Doctoral-level students in receipt of an assistantship, fellowship, stipend or wages funded by their academic department or research grants may be eligible for tuition support provided by the University. The decision to grant university tuition support is decided by the college or school in which the doctoral-level program resides. University tuition support is intended to cover tuition costs not covered by external sources.

Drexel recognizes four categories of appointment:

• Teaching Fellow - A Teaching Fellow (TF) is a full-time graduate student appointed (20 hours per week) to provide teaching or guidance of students directly related to the area in which his or her degree is to be conferred, and in which equivalent teaching is required of all candidates as a condition for receiving such a degree. 
• Research Fellow - A Research Fellow (RF) is a full-time graduate student appointment (20 hours per week) focused on thesis or other degree-related research of a type that is required from all candidates for the degree. 
• Graduate Assistant - A Graduate Assistant (GA) is a full-time graduate student appointed (20 hours per week) to assist faculty in the areas of administration, teaching, and/or research for the primary benefit of the University. The GA’s duties are not a requirement for the degree. 
• NRSA Pre-Doctoral Research Fellow - National Research Service Award (NRSA) Pre-Doctoral Research Fellow is a full-time graduate student appointed (20 hours per week) to support or conduct research whose source of funding comes from an individual or institutional NRSA training grant. 

The tax implications of each group of these groups are provided in the Graduate Student Funding and Taxation Policy, available on the Office of the Comptroller's website.

See also Financial Aid Term and Conditions for Graduate and Professional Students.

Guidelines for Tuition Support

• Doctoral Tuition Guidelines [PDF] - This document outlines the process for providing tuition support to graduate students who are enrolled in a research doctoral program.

• Doctoral Tuition Guidelines for Administrative Units [PDF] - These guidelines are intended to supplement the Guidelines for Providing Tuition Support for Research Doctoral Students document. The present document complements those general guidelines and is meant to serve as a step-by-step guide for college/school administrators in processing research doctoral tuition.

Updated 9/21/18.