Stipend, fee and tuition levels
Stipend: Starting in October 2024, the UCSF stipend level for Graduate Student Researchers in 2024-25 will be $50,203, or $4,183.58 monthly. Stipend levels are determined by the Collective Bargaining Agreement established in April of 2023. For more information, please visit https://ucnet.universityofcalifornia.edu/resources/employment-policies-contracts/bargaining-units/graduate-student-researchers/contract/
Fees and Tuition: You can see information and a complete breakdown of fees on the Registrar's website. The cost of the mandatory student health insurance is built into the fees.
How often are paychecks disbursed?
Students are paid once a month in arrears. For example, for the month of September, checks are issued on October 1. Payday is the first day of each month except when that day falls on a weekend, when checks will be issued the Friday before.
I'm receiving two checks - why?
Sometimes a student may be paid from two different funding sources. Usually the two sources cannot be combined into a single check, so you will get two.
Paying taxes
State and federal taxes will be withheld each month through payroll when stipends are paid through payroll sources of funding. If you are being paid through non-payroll sources, no taxes will be taken out of your paycheck each month, but you will be expected to pay taxes at the end of the year. For more information on taxes, please visit the Grad Division Tax Information website.
How long are students funded by the BMS program?
Students are admitted to the program with the understanding that an annual stipend and annual payment of tuition and fees is guaranteed through graduation as long as the student remains in good academic standing. Students are funded for at least 24 months by the BMS program starting from September 1 of the first year. Sources of funding will include training grant appointments, Graduate Division fellowships, and BMS program funds.
When will student funding become the responsibility of the individual PI if the student does not have extramural funding?
Beginning September 1 of the third year (or thereabouts), it will become the responsibility of the student's PI to provide a stipend at the current UCSF level plus resident fees for California residents and non-resident tuition and fees for international students. If a student has a fellowship, extramural or internal, that will cover a portion of the stipend or fees, the PI must pay the portion not covered by the fellowship.