Each year, awards of stipends, fellowships, and research and teaching assistantships are made on the basis of grants and assistantships available, areas of student interest, degree of financial need, and evidence of academic progress. The availability of financial support depends heavily on research and training grants awarded to the School of Social Work and PhD Program, and that situation can vary greatly from year to year. 

In awarding appointments and fellowships to PhD students, the following guidelines are used by the Social Welfare Faculty.

  • First priority is given to first-, second-, and third-year students in the doctoral program. Second priority is given to fourth- and fifth-year students. 
  • When more applications are submitted than stipends and fellowships available, awards will be made on the basis of the following criteria, with the greatest weight given to student qualifications.
    1. Student qualifications as reflected in such factors as GPA, satisfactory progress in the program to date, student career potential, and instructors' evaluations of student's course work.
    2. Appropriateness of the student to the fellowship or teaching/research appointment in question (e.g., match of prior experience or of area of scholarly interest).
    3. Student's financial need.
  • Commitment of the University and of the School of Social Work to maintain a diverse student body.

An award of an appointment or fellowship in one year is no guarantee of an award in any subsequent year of the student's program.

Students with Graduate Student Service Appointments (GSSA: TA, RA, Staff Assistant, Trainee, and Fellow), which provide salary, tuition waivers, and benefits, must be registered for at least 10 credits each quarter during the academic year.

During summer quarter the Graduate School minimum is 2 credits; however, some grants and loans require full-time registration (7) credits during the summer. Students are responsible for determining their minimum enrollment requirements. Students having any of the above appointments must be registered for the appropriate minimum number of credits. Also, a student cannot withdraw or resign from an assistantship during the quarter without losing the tuition wavier.

A student who desires to hold a graduate student appointment at greater than 50% in any quarter (with the exception of summer) must submit a written petition (email or printed memo) from both the student and their Committee Chair/Advisor. The petition is addressed to the PhD Program Director explaining specifically what is desired (over what quarters), what are the exceptional circumstances, and what actions will be undertaken so that the greater than 50% appointment will not interfere with progress toward the degree. The petition is reviewed by the PhD Program Director who will authorize approval or reject the petition (in writing). In the case of rejection of a petition, the student and Chair/Advisor may appeal to the PhD Steering Committee.

Those students who are recipients of stipends, teaching assistantships, or research assistantships should contact sswhr@uw.edu to make payroll arrangements.

The details of GSSA Graduate School and School of Social Work guidelines and Procedures are presented in the section below on Graduate Assistantships. GSSA appointments are covered by union representation through UAW 1421. Please see the  Graduate School website for updates.