Financial Aid
Graduate Financial Support
The ECE department offers several prestigious and competitive fellowships for graduate study. Most graduate students, however, are supported on assistantships. Graduate teaching assistantships are awarded by the department and typically involve serving as graders or instructors. Graduate research assistantships are funded and awarded by the department's research groups.
Bradley Research Fellowship
The Bradley Graduate Fellowships are available each year to the top U.S. graduate students. Students must be US citizens to be considered.
The Bradley Fellowships enable highly-motivated graduate students to pursue research in ECE focus areas.
U.S. applicants to the ECE graduate program are automatically considered for the Bradley Fellowship. Underrepresented minorities are strongly encouraged to apply.
MS degree fellowships:
$2,700/month plus tuition for two years.
PhD degree fellowships:
$3,200/month plus tuition for four years.
Postdoctoral fellowships:
Competitive salary for two years.
Fellowships & Scholarships
ECE Fellowships are described below. The Graduate School maintains an up-to-date resource regarding external fellowships and scholarships on their website. The ECE Department also awards a number of internal fellowships and scholarships.
Graduate Teaching Assistantships
A limited number of GTA positions are available each year for graduate student support. These positions typically involve serving as graders or laboratory instructors. Tuition fees and a portion of medical insurance (often through Virginia Tech) are paid by these assistantships.
University policy on GTAs can be found at the Graduate School site. Up-to-date details regarding ECE policies and procedures can be found in the ECE Graduate Student Policy Manual.
All incoming and continuing students must apply by December 31 if they want to be considered for GTA assistantships for the following academic year.
Graduate Research Assistantships
The majority of graduate students are supported on research assistantships, which are funded by the ECE research programs. These assistantships are not awarded through the department, but are at the discretion of the faculty members and principal investigators.
The faculty select GRAs based on academic background and their suitability to the research being conducted. Applicants are encouraged to contact the faculty in their desired area of expertise to inquire about graduate research assistantships.
Awards
Outstanding International Graduate Student Award
This award is sponsored by the Center for Power Engineering at Virginia Tech. The competition is open to all international students in the Bradley Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. The amount of the award is $1,000 and is based on the student's academic and research performance. This is awarded in the spring of each year.
Graduate Teaching Assistant Award
This award recognizes outstanding contributions to the department's instructional program by a Graduate Teaching Assistant. The winner is selected based on student evaluations of teaching and faculty recommendations. The winner receives a $100 cash prize and a certificate. The winner is also usually nominated for the University GTA award.
William A. Blackwell Award
This award is presented annually to the ECE graduate student who is judged to have made the best research presentation during the year. The award is named in honor of Dr. William A. Blackwell who was a faculty member in the Bradley Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering from 1966 until his retirement in 1988, serving as Department Head from 1966 to 1981. Students are nominated by faculty, usually based on a presentation at one of the research area seminars within the Department. The winner receives a cash prize of $1,000 and a certificate.
The Rappaport Wireless Communication Scholarship
This endowed scholarship, established by Theodore S. Rappaport, a member of the faculty, and his wife, Brenda M. V. Rappaport, provides support to seniors or graduate students who are interested in pursuing a career or graduate studies in the wireless communication field. Applications are solicited during the spring semester. The department's Awards Committee selects the winner. The dollar amount awarded each year may vary, but it is typically between $500 and $600.
The Graduate Coop Program
Similar to the undergraduate coop program, employment opportunities for on-campus graduate students at off-campus locations are available through the Graduate Coop Program. A minimum of one and a maximum of three semesters' work is required. Further information is available from the Graduate Coop Office in Sandy Hall.