Ph.D. Student Financial Support Policy

Issue Date: September 30, 2024
Supersedes: Ph.D. Student Financial Support Policy, June 2019
Last Review: September 30, 2024

I. PURPOSE

The purpose of this policy is to establish guidelines for financial support of Ph.D. students in the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences (“GSBMS”).

II. POLICY

It is the policy of NYMC to guarantee incoming GSBMS Ph.D. students financial support that includes stipend, tuition and health insurance until completion of their program requirements or termination of their participation in the program. The extent of financial support by GSBMS will vary for students supported by external employers, extramural fellowships and scholarships (private and/or federal) and foreign governments.

III. SCOPE

This policy applies to students in all GSBMS Ph.D. degree programs: - Integrated Ph.D. Program (IPP), Advanced Standing Ph.D. and M.D./Ph.D. students (during the Ph.D. component of their studies).

IV. DEFINITIONS

Ph.D.: Doctor of Philosophy Degree
NYMC: New York Medical College

V. PROCEDURES

A. The GSBMS will support the stipend, tuition and health insurance of IPP students during their first two years in the program. The Dissertation Advisor will budget grant funds to provide full support of stipend, tuition and health insurance for the IPP students starting July 1st of year three of their program.

B. For Advanced Standing Ph.D. students and M.D./Ph.D. students, the Dissertation Advisor should provide full support of stipend, tuition and health insurance upon their entry to the Ph.D. program.

C. In the case of a lapse of funding by the Dissertation Advisor, the GSBMS will resume financial support of the Ph.D. student upon Dean’s approval. The financial support by the Dissertation Advisor should start/resume with the start of the budget period of the new grant award.

D. All Ph.D. students who are recipients of GSBMS financial support must be registered full time or participate in equivalent full-time effort of approved academic activity, such as research training or dissertation research.

E. All Ph.D. students are strongly encouraged to apply for external funding and pursue extramural awards in order to develop grant / fellowship writing skills and enhance their resume.

F. Completion of the Ph.D. dissertation and passing the public Ph.D. dissertation defense constitutes fulfillment of the final requirements of the Ph.D. degree. The Ph.D. dissertation defense should be scheduled in accordance with the Policy on Graduation Requirements and Deadlines after all requirements for the degree are met, including satisfactory completion of all required courses, and submission of signed Ph.D. Advisory Committee Membership Form and signed Dissertation Completion Form.

G. Ph.D. students have two (2) weeks after a successful dissertation defense to complete any required edits to the final dissertation document and submit the final approved dissertation to the GSBMS office.

H. Ph.D. program benefits will be terminated at the end of the next two-week pay period following the successful dissertation defense. This includes stipend and student travel grants.

I. Student health insurance will be terminated at the end of the month following the successful dissertation defense.

J. Students paid by research grants or non-GSBMS funding should arrange to be hired by their departments in post-doctoral or research assistant positions following the successful dissertation defense, as appropriate, according to the employment guidelines of New York Medical College.

VI. EFFECTIVE DATE

This policy is effective immediately.

VII. POLICY MANAGEMENT

Executive Stakeholder: Dean, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences
Oversight Office: Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Dean’s Office