UChicago Biosciences offers academically qualified applicants full and equitable support. Such assistance is guaranteed through the student’s first five years of study, conditional on satisfactory degree progress, and is extended to completion of degree in all but the most unusual of circumstances.
Financial support includes tuition and fees, and provides a stipend. The graduate stipend is maintained at a level affording a reasonable local standard of living, is competitive with awards offered at comparable institutions, and is periodically adjusted in response to cost-of-living increases.
The 2023-24 stipend will be $38,200 plus health insurance and fees. We also provide a one-time $1,000 relocation payment.
Individual fields of research may offer support from predoctoral training grant appointments, endowed fellowships, or research assistantships. Many of our students also compete successfully for external fellowships. UChicago Biosciences provides supplemental funding to ensure that all students, regardless of funding source, receive the same standard of funding.
All new and continuing graduate students are encouraged to seek individual merit awards, such as NSF Graduate Research Fellowships, NIH individual National Research Service Awards, or Department of Defense awards, whenever possible. For more information, see Student Funding and Awards.
Application fees
Generally, an application fee of $90 is required and non-refundable. Applicants may qualify for specific fee waivers.
In order to request an application fee waiver, you must first submit an application. Once an application is submitted, your application status portal will display the option to request a fee waiver by filling out a short form and providing documentation, if required. If you are applying to one of the schools or divisions which allows multiple applications, you will need to ensure you are on the status page of the correct application; a separate waiver request must be submitted for each application.
Application fees are non-refundable. If you intend to submit a fee waiver request, do not pay the application fee until you receive a decision about your request. If you pay the application fee, and later have your waiver request approved, the fee will not be refunded.
Fee Waiver Categories and General Eligibility Criteria
- University of Chicago degree program students and alumni
This waiver category is available in most programs to any applicant who has received or expects to receive a degree from another UChicago program.
- Current or recent participants in qualifying programs
This waiver category is available if you have participated in one of the following:
- CIC Applicants
- Fulbright/IIE Fellowship Recipient
- Gates Millennium Scholars
- Leadership Alliance Summer Research Early Identification Program
- Maximizing Access to Research Careers (MARC)
- McNair Scholars Program
- Post-baccalaureate Research Education Program (PREP)
- Project 1000
- Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU)
- Society for Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS)
- U.S. armed forces or uniformed services: currently serving (active duty or reserves) or honorably discharged
- Current undergraduates receiving need-based aid from a U.S. institution
To qualify for this waiver, if offered by the program, you must be currently enrolled as an undergraduate in a U.S. college or university and must provide documentation that you are receiving need-based financial aid.
- Valid fee waiver codes received from an authorized representative of the University of Chicago
Codes will be reviewed to ensure that they are valid and were sent to you by an authorized representative. Programs may only accept their own codes, not those issued by other departments of the University. Do not contact faculty or staff to request codes.
- Other waiver categories
- Application fee waivers are available for students who have graduated or plan to graduate from a post-secondary minority-serving institutions (Historically Black College or University, Hispanic-Serving Institution, Tribal College or University, Asian American and Pacific Islander Serving Institution, etc.). Institutions included on either the list maintained by the U.S. Department of Education or the current list published by the Rutgers University Center for MSIs qualify.
- Current University of Chicago / University of Chicago Medical Center employees