Graduate Student Funding and Awards

Students appointed on assistantships may be subject to a collective bargaining agreement and contract. Additional information can be found on the Graduate School website. 

Mathematics Teaching Assistantship (TA):

A TA position is an academic appointment averaging no more than 15 hours per week. In the Mathematics Department, there are three types of Teaching Assistant (TA) positions: recitation TA for 1000-2000 level classes, grading TA for upper division courses with proof-based homework, and instructional TA for Math 1110 Calculus I or Math 1120 Calculus II. Graduate students who are interested in an academic career are encouraged to be an instructional TA at least once prior to their final year of graduate school.

The International Teaching Assistant Program (ITAP) The International Teaching Assistant Program (ITAP) supports international graduate students on the path to success in their work as teaching assistants at Cornell.

Related Links

• Graduate Student Assistantship and Fellowship Stipend Rates

• Student Health Benefits Information

• University Policy 1.3, "Graduate Student Assistantships"

• Tuition Rates and Fees

• University Policy 1.6, "Graduate and Professional Student Parental Accommodation"

• Graduate School Assistantships Summary

Robert John Bättig Graduate Prize:

Recipients of the Bättig Prize are selected based on excellence and promise in mathematics. The award is given to graduate students who have passed their A exam. 

Hutchinson Fellowship:

Awarded for excellent work as students in the graduate program and/or as teaching assistants, the Hutchinson Fellowship provides one semester of relief from teaching to allow students to work on their thesis problems. Accordingly, it is awarded to students who have passed their A exam. Preference is given to students with both outstanding academic achievements and outstanding teaching. 

The Torng Prize:

Established in 2017 by former graduate student Bung-Fung Torng, this prize is awarded annually to an outstanding graduate student for their work as a teacher. It provides summer support for the student to focus on their thesis work.

Eleanor Norton York Award:

Each year a student in the Mathematics Department and a student in the Astronomy Department, in which Eleanor York was employed, are selected to receive this award. The recipients are chosen from those in the middle of their graduate education on the basis of their achievements to date to encourage them to have even more success in the future.

Recipients of the departmental awards are listed on the Department Awards page.

Cornell Graduate School Recruiting Fellowships:

Awarded to first-year graduate students on the basis of scholastic ability and promise of achievement. Recipients are chosen by the Mathematics Graduate Admissions Committee at the time of admittance.

The Cornell graduate school funds several fellowships for new students. These fellowships provide one academic year of funding, including stipend, tuition, and health insurance. Current stipend rates can be found on the Graduate School’s website. Students are offered a Teaching Assistantship after the fellowship period.

Other Fellowship Opportunities:

• Cornell Graduate School Fellowship Database

• National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship Program

• DOD National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship

• International Students: Pay close attention to the availability of fellowships from your home countries. If the funds from these awards do not cover full stipend and tuition, the Graduate School will, in some cases, supplement one semester of tuition dependent on availability of funding. This allows students to TA for one semester and have one semester free from teaching duties. In recent years both Canadian and UK students have received substantial awards from their home countries.