Fully Funded PhD Programs in Education

Feb 07, 2013
Harvard University Fully Funded PhD Programs in Education
Harvard University offered several fully funded PhD programs in Education.

Last updated July 15, 2022

Next in my series on How To Fully Fund Your PhD, I provide a list below of universities that offer full funding to all students admitted to their PhD programs in education, international education, and educational leadership.

You can find several competitive, external fellowships in the ProFellow database for graduate and doctoral study, but it is useful to seek out PhD programs that offer full funding to all admitted students. When a doctoral program indicates that they provide full funding to their PhD students, in most cases this means they provide each admitted student full tuition and a stipend for living expenses for the four to the six-year duration of the student’s doctoral studies. Not all universities provide full funding to their doctoral students, which is why I recommend researching the financial aid offerings of all the potential PhD programs in your academic field, including small and lesser-known schools both in the U.S. and abroad.

Would you like to receive the full list of more than 1000+ fully funded programs in 60 disciplines? Download the FREE Directory of Fully Funded Graduate Programs and Full Funding Awards!

Universities offering Fully Funded PhD Programs in Education

Boston University, PhD in Educational Studies

(Boston, MA): Students admitted to the program will be fully funded for five years. Students work closely with BU Wheelock faculty as assistants in research and teaching.

Drexel University, PhD in Education & Educational Leadership

(Philadelphia, PA): Drexel University provides tuition remission, a living stipend, and health insurance subsidies through research and teaching assistantships.

Harvard University, PhD in Education

(Cambridge, MA): Harvard guarantees full financial support to PhD students—including tuition, health fees, and basic living expenses—for a minimum of five years. This multi-year funding package includes a combination of tuition grants, stipends, traineeships, teaching fellowships, research assistantships, and other academic appointments.

New York University, PhD in Education

(New York, NY): NYU Steinhardt awards all students (including international students) who are offered full-time admission to our Ph.D. programs a full funding and mentoring package.

Queen’s University, PhD in Education

(Ontario, Canada): Queen’s guarantees a minimum funding package currently valued at $18,000 [CAD] per year for four years for full-time doctoral students; in most cases, funding packages are higher (2011-12 Average: $25,800). In addition, Queen’s guarantees an international tuition award (or equivalent award) valued at $5,000 per year for four years for eligible international doctoral students.

University of California Irvine, PhD in Education

(Irvine, CA): Effective 2015, all incoming UC Irvine PhD in Education students, including California residents, non-residents, and international students, are offered five years of financial support. Funding includes an academic year stipend or salary, tuition and Student Services Fee waiver, and student health insurance.

University of California San Diego PhD in Education

All PhD students at UC San Diego are guaranteed funding for five years which is equivalent to the amount allocated for a 50% TA position. Funding packages can consist of instructional assistantships, Graduate Student Researcher (GSR) positions, university or outside fellowships, and/or stipends. A minimum financial support package of $20,000 for the first year.

University of Colorado, PhD in Education

(Boulder, CO): Admitted doctoral students received four-year funding packages including a stipend and a tuition grant equal to the cost of tuition (in-state and out-of-state).

University of Michigan, PhD in Education

(Ann Arbor, MI): Funding for students admitted into our doctoral programs includes tuition, health and dental benefits for students and their families, and a stipend for living expenses. Each of the programs also provides additional support for conference travel, research projects, and writing. 

Michigan State University PhD in Education

(East Lansing, MI): For most students in the doctoral program, international and domestic, the primary source of on-campus support is graduate assistantships. Assistantship stipends depend on the level of assistantship. In addition to the stipend, all graduate assistants receive a waiver of nine (9) credits of tuition per semester. They offer a variety of multi-year recruiting fellowships for incoming doctoral students.

University of Virginia, PhD in Education

(Charlottesville, VA): Financial support packages, which may include a combination of fellowship funding, bi-weekly pay, tuition remission/adjustment, and health insurance, are decided at various administrative levels.

Vanderbilt University, PhD in Educational Leadership and Policy

(Nashville, TN): All Peabody graduate (Ph.D.) students receive full tuition funding through a combination of University Tuition Scholarships and/or merit awards.

Stanford University Fully Funded PhD in Education

(Stanford, CA): Stanford GSE offers all admitted Ph.D. students a five-year funding guarantee that provides tuition aid, fellowship stipend, and assistantship salary, and covers the standard cost of attendance. Click here for more funding information.

University of Arkansas, PhD in Education Policy

(Fayetteville, AR): Graduate assistantships offer qualified applicants a full tuition waiver, a health insurance benefit plus an attractive annual stipend. Distinguished Doctoral Fellowships are combined with graduate assistantships to provide a package of stipends totaling $40,000 per year a tuition waiver, and further benefits.

University of Washington, PhD in Education

(Seattle, WA): The UW College of Education Faculty Council distributes a number of scholarships annually. The College of Education supports 120+ graduate students each academic year through teaching, research, and staff assistantship positions. Primary consideration is usually given to doctoral students.

Washington University in St. Louis, PhD in Education

(Saint Louis, MO): Ph.D. students receive full tuition remission, a health fee subsidy, and a monthly stipend to defray living expenses. The stipend is paid over 12 months (August-July), which includes summer funding. Washington University guarantees funding for Ph.D. students for up to six years as long as satisfactory progress is made in their program. Competitive fellowships are also available.

Concordia University, PhD in Education

(Quebec, Canada): Competitive funding packages in the form of awards, teaching, and research assistantships are offered at the time of admission to most students to allow them to focus on their research and studies. Students are automatically considered for all entrance graduate awards when they apply to Concordia, provided they meet eligibility criteria.

Indiana University, PhD in Education

They offer a variety of funding opportunities for Ph.D. students, including fellowships, research, and teaching assistantships which include a stipend, tuition remission, and student health insurance. All admitted graduate students who meet departmental deadlines are automatically considered for available fellowships.

University of Pennsylvania, PhD in Education Policy

(Philadelphia, PA ): All Ph.D. students are guaranteed a full scholarship for their first four years of study, as well as a stipend and student health insurance. Penn GSE is committed to making your graduate education affordable, and they offer generous scholarships, fellowships, and assistantships.

University of Delaware, PhD in Education

(Newark, DE): Full-time Ph.D. in Education students receive financial support for four years through a variety of sources, including assistantships and tuition scholarships. Students with assistantships receive a 100% tuition scholarship and a 9-month stipend, plus health insurance. Merit-based supplemental funding is available.

For application tips on applying to a PhD program, see How To Get Into a Fully Funded PhD Program: Contacting Potential PhD Advisors.

Find more graduate fellowships for doctoral study and dissertation research in ProFellow’s fellowships database.

Last updated July 15, 2022

© Victoria Johnson 2020, all rights reserved.

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62 thoughts on “Fully Funded PhD Programs in Education”

  1. Thank you so much for compiling this useful information. Finally a resource that cuts out the fat and leans right into the meat of the information!

  2. Now I am doing Master in Marketing & Management from India Pune University.
    So I have dream that I want do PhD in Retail which is in the abroad and I am unable do that due to fund so I need guidance of fully funded PhD program.

  3. I am Binod k.c from Nepal. I have a masters degree in management. I have an education of 17 years, can I apply for Phd or not. To apply for Phd I need the education of 18 years or I can study by 17 years. What percentage is needed in masters to apply for the Phd. I hope for the reply.

  4. I am a professional teacher and need to do my PhD on scholarship as i cannot foot the the fees

  6. PLS I AM INTERESTEDIN PHD IN BUSINESS MANAGEMENT. I HAVE M.SC IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION WITH MAJOR ININTERNATIONAL BUSINESS

  7. I am Lekha Erandi,Lecturer in Mass communication ,Open University of Sri Lanka. I’m interested in the field of development communication, women and media and Environmental communication. For my post graduate studies, I did the research based on religious communication. Now I already submitted my MA thesis, it is based on communication for community development. Through study,I strongly believe that communication is the bridge to empower grass root people. My basic degree and post graduate programs were done locally. But as an academic I hope to explore my knowledge widely. and I hope to start my PHD studies in a foreign university as believe that explore would be more important to develop academic credentials.i would like to get some information about fully funded phd in mass communitarian.

  8. I hold Masters in Mathematics Education. Is it possible for me to get fully funding PhD in Mathematics Education to offer. Thank you.

  9. Now I am on the way o finishing M.A in educational leadership and management in Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) university. I wish to continue PhD as soon as possible in abroad country…….Could you please help me?

  10. I have Masters in Educational management and I would like to do a PhD in the same field but I have no money.Help me get a scholarship.I will be grateful.Thank u.

  11. i want to do my phd in education.i have completed my master in education.
    But i need full funded scholarship.How is it possible?

  15. OK, BUT what is their application based acceptance rates? That is, how many valid applications do they get and how many applicants are then offered acceptance letters?

    1. My Directory of Fully Funded PhD Programs in Education, available at the link above, includes acceptance rates of the programs.

  16. I just applied to a PhD program at Drexel’s School of Education. Fully Funded co-horts are not available. It is $1100 per credit, plus fees…

  17. Very useful information you’ve presented here after scouring the internet for weeks. This term fully funded was the buzzword I was missing. Now to find fully funded PhD programs that can be done online with minimal residency so I don’t have to uproot my family and my current teaching load. Are there
    any online programs that are fully funded?

    1. Tracy, I have not been able to find any so far. Online programs are typically offered by for-profit universities. However, if you can find a 3-year PhD position that does not require the normal 2 years of course (typically you need to have a Master’s/postgraduate degree already to be eligible for these), you may not need to be in-resident. These programs are more common in Europe, Asia and Oceania. Thus you might spend some time abroad to get started, and then could complete your PhD dissertation remotely. This would require negotiation with your supervisors.

      1. Vicki Johnson, do you have any specific ideas for programs? I have a Master’s degree in English but looking into a doctoral program in International Education or similar. My background is teaching ESL and English.

    2. Try Colorado State University, their program is fairly new (10) but they have some online portion and a short residency program.

  19. Thank you for the information. I will be finished with my MAT (Biology ) in 2018 and am looking for a PhD program in Education. The program must be fully funded and in Maryland because I am a new Mom and my husband’s job is here in MD. I hope to find something so that we don’t have to move.

    1. Hi Taj, I would suggest looking into the university programs that are nearby you. You can call the admissions office to find out if they offer full funding packages to incoming doctoral students.

  21. I am looking for the right fellowship for an Ed.D. with a focus on training of teachers in developing countries. I am looking for the university already doing research in African countries. Can you give me any recommendations?

  22. Most of these fellowships sound like assistantships that waive tuition and provide a stipend in exchange for work. NSF gives out fellowships that amount to more than $100,000 for 3 years of study, plus you can work an assistantship. Stanford is making three fellowships each year with a total value of $160,000 for business students. Compared to Fellowships in Science and Technology, Education majors get almost nothing. Education is just not a national priority and is certainly not on an equal footing with STEM fields.

  23. Hi there. I’m looking for a fully-funded PhD degree in education in Australia or Canada. Is there any available? Your kind advice is highly appreciated.

  24. Good day. Any ideas about scholarship opportunity for Africans I to study
    in the UK apart form the Common wealth. I need a fully opportunity to
    carry out a PHD in a UK based uni in a Public health related topic that
    focuses on indigenous women reproductive health

  25. i will appreciate a fully funded on-line course Ed.D in early years/early childhood education.

  26. Good day. I like to have a PhD fully funded scholarship in Educational Technology and I will appreciate this if I could be directed to the right University. Thank you.

  27. Greetings.
    I am an experienced minority teacher with strong science and computer technology background. I look forward to a fully funded PhD program in “Educational Technology for the future” research studies. I believe I possess all the tools and an exceptional will to pursue my research in this direction. Any assistance in this direction will be greatly appreciated.

    1. Hi. I wanted to share that you do not need to enter a PhD program specifically in the subject of Educational Technology to do a PhD dissertation in this subject. You can do a dissertation in this subject in a general PhD in Education program. The key is to identify universities with professors who have done research in this subject who are availble serve as your advisor. You might also do a dissertation in this subject in Business PhD program.

      1. Hi:
        Thank you very much for your response regarding my request. I am a believer of STEAM not just STEM, and an interdisciplinary approach to develop a comprehensive immersive educational programs. I look forward to some kind of an educational foundation or an agency to hear about my proposal to develop a pilot program to implement a “comprehensive immersive educational system” with a strong technology foundation where Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Arts (including Philosophy) to achieve the maximum learning experience of young minds.

  28. Greetings.
    I appreciate your work here. I am interested in a fully funded PhD programme in Special Education. I shall be very appreciative of your anticipated kind gesture. Thanks

  29. I wish to study fully funded PhD program in Special Education ( especially in the field of autism). Is there any university is conducting this program.

  31. Hi,
    Looking for a fully funded Ph.D.in education in the Philadelphia area. Are there any? Seems like most listed are out of my state. Thank you.

  32. I am a Chemical Engineer (BS – Chemical Engineering) with an MBA in Project Leadership & Management, I have applied to George Washington University’s Distance & Online Doctorate Program – Doctor of Engineering (D.Eng) in Engineering Management. I am looking for scholarships & fellowships to enable foot the tuition fees. I am based in Nigeria

  33. Hello,

    My name is Katura Fennell and I am looking into any schools that will fully fund a doctoral program in the area of education. I am currently a teacher in Nashville TN and enrolled at Lipscomb University receiving my Ed.S in leadership, but really want to continue my education and help make a difference in the world of education. Any guidance or list of recent schools that will supply funding? I can be emailed at [email protected] with any information. Thanks in advance.

    1. Hi Katura, the list of fully funded Phd programs in Education above is current as of May 1, 2017. We also sell the exclusive Directory of Fully Funded PhD Programs in Education, which is a detailed directory of 22 universities in the U.S. and Canada offering full funding to all incoming students. You can purchase the Directory here: https://www.fullyfundedcourse.com/free-directory. Best of luck!

  34. Hello,
    Can I get some information on fully funded Ph.D program in IT and Computer science in US for an international student(Graduate in Information Assurance)? I can be emailed at [email protected] for extra information.
    Thank you.

  35. Hi, thanks for the wonderful info. I’m interested in a few different areas for a PHD that I don’t see listed: Buddhism, Comparative Religions, Psychology, Mythology or Stories (lit, film, poetry, all forms). Given that these subject are not exactly the cats’ meow in terms of financial opportunities afterwords, the study is a labor of love and philanthropy. Could there possibly be a school for me somewhere? I would do a part-time online program with an international university if needed too – I’m in Southern California.

  36. I’m a nurse educator in Singapore. Have been teaching in academic school and hospital for more than 10yrs. I have master of education from university of Sydney. How can I do a part time PhD in education which is fully funded? Please assist.

  37. I have a JD, a few credits short of a LLM (in Comparative Law), and a MA (in African-American World Studies). I have been working as a lawyer for a non-profit Public Interest firm for 12 years, but I want to get a PhD. I have a small family now (3,8 year old girls), so I need a PhD program that is fully funded. I am interested in “Justice” so I can pursue a PhD in either Law, African American Studies, or Education. I have been out of the scholarly environment for so long, I really don’t know where to start. Any help would be appreciated.

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