Guide · USA · Fall 2027 intake

Funded PhD in the USA for international students (Fall 2027)

Updated 19 October 2026 · For international applicants · Always confirm details on the programme’s official page

A funded PhD in the USA usually means you pay no tuition and get a salary or stipend to live on, often for five years. At many universities, this funding is open to international and US students alike. This guide explains how the funding package works, what stipends look like in 2026–27 (from official university pages), the Fall 2027 deadlines (mostly December and January), GRE and TOEFL rules, and where Fulbright fits in.

How full funding works: tuition waiver plus a TA/RA stipend

In most US research PhDs, an offer of admission comes with a funding package from the department. It usually has three parts:

• Tuition covered by a waiver or remission, so you don’t pay the published fee. Princeton’s 2026–27 tuition, for example, is $65,210 a year.
• A stipend or salary paid monthly, through a fellowship (no work required), a research assistantship (RA) on a faculty member’s grant, or a teaching assistantship (TA).
• Health insurance, often included.

MIT EECS describes it simply: PhD students are supported by a fellowship, RA or TA that provides full tuition, a monthly living stipend and medical insurance. RAs are chosen by faculty who want students with matching interests, and TAs for their ability to teach (MIT EECS FAQ). Princeton funds all degree-seeking PhD students during regular enrolment, which is generally five years (Princeton Graduate School).

Read the details of your offer. At UW–Madison, an assistantship of at least 33% covers resident and non-resident tuition, but students still pay segregated fees of roughly $726 a semester (UW–Madison Graduate School). Cornell sets a standard TA or RA appointment at an average of 15 hours a week (Cornell Graduate School). On an F-1 visa, on-campus work is capped at 20 hours a week while school is in session (Study in the States).

Typical stipends in 2026–27

Stipends vary by university, field and city. These are official figures for 2026–27:

• UW–Madison (campus minimums): $37,417 for an annual RA, or $30,614 for the academic year. Many programmes pay more.
• Cornell (minimums): $36,684 for 9 months, or $48,912 over 12 months with summer, for TAs and RAs. Cornell Tech in New York pays $60,719 over 12 months.
• MIT (base 12-month salary): $51,226 for a doctoral RA and $52,429 for a doctoral TA. Departments can pay more, and the rates are under negotiation with the graduate student union.
• Princeton: $52,680 to $55,440 for a 12-month fellowship, and $48,510 for a 10-month TA.

Across these examples, stipends run from about $30,000 to just over $60,000 a year. When you compare offers, check whether the figure covers 9, 10 or 12 months, whether summer funding is guaranteed, and what local rent costs. MIT warns that nine months of support is usually not enough to cover living costs in the area. Stipends may also be taxed (MIT Office of Graduate Education).

Fall 2027 deadlines: December to January

Most PhD programmes admit once a year for an August or September start. Confirmed Fall 2027 examples:

• Princeton: 15 November 2026 for Psychology, 1 December for fields such as Chemistry, Economics and Molecular Biology, 15 December for Computer Science, ECE PhD, Mathematics and Physics, and 21 December for others. All dates are 11:59 p.m. Eastern (Princeton deadlines).
• MIT EECS: applications are due 1 December 2026. Letters and transcripts should be uploaded by early January (MIT EECS admissions).
• UC Berkeley: the application opened on 24 September 2026, and each programme sets its own deadline (Berkeley Graduate Division).
• Arizona State Physics: 15 January 2027 for full consideration (ASU Physics).
• Stony Brook Mathematics: 15 January 2027, with 1 January recommended for fellowship consideration (Stony Brook Math).

Decisions usually arrive from February. At MIT EECS they come in mid-February. Under the Council of Graduate Schools’ April 15 Resolution, students at signatory universities don’t have to accept or decline an offer of financial support before 15 April.

GRE and TOEFL notes

GRE

Many programmes have dropped the GRE, but not all. MIT EECS does not use GRE scores, except for the LGO programme. ASU Physics no longer requires the general GRE or the Physics GRE. Stony Brook Mathematics will not consider GRE scores for Fall 2027. Berkeley notes that some programmes still require a GRE, GRE Subject Test, GMAT or MCAT.

TOEFL and IELTS

Since 21 January 2026, TOEFL iBT reports use a new 1–6 scale. For a two-year transition, reports also show a comparable 0–120 total, and scores are valid for two years (ETS). Universities are updating their minimums at different times:

• UC Berkeley (Fall 2027): 90 for tests taken before 21 January 2026. For later tests, 5 overall with at least 4.5 in Speaking and Writing. IELTS needs 7 overall.
• MIT EECS: TOEFL iBT 100, IELTS 7 or Duolingo 130.
• ASU: a university minimum of 83 iBT. ASU Physics looks for about 15% more because TAs need strong English.

If you hope to be funded by teaching, aim higher: Berkeley sets a higher oral English standard for teaching appointments than for admission.

Fulbright for international students

The Fulbright Foreign Student Program funds graduate students and young professionals from abroad to study in the USA. It runs in more than 160 countries and gives about 4,000 awards a year. You apply through the Fulbright Commission or US Embassy in your home country, not through the university, and eligibility, degree levels and fields vary by country. If your country isn’t listed, you can’t apply.

• Timing: Fulbright closes much earlier than university deadlines. For 2027–28, the Kyrgyz Republic closed on 10 June 2026 and Jamaica on 29 May 2026. For a Fall 2027 start, most rounds have already closed, so plan for the following year.
• What it covers: this varies by country. The Kyrgyz Republic call lists full tuition, a monthly stipend for up to 24 months, health and accident benefits, a book allowance and travel. Jamaica’s call covers master’s and PhD study and lists tuition assistance, a monthly stipend, a book allowance and health insurance.
• Conditions: grantees come on a J visa and are expected to return home for at least two years. Some countries require the GRE or GMAT.

Some big US fellowships aren’t open to international applicants. The NSF Graduate Research Fellowship, for example, is limited to US citizens, nationals and permanent residents (NSF). That makes university funding the main route for most international applicants.

How to apply, step by step

1. Shortlist by faculty fit: 2–3 faculty per programme whose recent work matches yours.
2. Check the funding statement on each programme page: guaranteed years, stipend, summer support and fees.
3. Diary every deadline. Most fall between 1 December and 15 January, and fee-waiver and fellowship deadlines can be earlier.
4. Book your English test early and take the GRE only where it’s required or clearly helps.
5. Contact faculty where it’s welcome. ASU Physics, for example, encourages it. See how to email a potential PhD supervisor.
6. Write a specific statement of purpose naming the methods, projects and people that fit you. Our motivation letter guide applies.
7. Brief three referees early.
8. Compare offers by 15 April, and keep your funding letter. F-1 students must prove they can pay for tuition and living costs.

Weighing Europe too? See our guide to funded PhDs in the UK and Europe.

FAQ

Can international students get a fully funded PhD in the USA?

Yes. Most research PhD programmes fund admitted students through fellowships, research assistantships or teaching assistantships that cover tuition and pay a stipend, often with health insurance. Princeton, for example, funds all degree-seeking PhD students during regular enrolment, which is generally five years.

How much is a PhD stipend in the USA?

It depends on the university and city. Official 2026–27 figures include $37,417 a year (UW–Madison annual RA minimum), $48,912 over 12 months (Cornell minimum), $51,226 (MIT doctoral RA base, 12 months) and $52,680 to $55,440 (Princeton 12-month fellowship).

When are Fall 2027 PhD deadlines in the USA?

Mostly between 1 December 2026 and 15 January 2027. MIT EECS closes on 1 December 2026, Princeton’s fields close between 15 November and 21 December 2026, and ASU Physics and Stony Brook Mathematics close on 15 January 2027.

Do I need the GRE for a US PhD?

Not always. MIT EECS does not use GRE scores (except for LGO), ASU Physics no longer requires it, and Stony Brook Mathematics will not consider it for Fall 2027. Other programmes still ask for the GRE, so check each programme page.

What TOEFL score do I need now that TOEFL uses a 1–6 scale?

Each university sets its own minimum. UC Berkeley requires 5 overall with 4.5 in Speaking and Writing for tests taken on or after 21 January 2026, or 90 on the old scale. MIT EECS asks for 100 iBT. TOEFL reports also show a comparable 0–120 score during the transition.

Can I apply for Fulbright to do a PhD in the USA?

Possibly. The Fulbright Foreign Student Program runs in more than 160 countries through local Fulbright Commissions or US Embassies, and eligibility, degree levels and deadlines vary by country. Deadlines for 2027–28 were in 2026, for example 29 May 2026 in Jamaica and 10 June 2026 in the Kyrgyz Republic.

Sources

• Princeton Graduate School — University rates and costs 2026–27
• Princeton Graduate School — Graduate financing plan
• Princeton Graduate School — Application deadlines (Fall 2027)
• MIT Office of Graduate Education — Salaries and stipends
• MIT EECS — Admission process
• MIT EECS — Graduate admissions FAQs
• Cornell Graduate School — Stipend rates 2026–27
• UW–Madison Graduate School — Graduate assistantships
• UC Berkeley Graduate Division — Admissions requirements
• Arizona State University — Physics PhD admission
• Stony Brook University — Applying to the Mathematics PhD
• Council of Graduate Schools — April 15 Resolution
• ETS — TOEFL iBT scores
• Study in the States (DHS) — Working in the United States
• Fulbright — Foreign Student Program
• U.S. Embassy Bishkek — Fulbright Foreign Student Program 2027–2028
• U.S. Embassy Kingston — 2027–28 Fulbright Foreign Student Program
• NSF — GRFP applicant eligibility