We are committed to the idea that learning is a social process and that one can learn a great deal from one's peers. To encourage such learning, we offer a guaranteed six-year funding package to all students admitted to the program in English Language and Literature. Funding covers applicable tuition costs, health care benefits, and living expenses in the form of direct stipend (years one and five) and teaching assistantships or pre-doctoral research assistantships (years two, three, four and six). For the first and fifth years of graduate studies, all students in English Language and Literature are on full fellowship. In later years, students receive tuition, health care, and living expenses as part-time graduate student instructors (GSIs). The department, in conjunction with the Rackham School of Graduate Studies, is also committed to supporting students' professional activities and pays many of the expenses for research travel and for participation in academic conferences.

Basic package: The basic support package includes a first and fifth year Departmental or Rackham fellowship and four years of support from a Graduate Student Instructorship. Currently, the first year stipend is $16,000, and the teaching stipend is currently $16,135 for two terms, as well as full tuition waiver and health care benefits.

Other Awards: Each year, the Department and Rackham Graduate School award additional fellowships and prizes to graduate students in English. Among these are the Rackham Pre-Doctoral Fellowship, the Rackham One-Term Dissertation Fellowships, and a number of smaller grants. Summer support is available. Our students often win Rackham grants for dissertation research.