All students accepted into the PHTS umbrella program, regardless of citizenship, are financially supported throughout their graduate education at USC. Institutional funds are provided for each PHTS student during the first 2 years of their studies. This includes a nationally competitive stipend, all tuition and departmental fees, and health insurance premiums.
At the end of the first year, PHTS students will select a faculty mentor and a track-specific program of PhD study (PSCI, MPTX or CXPT) and will be expected to begin his/her thesis research program in the laboratory of the faculty mentor. Beginning July 1st of year 3, the faculty mentor will be financially responsible for the student’s stipend and fees associated with a Graduate Assistant. During this time and until graduation, the student will be supported from research grants and/or scholarship funds within the chosen laboratory.
Students accepted into USC Mann PhD program are typically provided financial aid including full tuition remission and a stipend to cover living expenses (currently $36,312).
Fellowships, teaching assistantships and research assistantships are awarded on a competitive basis to qualified PhD candidates. Fellows and teaching assistants receive full tuition remission up to 12 units per semester including summer.
Health Care Coverage
As a PhD candidate, you will receive health care coverage information as part of your financial-aid package once you are accepted to a graduate program. If you hold a teaching or research assistantship, your health insurance and your USC health center fee will be paid.
Travel Awards
USC Mann’s Graduate Affairs Office will award funds toward travel expenses for those students who are invited to present a paper or poster or to attend a workshop. There is a limit of one to two trips per student per year, depending on availability of funds. In addition, USC Mann’s Graduate Affairs Office may fund part of a student’s travel expenses to an international conference, depending on availability of funds.
Scholarship Opportunities
The School seeks to recruit the best domestic applicants by offering them internal Dean’s Fellowships (up to 5 are awarded each year). In addition, the top applicants admitted through the PHTS umbrella program are eligible for the University’s Joint Provost-School of Pharmacy Fellowships. These awards cover stipend, health and dental insurance, fees and tuition with teaching as an option, allowing greater effort towards research in early years.