Funding for the Master of Science in Civil Engineering (MSCE) degree program depends on whether students pursue the Professional Master's Program (PMP) or research track.
Overview
Professional Master's Program
The cost per-credit is the same for Washington state residents and non-residents, including international students. Tuition rates for the 2025-2026 academic year:
- $754 per credit; 42 credits required
Research track
The majority of students in the research track master’s program are fully funded through fellowships,research and teaching assistantships.
Types of funding for research track students
Assistantships
Master's students on a research track are responsible for covering student fees, but may be eligible for research and teaching assistantships. Priority is given to students who plan to continue on to a Ph.D. degree.
The specific duties of these positions can vary based on the project or coursework, but typically require about 20 hours of service per week. Support includes:
- Monthly stipend
- Full tuition waiver
- Medical and dental insurance
Research assistantships
The number of research assistantships awarded varies depending on the status of research grants in the department. Some specialty areas hire research assistants at the master’s level, while others typically only fund Ph.D. students. Students hired as a research assistant conduct research under the supervision of a faculty member, who is the principal investigator on the grant.
Teaching assistantships
Funding in the form of a teaching assistantship is highly competitive and awarded to the most outstanding applicants. Typically, only the Structural Engineering group awards Teaching Assistantships to incoming students.
Fellowships
Applying for funding
All applicants to the master’s thesis and Ph.D. programs are considered for research assistantship and teaching assistantship funding. No separate application is required, but applicants should indicate their interest in their statement of purpose.
- In your statement of purpose, which will be included in your application materials, please specify if you would like to be considered for a research or teaching assistantship.
- In your statement of purpose, indicate which faculty member you are interested in working with.
Funding for research and teaching assistantships is limited, and awards are made on a competitive basis by departmental faculty in each research area.
Graduate funding information service
The Graduate Funding Information Service (GFIS) helps current and admitted UW graduate students find funding for
graduate school-related expenses. For more information contact: UW Grants & Funding Information Service at gfis@u.washington.edu or call 206-616-3084.
How to search for graduate school funding: scholarships, fellowships, & grants
Explore the UW libraries to learn the skills and tools to find funding as a current and admitted UW graduate student.
Learn more