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Financial aid for graduate students in the form of a stipend and pay in exchange for the completion of specific tasks is known as a graduate assistantship (GA). There are three types of graduate assistants at Michigan State University: research assistants, teaching assistants covered by the MSU – Graduate Employees Union Collective Bargaining Agreement, and teaching assistants not covered by that agreement.

There are about three thousand graduate assistantships at Michigan State University. The University cares about the education of its graduate assistants and, in the case of teaching assistants, the education they deliver to its undergraduates.

The primary focus of graduate assistants’ time at MSU is on furthering their education. Maintaining the assistantship is contingent upon making satisfactory academic progress towards completion of the degree. The length of time a graduate student can receive funding through an assistantship may be capped by their department.

About the Scholarship Provider:

Located in East Lansing, Michigan State University (MSU) was established in 1855 as a public institution of higher education. When President Abraham Lincoln signed the Morrill Act into law in 1862, it established Michigan State University as the first and foremost land-grant institution in the United States. The land-grant university system, of which MSU was the prototype, was established. Michigan State University (MSU) started out as the Agricultural College of the State of Michigan and went through several name changes before settling on its current moniker in 1964. (MSU). Michigan State University, a world-renowned institution, has spent its 165 years raising the standards of academic excellence in both research and teaching. Michigan State University was ranked 93rd in the world by Times Higher Education (THE) in its World University Ranking for 2022. Michigan State University was ranked 159th in the world by QS in their 2023 university rankings.

The University of Michigan is routinely rated as one of the top universities for research. The top undergraduate research programmes in the country may be found at Michigan State University, which is home to more than 100 separate research organisations and centres. Michigan State University spent $713 million on research for the 2019-2020 school year; the federal government contributed $329 million towards this total.  There are more than 900 student organisations at Michigan State University, all of which enrich the student experience. The 17 degree-granting universities provide more than 200 unique undergraduate, graduate, and professional programmes. The University of Michigan–Stadium is one of the largest campuses in the country. Fourteen percent of its more than fifty thousand students are not American citizens.

Spartans is the nickname for the sports teams of Michigan State University. Once inside the MSU, you can use any of four distinct indoor facilities. Group exercise studios, a turf arena, two cycling studios, racquetball/squash courts, two indoor pools, basketball/volleyball courts, a ballroom, and an indoor roller rink are just some of the facilities available across campus.  Also available to students are two 18-hole golf courses, a soccer field, a flag football field, sand volleyball courts, tennis courts, and an outdoor pool, not to mention a sailing centre on Lake Lansing. Each season, Michigan State University hosts around 150 different concerts. Popular bands like Panic! at the Disco and other large ensembles have also performed as part of these series. Every student, regardless of their existing schedule, has the option to join one of the various student ensembles the school provides. The Spartan Marching Band is just one of seven choirs and six bands on campus. There are also two orchestras, three jazz bands, Musique 21, and two opera productions.

Living on campus is crucial because it improves academic performance and fosters a sense of community. A total of 27 dormitories may be found across the 5 neighbourhoods. Students can use their meal cards at more than thirty different dining halls on campus. These establishments might be anything from sit-down restaurants to snack bars and food courts. Turing Award winners Stanley Cohen (Nobel Prise in Physiology), Robert Shiller (Nobel Prise in Economic Sciences), WYC Grousebeck (CEO and Governor of the NBA), Tom Harmon (Heisman Trophy), Claudia Alexander (NASA Geophysicist Award), and Edgar Ted Codd (Heisman Trophy) are just a few of the famous people who attended this university.

SeNSS is one of only 14 Doctoral Training Partnerships in the United Kingdom that is sponsored by the ESRC, and they will be offering a handful of fully-funded ESRC doctoral studentships beginning in September 2023. SeNSS is one of the only 14 Doctoral Training Partnerships in the United Kingdom that is sponsored by the ESRC.

Scholarship Sponsor(s): Michigan State University

Scholarship Country: United States of America

Scholarship Worth: Fully Funded

Study Level:  Postgraduate

Nationality: International Students

Scholarship Offer:

• Every other week, people get their paychecks. Graduate assistants at any of the three levels can be hired on a part-time, full-time, or full-time, three-quarters basis, with their stipends correspondingly adjusted. Despite not taking 10 credits, the graduate student still receives the following advantages:
• Coverage of 9 credits in the fall, 9 credits in the spring, and 5 credits in the summer.
• Provisional waiver of non-resident fees.
• Some graduate students may be required to pay mandatory college or programme fees that are standard for their academic track.
• Insuring one’s health.
• Possibility of receiving care at Olin Medical Centre.
• Membership in the Michigan State University Federal Credit Union, use of the library, access to intramural and recreational facilities.
• Discounts on season tickets for football, basketball, and/or hockey for both the student and his or her spouse if the school offers such a discount.
• Presenting a valid student ID gains you free entry to all other regularly scheduled Michigan State University athletic events.
• Series tickets to professional performances at the Wharton Centre for the Performing Arts and the Institute for Arts and Culture can be purchased at a discounted student cost, and students can even bring a guest for the same price.
• If the student is taking the requisite number of credits, they will not have to pay Social Security tax on their stipend. 
• Graduate assistantships typically span one academic semester (August 16–December 31, January 1–May 15, or May 16–August 15). The terms of the assistantship (e.g., full- or part-time, Fall, Spring, and/or Summer Semesters) are determined by the appointing department/unit.

The Gustafsson & Skrondal Visiting Scholarship is administered by the University of Oslo’s Centre for Educational Measurement (CEMO). As part of the visiting scholar program, CEMO and the University of Oslo host a number of young researchers from Norway and elsewhere each year.

Eligibility for Scholarship.

• Graduate assistantships are awarded only to students enrolled in and making satisfactory progress towards a graduate degree.
• Graduate assistants from outside the United States are required to register with the Office of International Students and Scholars using their online portal. Their MSU email will be used to communicate check-in details.
• Graduate assistants are required to register as follows each semester they are employed:
• Quarter- and half-time graduate assistantships need a minimum course load of 3 credits per semester (exceptions noted in chart). The maximum number of credits they can carry is 16 (899/999 credits excluded) for a quarter-time appointment or 12 (699/999 credits excluded) for a half-time appointment. After the student’s unit administrator has submitted the completed exam form to the appropriate college Associate Dean and the college has sent the clearance to the Office of the Registrar, a doctoral student who has passed the comprehensive exams may register for 1 credit in the following semester. Please be aware that all PhD students have a credit limit of 36,999.
• Assistantships for master’s degree students are only available on a part-time basis and require students to take at least 6 credits per semester. The maximum number of credits they can carry is 16 (899/999 credits excluded) for a quarter-time appointment or 12 (699/999 credits excluded) for a half-time appointment.
• Assistantships at the three-quarters level require a minimum course load of three credits per semester for doctoral and master’s students. Course credits (899/999 excluded) can total a maximum of 8.
• Graduate assistants are expected to maintain a minimum 3-credit load throughout the summer term.
• If a student has written permission from their department chair or unit director, college, and the Dean of the Graduate School, they may include visitor credits in their course load.
• Except as noted for doctoral students, the only semester in which a student is exempt from enrolling for at least the number of credits required to complete the degree or meeting the University minimum registration requirement of one credit is the semester in which the degree is granted.
• The college dean must approve any exceptions to the maximum credit limit before a student may register for classes.
• Except in cases where the student’s department, school, or programme has received formal authorisation for course work constituting an exemption to this principle, all graduate enrolment must be in courses recognised as being of graduate level.
• Academic excellence is expected of all graduate assistants. This equates to a grade point average of 3.0 or better. Appointing agencies or universities may set additional or stricter requirements
• The department chair or school/program director is responsible for making recommendations for graduate assistant appointments.
• Graduate assistantships are not available to students in the MSU College of Law or the MSU School of Lifelong Learning. Graduate assistantships are not available to students who are concurrently pursuing a bachelor’s and master’s degree since they have not yet earned the appropriate number of credits toward the bachelor’s degree.

Nationality

The Michigan State University (MSU) 2023-2024 Graduate Assistantships for International Students is open to all international students.

If a student enrolls in one of the degree programs offered by SOAS University of London, they may be eligible to receive a fee waiver award in the amount of £5,000. This award is available to students who are interested in receiving a degree from SOAS University of London.

Application Procedure

• Graduate assistantships typically span one academic semester (August 16–December 31, January 1–May 15, or May 16–August 15). The terms of the assistantship (e.g., full- or part-time, Fall, Spring, and/or Summer Semesters) are determined by the appointing department/unit.
• Graduate assistants are placed in the appropriate levels based on the cumulative experience of the student body. Academic Programmes has the specifics on each level.
• An offer letter, to be signed by both the student and the company, must be drafted. Each potential form of employment has its own offer letter template. No changes can be made to these sample documents. The student’s signed offer letter will be uploaded to the employment application in EBS.
• A background check is necessary before making the appointment. Students will be sent a disclosure and authorisation form in electronic format. The background check cannot begin until the paperwork is signed and returned. Appointments are conditional on meeting expectations.
• The GA Appointment Recommendation form requires an INS I-9 (Employment Eligibility Verification) form to be completed and attached. The identity and eligibility documentation must be shown to a department official. Documents that can be used to fill out an I-9 can be viewed here: https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents. The I-9 form must to be filled out no later than three business days from the date of hire. The appointment will be cancelled if the I-9 forms are not submitted within three days.
• The HR division will process I-9 forms for all student workers. Department heads who require guidance filling out Form I-9 for a foreign individual with proper visa status can get it from Human Resources. Departments can reach out to [email protected] for help with the I-9 process.
• Pay for graduate assistants is distributed every two weeks. Appointment forms for graduate assistants must be submitted to Human Resources by the deadlines specified by those offices (https://hr.msu.edu/ua/hiring/graduate-assistants/index.html). They risk missing out on the first paycheck and being late to join in the health insurance plan if they miss the deadlines.
• A W-4 withholding tax authorisation and payroll direct deposit form are recommended for Graduate Assistants to fill out. Graduate Assistants can enter the Employee Self-Service Portal at https://ebs.msu.edu/ to register in direct deposit and fill out Form W-4.
• The key to getting your stipend and benefits is turning in a properly filled-out appointment form. Additionally, it serves as a declaration of both the department’s and the student’s commitment to abide by the guidelines for graduate assistantships as outlined in this brochure, the Graduate Students’ Rights and Responsibilities agreement, and the Academic Programmes catalogue.

Application Deadline

The application deadline for the Michigan State University (MSU) 2023-2024 Graduate Assistantships for International Students is October 31, 2023.