Graduate

Each year the Department of Mathematics and Statistics awards, on a competitive basis, approximately 50 teaching assistantships (TAships) to selected current or newly-admitted graduate students. Students holding an assistantship perform instructional duties for an average of 20 hours per week. The assistantship provides the student with a competitive stipend, a tuition waiver, and the employer's health insurance contribution. Students holding TAships are required to be enrolled in 9 credit hours each semester (Fall/Spring) and to be in good academic standing. Summer funding may also be available.

Applicants to the program should submit the departmental Application form for Graduate Teaching Assistantship with their application. Current students who wish to become TAs should submit this form to the Graduate Coordinator. Students who have previously submitted this form need only express their continuing interest in support as the form remains on file. Priority is given to students who complete their applications by the deadline.

Research assistantships for summer research activities are available from professors who hold grants and have such funding available. Recipients of the funding will be determined by the grant-holding professor.

Financial support for travel to professional conferences is available from the following sources:

• Department of Mathematics and Statistics: Application deadlines are the first Friday of each semester (Fall/Spring). An application form is available from the Graduate Program Coordinator. A presentation at a conference is encouraged.
• Graduate and Professional Student Council (GPSC) Conference Presentation Grant: Apply to the GPSC directly. A presentation at a conference is required.

A number of conferences have funding available to support graduate students, particularly those with funding from the National Science Foundation.

• Teaching assistants who demonstrate outstanding progress toward their degree may be awarded a Fred L. and Helen M. Tharp Scholarship.
• Each year, outstanding graduate students selected by the department receive one of the following cash awards. For consideration, students must apply by November 1st through USF Scholarships & Fellowships for consideration.
  • Department Operating Fund Scholarship
  • Dr. A.N.V. Rao Endowed Memorial Scholarship
  • M.V. Johns Jr. Scholarship for Graduate Study in Statistics.              

FAFSA must be on file prior to submitting an application.

The University of South Florida maintains links to information on external sources of graduate funding that can be used at USF. See

• University Scholarships & Financial Aid Services
• Office of National Scholars
• The Graduate Scholarships and Fellowships Program (GSFP)

For general information about receiving financial aid and/or student loans, please visit the Federal Student Aid website.

Most professional societies not only offer various fellowships themselves, but also maintain lists of other fellowship opportunities. For further information, please visit the following websites:

• American Mathematical Society (AMS)
• American Statistical Association (ASA)
• Mathematical Association of America (MAA)
• Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIAM)
• The Actuarial Foundation
• American Association of University Women (AAUW)

The University of South Florida offers several highly-competitive graduate fellowships. We highlight three which are available for new students who wish to begin a Doctoral program in the fall.

• the Delores Auzenne Fellowship
• the Graduate Student Success Fellowship
• the Presidential Doctoral Fellowship

The Department may nominate one qualified applicant to each for further consideration. Due to early University deadlines, the departmental application deadline for consideration is January 7th. Students must also identify themselves to the Graduate Admissions Director as meeting the requirements for consideration by this date.

A number of federal agencies support graduate students working in areas relevant to their missions. We link to relevant webpages of some.

• National Science Foundation. The NSF Graduate Research Fellowship, in particular, is relevant.
• Department of Defense
• Department of Energy
• Department of Homeland Security
• The U.S. Intelligence Community (the Defense Intelligence, National Geo-spacial Intelligence, and National Security Agencies) offer a number of graduate opportunities.
• ORAU serves as a clearing house for a number of federal agencies with graduate support opportunities.  See also zintellect.

• Ford Diversity Fellowships Program for Achieving Excellence in College and University Teaching
• Hertz Foundation Graduate Fellowships
• McKnight Doctoral Fellowships seek to increase the numbers of African-American and Hispanics pursuing graduate education in the state of Florida

USF's Chapter 126 of the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi annually awards a $1,000 scholarship to a current USF graduate student. Candidates for this award must have been inducted into PKP and have demonstrated outstanding achievement in scholarly activity and in community involvement. For further details, please contact Scott Rimbey.

The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi provides several funding opportunities. Some of these, but not all, require membership in Phi Kappa Phi. For further details, please visit the Phi Kappa Phi website.