Financial Support

For the first four years of the program, the Annenberg School provides its doctoral student an annual stipend to support their research and teaching fellowships. Each semester, students are assigned to a faculty mentor under whose supervision the fellow will conduct either research or teaching duties. Students will experience both research fellowships and teaching fellowships at least once during their four years. Fellows are expected to devote 19 hours per week to their position. As of the 2024-2025 academic year, the academic year stipend for research and teaching fellowships is $42,745. That stipend includes funding for a summer project. Activities that would be considered for summer funding may include: conducting research; providing research assistance for an Annenberg faculty member; working with a faculty member on a joint project; or revising a paper for submission to a conference or journal.

Annenberg students who maintain a full schedule of courses, are in good standing, and are participating in a program of active scholarship, will receive a waiver of tuition and fees. 

All University of Pennsylvania students must carry health insurance, either through the University under the Penn Student Insurance Plan or through an outside provider. All Annenberg doctoral students who are eligible for the tuition waiver may enroll in the Penn Student Insurance Plan, and Annenberg will cover the health premium costs for those students. Students may pay an additional fee to enroll their spouse/domestic partner or children in the plan, and the University also offers grants for Ph.D. students with families to help offset these costs. Learn more about the plan here. 

A twelve-month dissertation research fellowship (DRF) is available to students who complete an acceptable dissertation proposal in a timely manner. The DRF provides a $42,745 stipend and covers dissertation tuition and the student health insurance premium for up to twelve consecutive months. These students are also eligible for an additional $1,200 in reimbursement for travel and research expenses.

All Annenberg doctoral students receiving a regular fellowship from the school (research fellowship, teaching fellowship, or dissertation research fellowship) have access to a yearly personal travel and research budget of up to $1,700. The primary purpose of this fund is to provide travel and lodging support for attendance at professional and academic conferences, however these funds may also be used for any legitimate educational and research purpose.