Financial Support

We provide teaching assistantships, research assistantships and fellowships with about 38 full-time students being appointed each year. Students receive a salary stipend plus tuition waiver. Students can receive 12 months of support.

Most students are initially teaching assistants until they decide which research area they will pursue for their thesis. Some NIU students are also supported directly by Argonne and Fermilab; this usually occurs for more advanced students. 

The department offers a number of fellowships.

Graduate students are encouraged to attend conferences and report on their research. This travel is funded through the Albright Travel Awards, which are made yearly by the department.

Information on other avenues of support such as loans are found on the Graduate School website. Many of these require admittance into physics and are not available to students-at-large.