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Department of Sociology

Aid and Awards

All students admitted to the Ph.D. program are offered five years of funding, which includes a nine-month teaching/research assistantship, a 12-month service-free stipend, a full tuition waiver, and student health insurance. The teaching/research assistantship provides students an opportunity for one-on-one mentorship and hands-on training from sociology faculty.

Annual Value:

Assistantship $7,000
Service-Free Stipend $23,918
Student Health Insurance $3,491
Tuition Waiver $39,870

Total: $74,279

Additional Internal Support Options

Vanderbilt Fellowships

  • University Graduate Fellowship – This fellowship is awarded by the Graduate School to highly qualified incoming students. The Sociology department will nominate applicants for this highly competitive award. The fellowship includes a stipend of up to $5,000 annually for up to three years.
  • Provost’s Graduate Fellowships – The Graduate School offers these fellowships to U.S. citizens and permanent residents from diverse backgrounds who intend to pursue a Ph.D. degree in preparation for an academic career. The Sociology department will nominate applicants for this highly competitive award. The award provides a $5,000 stipend annually for up to three years.

Vanderbilt Grants

  • Graduate School Travel Grants – Students are encouraged to present their research at major regional, national, and international conferences. After completing at least one academic year at Vanderbilt, students may apply for a travel grant for up to $500 for domestic or international travel. Students are allowed a total of three travel grants during their tenure at Vanderbilt.
  • Graduate Leadership Institute Development and Training Grants – These grants provide support for graduate students seeking professional development and training opportunities to further develop their academic and professional skills. Eligible activities include, but are not limited to, training workshops, short courses, and conferences. Additionally, opportunities that will broaden the applicant’s skill set beyond their academic field of study (i.e., leadership training, project management short course, etc.) are encouraged. The grant provides up to $1,000 per year.
  • Graduate Student Council Travel Grant – The travel awards are intended to aid students in covering travel expenses related to attending academic conferences, symposia, workshops, etc. Funds are only available to students who will be presenting personal research and who are active members of the Graduate Student Council. The grant provides up to $500 to five students each semester.
  • Graduate Leadership Institute Dissertation Enhancement Grant – The GLI provides up to $2,000 for research expenses related to a student’s dissertation. These funds are granted on a competitive basis and are designed to support Ph.D. students with outstanding potential to accelerate progress on their research, adding depth or breadth to their work.

College of Arts & Science Grants and Awards

Additional External Support Options