Slavic Department Funding
Teaching and Research Assistantships
The department has a few Teaching Assistantships available each year, as well as one Research Assistantship that is awarded to the most promising new student. The deadline to be considered for either assistantship is December 15th. Teaching Assistantships are competitive, and awarded based on the following:
- Academic achievement and progress toward degree, which is determined by a careful reading of the candidate’s dossier.
- Teaching potential, in which attention is paid to experience, recommendations, and formal preparation in pedagogy.
- Competency in the language, where ranking is established either by testing or interview, along with recommendations from qualified observers. New applicants for graduate study are asked to name a proctor at their institution who will administer a written examination, and potential teaching assistantship recipients will be given a telephone interview in the target language. Local applicants will be examined by the department for proficiency.
During winter quarter of each year, the Graduate Studies Committee will review TA applications from continuing students in the department, along with funding applications from prospective students applying to the department's M.A. and Ph.D. programs. In addition to the basic criteria for awarding Teaching Assistantships, a student’s standing within the program at the time of review and appointment will affect the committee’s decision. The presence of incompletes or X grades from the previous two academic years or the preceding fall quarter are indications that a student is not in good standing.
The committee will make its preliminary recommendations for Teaching Assistantships for the following academic year based on the information available to it during winter quarter. The department’s subsequent official offers of appointment, which are usually delivered during spring quarter, should take the candidates’ continuing good standing during winter and spring quarters into account.
Funding for Conferences and Travel
The Slavic Department encourages students to participate in local and national conferences such as ASEEES and AATSEEL, and has limited funding available. Students can request reimbursement for travel to and accommodation at academic conferences, conference registration fees, as well as professional association dues. Please check with the Slavic Department Administrator for more information.
Non-departmental Funding
UW Financial Aid Office
Students may apply for need-based funding through the UW's Financial Aid Office. Aid from this office consists primarily of loans and work-study opportunities. The department will try to employ those graduate students approved for the work-study program, as the budget allows. The Slavic Section of the UW Libraries, as well as the Ellison Center for Russian, East European and Central Asian Studies, are also willing to consider work-study recipients for employment.
UW Language Learning Center
The UW Language Learning Center takes applications each year for Graduate Staff Assistants, and our students, especially those with prior teaching and technological experience, are invited to apply.
The Jackson School of International Studies (JSIS)
The Jackson School of International Studies awards Foreign Language and Area Study Fellowships (FLAS) for the study of Russian, East European and Central Asian languages. Applications typically open in the middle of October or beginning of November, and are due by the end of January for the following academic year.
UW Graduate School
The UW Graduate School offers conference travel awards to help graduate students attend major conferences to present papers or posters, or to serve as an invited speaker. They also have an Office of Fellowships and Awards, which maintains a list of popular funding opportunities and a series of short videos (made in collaboration with the Graduate Funding Information Service).
UW Libraries
The UW Libraries offer a Graduate Funding Information Service, which works with current and admitted graduate students to help them identify funding opportunities. GFIS has also made a video of their information session, Finding Funding for Graduate School.
The Annual Register of Grant Support
This reference guide by Marquis Academic Media is an excellent source of information on specific programs of funding, and may be found in many libraries.