The standard PhD student financial support package includes a teaching component.
The teaching component of the financial support package consists of the equivalent of two standard sections of teaching per term for four terms (except for students in East Asian Languages and Civilizations, who are offered three terms). These teaching appointments are guaranteed by the student’s academic program, provided the student has met all program-specific teaching criteria.
It is the joint responsibility of the student and their program to identify available teaching opportunities that can be used to fulfill the teaching guarantee of two standard sections per term. Students may teach in areas outside of their programs. Teaching appointments in the Program in General Education or other academic programs will count toward the guarantee. Students needing assistance in securing teaching should consult their program administrators for guidance.
During those terms in which a student invokes guaranteed teaching, the student can expect to receive compensation for two standard sections of teaching at minimum. Students may wish to utilize their supplemental Top Up stipend to raise their total income in a given term.
Invoking Guaranteed Teaching
Students invoke guaranteed teaching by confirming their teaching plans with their academic program.
Payment Schedule
Teaching appointments are paid on a biweekly schedule starting in August for the fall term and January for the spring term. Teaching compensation is subject to federal and state tax withholding. For questions about your paycheck for Teaching Fellow compensation, please contact your hiring department.
Deferring Support
Harvard Griffin GSAS permits students to defer guaranteed teaching to a term later than noted in the Notice of Financial Support. Students electing to defer teaching should indicate their intention to their academic program.
Students may not defer their guaranteed teaching beyond the departmental G6 year.
Students who are considering deferring guaranteed teaching are strongly encouraged to contact their financial aid officer to review how such actions may impact their funding in future years.