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Financial Aid for Graduate Students
Financial assistance for graduate study in Physics is available in the form of teaching assistantships, research assistantships, combination teaching/research assistantships, and work/study programs. In addition, some fellowships and awards are offered.
Teaching assistants are appointed to assist in teaching undergraduate instructional laboratories. Teaching assistantships are awarded on the basis of departmental needs and the applicant's experience and academic record. These appointments carry a 9-month stipend plus full tuition remission for up to 12 units (4 graduate courses) per semester plus 12 units during the Summer session. Teaching assistants are encouraged to join a research group during the summer as research assistants.

Although most of the Teaching assistants are involved in teaching undergraduate labs, some are engaged in a combination of teaching laboratories and grading, and a few assist only with grading of examinations and homework.
Research assistants are appointed to assist in sponsored research projects, funding for which comes from foundation and government contracts or grants. Normally a graduate research assistant is employed on a part-time basis during the regular academic year while enrolled in the graduate program and on a full- or part-time basis during the summer months. The compensation for a research assistantship is approximately the same as that for a teaching assistantship and includes stipend and tuition. Decisions with regard to research assistantship awards are made by individual faculty members in charge of sponsored research programs.
Work/Study Programs are sponsored by a number of industrial concerns in the Los Angeles area, such as Hughes. These make it possible for an employee to participate in a graduate program on a part-time basis with tuition paid by the employer. However, this program is practical only for obtaining the Master's Degree because of the large amount of time required for a doctoral dissertation.
Fellowships and Awards
The department has funds available for a small number of fellowships. Based on the decision of the Department Admission Committee, full Fellowships or supplements to an Assistantship may be offered.

In addition, some fellowships and awards offered through The Graduate School include:
- All-University Predoctoral Diversity Fellowships
- Chen Fellowship
- John Stauffer Student Fellowship
Nominations for these awards are made by the department.
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