Assistantships

Ph.D. students who maintain good academic standing can qualify for one of two types of graduate assistant positions—teaching or research.

Resources from the VCU Graduate School and School of Pharmacy cover costs related to the stipend, tuition and fees for the first two years. In exchange for funding, students contribute to the scholarly research of their advisors as well as the teaching mission of the school.

Time Commitment

Ph.D. students serving as a graduate teaching assistant in their first or second year work for a maximum of four semesters (fall and spring) performing, on average, 12 hours per week executing duties associated with the teaching assistantship in addition to their regular coursework and research activities.

Graduate research assistants concentrate on coursework and research in the lab of their advisor. Hours vary depending on duties agreed upon by the student and advisor but are often equivalent to working full-time.

Health Insurance

The student health insurance program offered through the Graduate School offers a comprehensive health insurance package for VCU students through their partners, UnitedHealthcare. Visit the Graduate School's Student Resources page for more information.