degrees under the Thesis field ” Computational Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences “.

Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics

A complete description of the doctoral program in Aeronautics and Astronautics can be found at http://aeroastro.mit.edu/graduate-program/doctoral-degree . Deviations associated with the AeroAstro-CSE degree are as follows. AeroAstro-CSE PhD candidates (“16.CSD”) are expected to pass the Aerospace Computational Engineering track qualifying exam in Course 16.

The AeroAstro-CSE doctoral program of study consists of at least five graduate-level subjects in computational science and engineering selected from the approved list of Computational Concentration Subjects . Subjects taken as part of an MIT SM program can be counted toward this requirement. Doctoral candidates are normally expected to take their major subjects at the Institute. The specific subjects will depend on the student’s thesis topic and background, and will be approved by thesis committee.

The thesis committee composition requirements are identical to those of Course 16, with the additional requirement that either the advisor be a CCSE member or the committee contain at least two CCSE members.

Course 16 will award degrees under the thesis field “Computational Science and Engineering” to students matriculating in/before September 2023 and “Aerospace Engineering and Computational Science” for students matriculating after September 2023.

Department of Mathematics

A description of the plan of study for the Applied Mathematics option of the PhD degree in Course 18, can be found at http://math.mit.edu/academics/grad/timeline/plan.php . Deviations associated with the Math-CSE degree (“18.CSD”) are as follows.

The Math-CSE doctoral program of study consists of at least five graduate-level subjects in computational science and engineering selected from the approved list of Computational Concentration Subjects . Subjects taken as part of an MIT SM degree can be counted toward this requirement. Doctoral candidates are normally expected to take their major subjects at the Institute. The specific subjects will depend on the student’s thesis topic and background, and will be approved by the Chair of the Applied Mathematics Committee in the Mathematics department and CCSE.

The thesis committee composition requirements are identical to those of Course 18, with the additional requirement that either the advisor be a CCSE member or the committee contain at least two CCSE members.

Course 18 will award degrees under the Thesis field “Mathematics and Computational Science”.

Department of Nuclear Science & Engineering

NSE-CSE PhD candidates (“22.CSD”) must satisfy all NSE requirements for doctoral students, including passing the 22.15 module final exam with a satisfactory grade and completing an NSE Field of Specialization requirement. A complete description of the NSE doctoral program  and its requirements can be found at: http://web.mit.edu/nse/education/grad/phd.html .

Deviations associated with the NSE-CSE degree are as follows. The oral exam committee must include at least two CCSE-affiliated faculty members (one or both of whom may be NSE faculty members). The content of the oral exam must address some aspects related to computation.

In addition to satisfying a NSE Field of Specialization requirement, students pursuing the computation option must take at least five graduate-level subjects in computational science and engineering selected from the approved list of Computational Concentration Subjects . Subjects taken as part of an MIT SM program can be counted toward this requirement. Each of these subjects can be applied towards either the Advanced Subject requirement or the Minor requirement (but not both).  None of these subjects can count towards the Field of Specialization requirement. Doctoral candidates are normally expected to take their major subjects at the Institute. The specific subjects will depend on the student’s thesis topic and background, and will be approved by thesis committee.

The thesis committee composition requirements are identical to those of Course 22, with the additional requirement that either the advisor be a CCSE member or the committee contain at least two CCSE members (who may be NSE faculty members).

In addition to approval from the Chair, Department Committee on Graduate Students, the complete thesis needs to be submitted to and approved by CCSE. Students should provide a copy of the thesis title page to the CCSE academic administrator for review and approval prior to submitting the final thesis.

Course 22 will award degrees under the thesis fields “Nuclear Engineering and Computation” and “Computational Nuclear Science and Engineering”.  Student may choose either; the requirements are identical.

Doctoral candidates in general may petition to change the name appearing on their degree certificates. However, petitions from students in the CSE-participating departments listed above to include the keywords ‘computation’ or ‘computational’ in the degree name will only be approved if the student has satisfied requirements listed above. The PhD thesis field “Computational Science and Engineering” will be reserved for students graduating from the standalone CSE PhD program.

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ASSIGNMENT A Research Assistant (RA) is a member of a research group in a Laboratory or Project. The position offers a close association with members of the Faculty. Work on the thesis project is normally part of the Research Assistant’s assignment and most students welcome the opportunity to participate on a research project that frequently influences their choice of thesis topic.

REGISTRATION A Research Assistant may register for up to 27 units of scheduled classroom and laboratory work; this limit is strictly observed for all Research Assistants. Exceptions are granted by the Committee on Graduate Students only in exceptional circumstances. In this Department, this usually means two 12-unit graduate subjects. In addition, students should be registered for 24 thesis units (6.THG) during every registration period, or 12 units of 6.9920 [6.960] in the first fall and spring terms.

TUITION AND STIPEND COSTS Full-time Research Assistants receive a monthly stipend and their tuition is paid. Tuition will be prorated for part-time Research Assistants according to Department policy. Stipend rates effective June 1, 2023 is $4,088 per month (SM level) and $4,393 per month (PhD level). Research Assistants will find the cost of an individual health insurance plan fully covered during the tenure of their appointment.

EMPLOYMENT ELIGIBILITY VERIFICATION (Form I-9) The U.S. government requires all graduate students hired for research, teaching, etc., to sign, under penalty of perjury, an “Employment Eligibility Verification” (I-9 Form). You must produce specified documents, which verify your identity and authorization to work and present them at the Atlas Service Center located on the first floor of E17. Your appointment and ability to start employment cannot be completed until the signed I-9 Form and the appropriate documents have been processed at the Atlas Service Center.  You can find more information at  https://hr.mit.edu/i-9 .

INCOME TAX INFORMATION Federal and State tax will be withheld from your pay. Tuition is not taxable. For additional information regarding taxes please visit the taxes page at the Office of Graduate Education (OGE).

VACATIONS Research Assistants appointed for a twelve-month period are entitled to two weeks of vacation with pay. This may be taken concurrently with the regular academic vacation periods or at another time provided the Assistant continues regular work during these school vacation periods. Vacations must be arranged with the Assistant’s research supervisor. Vacation time is not cumulative and should be taken prior to the termination date of the Assistantship appointment.

PATENT AGREEMENTS Research Assistants will be asked to sign a form entitled “Inventions and Proprietary Information Agreement”, when they start their employment with their project or Laboratory. The agreement is self-explanatory.

OTHER EMPLOYMENT A Research Assistant’s assigned duties together with the allowed classroom registration will normally demand full-time attention. As a result, students holding this appointment are discouraged from accepting additional employment. In rare cases where additional income is needed, the Research Assistant must obtain the approval of his/her research supervisor and the EECS Graduate Office. Please contact Meredith Bittrich in the Graduate Office, 38-444, to discuss the process and to submit the Additional Employment request form.

OTHER AWARDS If a student wins a fellowship or award that exceeds $2,700 tenable for the same nine-month academic year as the Research or Teaching Assistantship, then the compensation and time commitment will be reduced in accordance with Department policy for supplementing fellowships. For more information on supplementation, see Liza Ruano in the Graduate Office, 38-444.

For Current Students

Mit resources.

The MIT Student Resources site is a good place to begin for information on topics including:

• Health and wellness, including mental health and counseling
• Career Advising and Professional Development (CAPD)
• Institute Discrimination and Harassment Response Office (IDHR)
• Global education
• International Students Office

The MIT Office of Graduate Education is another frontline resource for graduate student information and support, including resources for graduate student families .

Prospective and current undergraduates, graduate students, faculty, staff, and alumni:  begin here .

BCS Resources

Key contacts:.

Academic Administrator:  Sierra Vallin Senior Graduate Program Assistant:  Julianne Ormerod Undergraduate Administrator:  Theresa Tomic MCN Program Assistant:  Charles Moss

Click the link to open or download.

First-year Rotation Forms

• Rotation 1 form
• Rotation 2 form
• Rotation 3 form
• Rotation 4 form

Annual Forms

• Second year form
• Third year form
• Fourth year form
• Fifth+ year form

Other Forms

• Defense form 
• Travel request form

This list is not exhaustive. For additional information, please check the MIT Office of Graduate Education fellowship site  and NIH Programs for Graduate and Clinical Students , and refer to the individual fellowship websites hyperlinked below.

NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION GRADUATE RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP

Disciplines and Due Dates: 

October 17, 2022 (Monday) Life Sciences

October 18, 2022 (Tuesday) Computer and Information Science and Engineering, Materials Research, Psychology, Social Sciences, STEM Education and Learning

October 20, 2022 (Thursday) Engineering

October 21, 2022 (Friday) Chemistry, Geosciences, Mathematical Sciences, and Physics and Astronomy

Reference letter deadline: October 28, 2022 5pm ET

Requirements: Only US citizens or permanent residents may apply - applicants can only apply one time (either prospective, 1st or 2nd year, but not more than once) Academic eligibility:  Prospective graduate student / 1st and 2nd year graduate student Award: stipend plus up to $12,000 for tuition (3 years)

SMART SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

Deadline: December 1, 2022 5 PM EST Requirements: US citizens or Australia, Canada, New Zealand, or United Kingdom.  Must be able to obtain security clearance, and willing to work as a civilian at the DoD after graduating. Able to complete at least one summer internship and willing to accept employment with the DoD post-graduation. Disciplines: STEM disciplines including but not limited to: Cognitive, Neural, and Behavioral Sciences, Computer and Computational Sciences,   Information Sciences Academic eligibility:  Undergraduate and Graduate student with good standing with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale at the time of award. Award: Stipend, full tuition, health insurance, miscellaneous supplies allowance, travel and paid summer internship, and DoD employment

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE (DOD), NATIONAL DEFENSE SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING GRADUATE FELLOWSHIP 

Requirements:  US citizens or nationals only – proof of citizenship will be required upon formal offer Disciplines:  Including but not limited to Cognitive, Neural, and Behavioral Sciences, Computer and Computational Sciences Academic eligibility: Within 1st-2nd year of program. Be pursuing research in alignment with one or more of the specific topics identified in the DoD’s Broad Agency Announcements. Award: Stipend, full tuition, $1,200 for medical insurance (3 years)

FANNIE AND JOHN HERTZ FOUNDATION GRADUATE FELLOWSHIP

Deadline: October 28, 2022 Requirements: US citizens or permanent residents only Disciplines:  Applied physical, biological and engineering sciences or mathematics Academic eligibility: Prospective and first year graduate student. Award:  Two award structures: Stipend and tuition; renewable for up to five years

FORD FOUNDATION PREDOCTORAL (GRADUATE) FELLOWSHIPS

Deadline: December 15, 2022 Requirements: All citizens, nationals, and permanent residents of the United States, as well as individuals granted deferred action status under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Program Disciplines: Including but not limited to biological and bomedical sciences, communications, computer science, cultural studies, engineering, ethnic studies, international relations, language, life sciences, linguistics, and psychology Academic eligibility: PhD graduate students / 1st and 2nd year graduate student interested in a career in teaching and research at the college or university level.  Award: stipends of $27,000, travel to a Conference of Ford Fellows, no tuition (3 years)

FORD FOUNDATION DISSERTATION FELLOWSHIPS

Deadline: December 8, 2022 Requirements: All citizens, nationals, and permanent residents of the United States, as well as individuals granted deferred action status under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Program Disciplines: Including but not limited to biological and biomedical science, communications, computer science, cultural studies, engineering, ethnic studies, international relations, language, life sciences, linguistics, and psychology Academic eligibility: Graduate students who have successfully pass quals and will complete their dissertation in a period of 9-12 months during the 2023-2024 academic year but no later than Fall 2024. Award:  Stipends of $28,000, travel to a Conference of Ford Fellows, no tuition (9-12 months)

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY (DOE) COMPUTATIONAL SCIENCE GRADUATE FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM

Deadline:  Not yet published (usually January)  Requirements:  US citizens and permanent residents Disciplines:  DOE CSGF recipients use math and computers to conduct doctoral research in many fields, including but not limited to computer, physical, mathematical or life sciences Academic eligibility: 1st year graduate students Award:  Stipends of $38,000, full tuition, $1,000 professional development allowance

AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIPS & FELLOWSHIPS 

Various deadlines and scholarship award amounts ($1,000 – 25,000) – check website for complete information

PAUL AND DAISY SOROS FELLOWSHIP FOR NEW AMERICANS

Deadline:  October 27, 2022 2 pm EST Requirements: "New Americans” which is defined as born in the US to parents born abroad as non-US citizens, naturalized US citizens, green card holders, adopted (born outside of the US by American parents and granted US citizenship as a result of adoption) or DACA recipients. Must be under 31 years old as of the application deadline Disciplines:  All fields Academic eligibility:  Prospective or current graduate students in 1st or 2nd year Award: Up to $90,000 over two years

AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL FOUNDATION, ELIZABETH MUNSTERBERG KOPPITZ CHILD PSYCHOLOGY GRADUATE FELLOWSHIPS

Deadline:  November 15, 2022 Disciplines:   In the areas of psychology, such as child-clinical, pediatric, school, educational and developmental psychopathology Academic eligibility:  Advanced graduate students (have passed qualifying exams at time of application) Award:  Stipend up to $25,000, tuition waiver/coverage from home institution for 1 year of support

AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF UNIVERSITY WOMEN (AAUW) AMERICAN FELLOWSHIPS DISSERATION FELLOWSHIP 

Deadline:  November 1, 2022 Requirements:  Scholar who identifies as a woman, US citizenship or permanent residents only Disciplines:  All fields of study Academic eligibility:  Graduate student working on doctoral dissertation (4th year or later). Award:  $8,000 to $50,000 for living and educational expenses, dependent childcare, travel to meetings/seminars equipment, tuition for dependents education and more.

AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF UNIVERSITY WOMEN (AAUW) INTERNATIONAL FELLOWSHIPS

Deadline:  November 15, 2022  Requirements:  Women, non US citizens or permanent residents Disciplines:  All fields of study Academic eligibility:  Performing a PhD in the US Award:  $20,000-50,000 living and educational expenses, dependent childcare, travel to meetings/seminars, equipment, travel to home country and more.

NIH INDIVIDUAL PREDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIPS TO PROMOTE DIVERSITY IN HEALTH-RELATED RESEARCH (F31)

Deadline: April 8, August 8, December 8  Must be submitted through your DLC Fiscal Office. Requirements: US citizens and permanent residents and individuals with disabilities, or from racial and ethnic groups, or individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds pursuing advanced degrees in the biomedical and behavioral sciences. Disciplines: All disciplines relevant to National Eye Institute, National Institute on Aging, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders Academic eligibility: Graduate student studying life sciences, engineering, health sciences, biomedical, behavioral, or statistical research Award: Stipend of $23,376, $16,000 tuition, $4,200 institutional allowance (up to 5 years including T32 support)

AMERICAN PHYSIOLOGICAL SOCIETY (APS), PORTER PHYSIOLOGY FELLOWSHIPS FOR MINORITIES

Deadline:  January 15, 2023 Requirements:  Underrepresented ethnic minorities who are US citizens or permanent residents pursuing a PhD. Disciplines:  Physiological sciences Academic eligibility:  Prospective/current graduate students pursuing full-time studies toward the PhD. Advisor must be an APS member in good standing Award:  Annual stipend of $28,300, no tuition

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF JUSTICE (NIJ) GRADUATE RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM

Deadline:  Not yet published

Other fellowship databases: BigFuture Scholarship Database Scholarships and Grants Pathways to Science Fellowships

Financial Support

The Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences aims to support all graduate students for their entire time of study at MIT, regardless of citizenship. Funding packages provide:

• 12-month stipend
• Individual health insurance, which can be waived

BCS typically provides a stipend at or above the MIT recommended rate .

The Department expects faculty labs to individually support students beyond year three, with funded research assistant appointments. If you have applied for a fellowship from non-MIT sources, please contact the Academic Office. If you receive a competitive fellowship award (e.g. NRSA, NSF, NDSEG) which contributes 50% or more to the total cost of stipend, tuition and insurance, you will receive an additional $1,000 stipend supplement for each year you are actively supported by the fellowship.

For more detailed information regarding the cost of attendance, including specific costs for tuition and fees, books and supplies, housing and food as well as transportation, please visit the SFS website .

Fellowship income is taxable, but MIT does not withhold taxes from the fellowships of US citizens or permanent residents, although it does so for foreign nationals. If you are an international student and believe there is a tax treaty between the US and your country, contact Marsha Dailey, the Foreign National Tax Coordinator in the MIT Office of the Vice President for Finance, at  [email protected]  or 617-253-2799.

It may be advisable to visit the IRS website for information on taxes.

• IRS information for students
• IRS information for individuals
• IRS publications

The MIT International Students Office offers information and access to tax preparation software for non-resident aliens.

The required W4 form is completed online through the MIT Atlas portal . Instructions for doing this are here .

The MIT HR/Payroll Service Center manages payroll for the Institute. When you join the program, you will receive information on what to do in order to receive your stipend and other parts of the payroll process.

A social security number is not a required field in order to pay an individual, and there will be no delay in paying students while they apply for a social security number. You should call the Payroll Service Center (617-253-4255) as soon as they have received their social security number. Do not send Social Security numbers by email.

Students should complete the W-4 and M-4 tax forms so they are taxed per their wishes. If they do not, they will default to “Single 0” at a higher tax rate.

MIT requires direct deposit for your stipend. Use the MIT Atlas portal to seTo activate direct deposit, complete the necessary online form at . You’ll need to know the routing number of your bank and the relevant account number, which you can find at tt up direct deposit, using these instructions . Direct deposit may preclude certain fees at some banks.

The only occasion on which a stipend would not be directly deposited is if for some reason the disbursement through MITSIS is later than the payroll accounting cutoff date, generally around the 20th of each month. There are times when funding is not processed before that deadline, and a special check must be prepared by payroll, in which case it will not be directly deposited but must be picked up.

Graduate students are eligible to join the MIT Federal Credit Union . 

Helpful Links: Student Finance Information I-9 Obligations Student Financial Services Atlas  (MIT Login required)

Health Services

If you are a full-time graduate student in BCS you are eligible for health insurance. The MIT Student Medical Plan is encouraged as part of your tuition coverage. You may also buy health insurance coverage for family members (spouse, partner and/or children). You may also waive health insurance if you have existing coverage elsewhere.

Dental Coverage

The MIT Graduate Student Dental Plan is offered by MIT through Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts. It is available to all MIT graduate students enrolled in a degree-granting program. It is separate from the MIT student health plans. This coverage is optional and enrollment is not automatic. Dental insurance is not required by law, and students are responsible for premiums and any dental bills they incur.

Mental Health and Counseling

MIT Medical’s Student Mental Health and Counseling Services works with students to identify, understand, and solve problems, and to help transform that understanding into positive action. The service sees nearly 21% of the student body each year, and about 29% of students in a given class by the time they graduate. 

Resources for Easing Friction and Stress (REFS) 

REFS are confidential, peer-to-peer counselors who work to ensure that grad students have someone to talk to, vent to, and problem-solve with if they’re facing any issues, from research frustration to advisor conflict to financial issues. Feel free to email [email protected] or to any of the REFS listed below.

• Djuna von Maydell
• Katya Tsimring
• Josefina Correa-Menendez
• Sadie Zacharek

Childbirth Accommodation and Parental Leave

MIT graduate students have access (according to eligibility) to two different leaves when they give birth or undertake significant responsibilities for a newborn child or a child newly placed with them: Childbirth Accommodation and/or Parental Leave. Students must initiate planning with their department; the Office of Graduate Education (OGE) provides final review and approval. 

Medical Leave

Medical leave is a period of absence for a graduate student from academic and research work to allow time for treatment and recovery from mental and/or physical conditions that interfere with a student's ability to make satisfactory progress towards academic goals and participate in graduate student life. Approval of medical leave stops academic and research clocks. Students considering medical leave should make an appointment with a graduate dean to discuss their plan and options.