All MFA in Theatre candidates at UTK receive exceptional financial support. All MFA students in both Acting and Design/Technology receive full tuition waivers plus Graduate Teaching Assistantship (GTA) stipends throughout their training. All receive virtually equal stipends, with amounts varying only slightly according to differences in funding sources.
We are proud of the funding we offer graduates to enable them to focus on their training, and we believe that equal support creates the best basis for collaboration and artistic growth.
The most recent funding per student per year is approximately:
- Out of State Tuition Remission: A value of $31,978 per year
- Graduate Teaching Assistantships: Approximately $16,500 per year
- (9-month assistantships disbursed over 12 months)
- Student Travel: Up to $1500 per year
- Average Additional Scholarships: $1000-$1200 per year in 2nd and 3rd Years
Health Insurance: All UTK Theatre MFA students are covered under UTK health insurance at no additional cost.
Approximate Total Funding Per Year: $51,000
Approximate Funding Per Three Years: $153,000
The Graduate Teaching Assistantship represents actual employment by the University of Tennessee. As a GTA, you will be responsible for completing 15 hours per week of jobs assigned by your advisor and the department. Duties may include: teaching assistant, teaching, working in the shop related to your area, and advisor research support. Each semester, work hours will be carried out in various ways according to the needs of the department and productions in the Clarence Brown Theatre. We take care to ensure that job duties do not detract from but are in support of training objectives.
Additional Funding:
- Additional fellowships are available through the Graduate School on a competitive basis. Fellowships range from $5,000 to $15,000.
- $2,500 Marian Brown Career Development Fellowships are awarded to two students in each MFA design class in their final semester of training.
- Financial support is provided for the International Study Tour (2nd Year) and the New York Study Tour (1st Year).
- Financial support is available for students who are invited to the National Design Portfolio Review (NDPR) in their third year of study. Students may also apply for funding from the College of Arts and Sciences and the Graduate Student Senate for additional conference travel funding or funding for NDPR.
*All figures are approximate.