Graduate Student Resources

Graduate Handbook

Prospective and current students will find more information about the Department of Linguistics' programs, Areas of Concentration, suggested course sequencing, and more in the Graduate Program Handbook (version 3.8, updated May 2023).

Graduate Administrator Mike Orbin

Mike

  •      Manages graduate admissions, readmission, and change of status
  •      Tracks milestones, including reports of examinations
  •      Manages fellowship application process
  •      Coordinates extensions and leaves of absence
  •      Assists with certification for graduation
  •      Acts as liaison for graduate student benefits
  •      Issues permission codes

University Information

Other helpful resources for all Pitt graduate students include:

Grants and Funding

The Department of Linguistics offers three types of grants to current graduate students:

Departmental Research Grant: This grant provides partial support for research that leads to a PhD dissertation, a COMP paper, or an MA thesis. Priority is given to applicants who have not been given departmental travel/research fund before. The maximum amount is $800 for research involving international travel or travel to Hawaii or Puerto Rico, and $400 for research that can be conducted within the continental U.S. and Canada. 

Graduate Student Conference Participation Grant: This grant provides partial support for graduate students to travel to a professional conference and present a paper. Priority is given to applicants who have not been given departmental travel/research fund before. The maximum amount is $800 for international travel or travel to Hawaii or Puerto Rico, and $400 for travel within the continental US and Canada. Due to limited funds, beginning Fall 2018 there is a lifetime cap of $1,600 per student.  This is not a guarantee and will be awarded as the availability of funds permit. We recommend that our students plan ahead: For example, the amount will typically allow for 1 international conference and 2 domestic ones over the course of their graduate career (5 years). Of course, students are always encouraged to seek additional outside funding. 

Robert T. Henderson Endowment Fund Award and Book Grant: Awarded to graduate students working in TESOL. The awards range from $1,000 to $2,500.  

Information about the grant application process and deadlines is found in the Graduate Student Handbook.

Travel funding from other University sources and external institution is also available and includes:

Graduate Study Funding 

Jacob K. Javits Fellowships Program

Study Abroad

East Asia and Pacific Summer Institutes for U.S. Graduate Students

University of Pittsburgh Nationality Rooms Scholarships

Conference Funding

Arts and Sciences Graduate Student Organization Travel Grants

The Albert H. Marckwardt Travel Grants (Graduate students/TESOL members—grant to attend convention) 

The TESOL Professional Development Scholarships (TESOL members—grant to attend convention) 

Research Funding

The Wenner-Gren Foundation: Individual Research Grants

The Spencer Foundation: Research Grants and Fellowship Awards 

The Ruth Crymes TESOL Fellowship for Graduate Study (Graduate students/TESOL members) 

Miscellaneous

Linguistics Society of America: great calendar with links (click on "Resources," select grants)

Frequently Asked Questions About Funding Opportunities in the Field of TESOL 

TESOL Awards and Grants for Members