Financial Aid

The Department of Biomedical Engineering pays both full tuition and a stipend to its Ph.D. graduate students.  Financial aid is normally offered simultaneously with acceptance to the Ph.D. program.  Students are typically guaranteed continued support, subject to their having an advisor, meeting the deadlines and requirements outlined in the descriptions of the Ph.D. Program, and the Statute of Limitations as described below.  Students having full independent support do not receive financial assistance from the Department.  Students having partial independent support receive partial financial assistance such that the total support equals that of other Ph.D. students.  All Ph.D. applicants, both U.S. and international, are considered automatically for financial support in the form of Research Assistantships, without a separate application process and irrespective of the financial need.  

Outstanding research-option M.S. students who stay for summer research after the first year may receive a summer stipend.  Outstanding research-option M.S. students may also receive a partial stipend support during the second year.  In addition, a limited number of Teaching Assistant positions, with modest work load and compensation, are available to M.S. students in both options.  Otherwise practicum-option M.S. students do not receive financial aid from the Department.  However graduate students may seek other forms of financial aid from the University's Enrollment Services.

Statute of Limitations for Financial Support

Continuation of support for Ph.D. students depends on satisfactory progress by the student in coursework and research.  The total period of financial aid depends on the Ph.D. option.  Students with Direct Entry (those entering without an M.S. degree) are supported for up to 14 semesters of full-time residence after entry counting summer as a semester.  Students with Advanced Entry (those with an approved M.S. degree) are supported for up to 12 semesters of full-time residence after entry counting summer.  Before the expiration of the Statute of Limitations, the student may send a written petition justifying why additional funds should be provided (see Graduate Student Handbook for details).  If approved, funding will be provided on a per semester basis.

Go to Admissions Page

(Updated 03/03/2012)

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Campus Office for Student Affairs and Graduate Admissions
Department of Biomedical Engineering
Carnegie Mellon University
Doherty Hall 2100
5000 Forbes Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15213

Ph: (412) 268-3955
Fax: (412) 268-1173

Administrative Office
Department of Biomedical Engineering
Carnegie Mellon University
PTC 4105
700 Technology Drive
Pittsburgh, PA 15219

Ph: (412) 268-6222
Fax: (412) 268-9807