The Department provides six years of full financial support for all students who are admitted to the Ph.D. program, subject to satisfactory progress and teaching.

Summer support, including funds for language study, is offered to students in their first three years. Students who have achieved candidacy can receive summer support, and gain professional experience, teaching their own seven week introductory or intermediate-level courses.

The Department also provides funds for travel to professional conferences. The Bolter Award helps meet occasional professional or personal needs.

Since 1984 fifteen Michigan philosophy graduate students have received the Charlotte W. Newcombe Fellowships in ethics, administered by the Woodrow Wilson Foundation. Continuing students are urged to apply as well for competitive University fellowships. These include Humanities Institute Fellowhips and IRWG Community Scholars Fellowships.

Resources permitting, the Department commits a ten-month postdoctoral fellowship, without teaching obligations, to its own Ph.D.'s who do not initially secure an academic position.