Princeton University remains one of the most generous fully funded graduate schools in the world, and Research and Teaching Assistantships at Princeton University 2027 are once again a core pillar of that funding model.
If you’re applying to a Princeton PhD or eligible master’s program for the 2027 intake, understanding how Research Assistantships (RAs) and Teaching Assistantships (TAs) work and how they combine with fellowships to cover 100% of your support can make or break your funding plan.
What Are Research and Teaching Assistantships at Princeton University?
Research and Teaching Assistantships at Princeton University 2027 are paid appointments that give PhD students and some eligible master’s students a tuition contribution plus a salaried stipend in exchange for research or teaching work.
A Research Assistantship (RA) places you on a faculty member’s research grant, contributing directly to their lab or project. A Teaching Assistantship (TA) puts you in the classroom: leading precepts, supervising labs, or grading for undergraduate courses.
Both appointments are central to how Princeton offers financial support for all degree-seeking PhD students throughout their period of regular enrollment, contingent upon satisfactory academic performance.
Princeton’s Funding Model: How RAs and TAs Fit In
Unlike schools where assistantships are competitive side-hustles, Princeton builds RAs and TAs into its guaranteed funding package. According to the Graduate School, the types of funding provided to regularly enrolled PhD candidates consist of university, departmental, and program fellowships; assistantships in research and teaching; and external financial support, and it is common for a student’s support to come from a combination of these sources over the course of enrollment.
Teaching and research assistantships don’t just pay you; they combine with fellowship funding to add up to full support. A chart published by the Graduate School shows how teaching hours combine with fellowship and/or research support to reach 100% coverage across a student’s course load.
2027 Stipend and Tuition Rates
Princeton publishes its assistantship rates annually, and they are among the highest in U.S. graduate education. For the most recent published cycle, the figures were:
- University Fellowship (12 months): $52,680
- First Year Fellowship (Natural Sciences & Engineering) (10 months): $46,200
- Research Assistantship (10 months): $46,200
- Research Assistantship (Summer) (2 months): $9,240
- Teaching Assistantship (10 months): $48,510
These fellowship stipends and assistantship salaries are published on the Graduate School’s funding calendar, university rates and costs page, which is updated each academic cycle.
Because Research and Teaching Assistantships at Princeton University 2027 rates are reviewed annually, always confirm the current figures directly with the Graduate School before budgeting.
Notably, the TA stipend is the same across all divisions and is higher than both the University Fellowship and the Research Assistantship stipend rates.
Research Assistantship (RA) Duties and Eligibility
During a Research Assistantship, graduate students contribute to faculty research, and funding is generally provided by faculty research grants, with the stipend paid as salary.
Key points for 2027 applicants:
- RA funding is tied to a faculty member’s grant, so availability depends on department and lab funding cycles.
- If a student has additional University or external funding, tuition and stipend amounts are prorated depending on the percent of RA commitment.
- RA work is often the same work that supports your dissertation, especially in the sciences and engineering.
- Assistantships are a form of employment and are subject to federal and state tax withholding.
Teaching Assistantship (TA) Duties and Eligibility
A Teaching Assistantship (TA) involves a combination of classroom teaching, laboratory supervision, and grading in undergraduate courses.
Most PhD students at Princeton serve as TAs at some point during their enrollment, most commonly as preceptors who lead small discussion sessions, as laboratory assistants, or as graders. Individual programs specify whether and when teaching is required, and all first-time TAs must complete mandatory training covering essential teaching skills.
Princeton also runs enrichment programs tied to teaching: GradFUTURES offers support for teaching experiences outside the University, there is a Collaborative Teaching Initiative in the Humanities and Social Sciences, and the Graduate School Teaching Award honors students who have made a significant contribution to undergraduate teaching.
Funding by Year of Study
Research and Teaching Assistantships at Princeton University 2027 are not awarded the same way every year of your PhD. Here’s the general pattern:
- Year 1: Fully funded by a First-Year Fellowship (humanities/social sciences get a University Fellowship); no TA/RA duties expected.
- Years 2–5: students are supported from three sources in roughly equal numbers: fellowships, Research Assistantships, and Teaching Assistantships, depending on department.
- Summer terms: a Summer Fellowship or Research Assistantship can provide up to $9,240 over two months.
How to Apply for Princeton Assistantships in 2027
You don’t typically apply for a Research or Teaching Assistantship at Princeton as a standalone award. Instead:
- Apply and gain admission to a Princeton PhD (or an eligible master’s) program; RA/TA eligibility flows from your admission and department.
- Review your department’s funding letter. Most admitted PhD students receive a funding package outlining fellowship, RA, and TA years in advance.
- Watch for TA postings. Departments post open TA assignments each term; you can search open TA postings through the Graduate School once enrolled.
- Connect with faculty for RA roles. RA positions are usually secured by working directly with a faculty advisor whose grant can support you.
- Complete mandatory TA training before your first teaching assignment, as required by the Graduate School.
- Track coordination of funding. If you hold external fellowships, your department will coordinate RA/TA funding so your total support doesn’t exceed standard university rates.
For the authoritative, continuously updated breakdown of how these appointments work, see Princeton’s own Research and Teaching Assistantships page on the Graduate School website; this is the page to bookmark, since rates and policy details are revised each academic year.
You can also check current rates directly on the Graduate School’s funding calendar and university rates page, and read more on TA responsibilities and training via the Graduate School’s teaching overview.
Key Deadlines to Track
Because Research and Teaching Assistantships at Princeton University 2027 are tied to admission and departmental funding letters rather than a separate application, the deadlines that matter most are:
- PhD application deadlines (typically December for fall 2027 entry; confirm per department).
- Funding letter review, issued alongside your admission offer.
- TA posting windows, which open each fall and spring term.
- External fellowship deadlines (e.g., NSF GRFP typically falls in October), since these can reduce your teaching load and stack with Princeton funding.
Always confirm exact 2027 dates with your specific department, since Princeton does not publish one university-wide assistantship deadline.
