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Isenberg doctoral students are guaranteed funding for 5 academic years and 4 summers. Funding is through an assistantship and is closely related to the program of study. Students usually work as a res

Isenberg doctoral students are guaranteed funding for 5 academic years and 4 summers. Funding is through an assistantship and is closely related to the program of study. Students usually work as a research assistant their first two years and then transition to teaching their last three.

As a graduate employee of the University, students are in the Graduate Employee Organization (GEO) union. Union benefits include a full tuition wavier, 95%  cost covered health insurance, dental and vision, and childcare benefits.

Funding is broken down into primary and secondary funding. Primary funding is the Isenberg PhD Program assistantship, and secondary funding is through the University Graduate School, Isenberg, and academic departments. Details of the funding opportunities are below. Students may be eligible for secondary funding depending upon student qualifications, eligibility and departmental needs.

Primary Funding Source:

  • Academic Year Assistantship: 20 hours per week for 38 weeks (September – May), at least $30,000 total.
  • Summer Assistantship: 60 hours total (May – July), $2,300 total
  • Travel Reimbursement: $500 per year towards student travel to conferences & supplemental travel funding through PhD Program

Secondary Funding Source:

Graduate School Funding

Isenberg Doctoral Awards

  • Outstanding Doctoral Student Research Award (competitive)
  • Outstanding Doctoral Student Teaching Award (competitive)
  • All But Dissertation Award (awarded to all qualified students)


Isenberg PhD Project Scholarship (competitive)

The Isenberg PhD Program is committed to diversity, equity and inclusion. Part of that mission involves being a member of the PhD Project which aims to advance workplace diversity by increasing the number of underrepresented minority business professors. Current PhD Project members are automatically considered.