The MCPH Program funds as many students as possible, but sometimes we have more students than available funding lines.

In-house Funding
To be considered for funding through the MCPH Program, applicants must submit their applications by February 15 (for the following fall semester).

Funding Options

Most MCPH students have graduate assistantships. These come with a full tuition waiver, a modest stipend, and–per the Commonwealth of Virginia–require 20 hours of work per week and a 12-credit course load each semester.

  • Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTAs) help faculty teach undergraduate classes.
  • Graduate Research Assistants (GRAs) help faculty with research projects.
  • Graduate Assistants (GAs) help faculty and administrators with clerical and/or administrative work.

Please see this link to the Graduate School for more in-depth information regarding assistantships as well as the basic criteria for eligibility for assistantships.

Other kinds of funding (scholarships, fellowships, and work-life grants) are available through the Graduate School. Note that these options have their own deadlines and eligibility criteria, and they are awarded by the Graduate School, not the MCPH Program. See link for details.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • CAN I EXPECT TO BE FUNDED FOR THE DURATION OF MY GRADUATE TRAINING?
    The MCPH Program tries to renew the funding of all full-time students funded by the program during their first year. Thus, students who enter with funding typically have funding for four semesters (two years). However, because we are subject to changes in the University’s annual budget, we cannot guarantee funding beyond a one-year period. Furthermore, the MCPH Steering Committee reserves the right to withdraw funding from any student who fails to meet contractual duties or whose coursework fails to meet basic standards.
  • WHAT DO MOST MCPH STUDENTS DO AS GTAs/GRAs/GAs?
    GTA positions may be located in the Department of Religion & Culture or the School of Visual Arts. Virginia Tech’s Moss Center for the Arts also employs two MCPH students each year. The MCPH Steering Committee assigns new students based on applicant profiles and apparent aptitudes. Positions available through the Graduate School do not require work hours, and are thus quite competitive.
  • HOW MUCH DOES THE PROGRAM COST IF I DO NOT RECEIVE FUNDING?
    The cost of the MCPH Program is set by the VT Graduate School (see link). If a student does not receive funding, we work to help him or her complete the degree as efficiently as possible.