Financial Support for Students with Children

On this page:

• ​​Resources for Parents 
• Family Expenses 
• Child Subsidy Benefit for Harvard Griffin GSAS PhD Student Parents 
• Parental Accommodation and Financial Support (PAFS) 
• Winkler Fund for Parents 

Resources for Parents 

Many graduate students are accompanied by their spouses, domestic partners, and children. Harvard Griffin GSAS maintains policies and provides access to resources that help balance family needs with the demands of graduate study on the Support for Harvard Griffin GSAS Student Parents page. 

Students with external awards should contact their funding agencies for further information about possible parental accommodations or funding. Additionally, students funded by government grants or other external sources are subject to the policies established by their funding agencies.  

Students may explore additional financial resources outlined on this page. As with all other stipends, the funding listed on this page is considered taxable income. For more information, please consult the "Taxes" section of the Harvard Griffin GSAS website. 

Family Expenses 

If you plan to bring your family, it is important to understand how additional family expenses will impact your budget and expected resources. Most financial aid sources have limitations on whether family expenses can be included when determining eligibility.  

It is critical to plan ahead to ensure that you have sufficient resources to cover these costs. The chart below provides an estimate of how much you will need to support a spouse and/or dependent(s). Keep in mind that this is a general budget, and your personal expenses may be higher or lower, but it is a helpful place to start when developing your own budget. 

Estimated 2026–27 Living Expenses Budget for Families (assuming off-campus) 

Child Subsidy Benefit for Harvard Griffin GSAS PhD Student Parents 

Student parents enrolled in PhD programs at Harvard Griffin GSAS are eligible for a child subsidy benefit. The subsidy is intended to help offset costs associated with raising children while enrolled in a PhD program. This benefit is separate from and in addition to the Parental Accommodation and Financial Support (PAFS) program, which provides support following the birth or adoption of a child. 

Eligibility Criteria 

• Students must be enrolled full-time in a PhD program and be making satisfactory academic progress to be eligible.   
• Students who are registered as on a leave of absence or studying at another Harvard school are not eligible to receive this funding. 
• Students who are past their G10 year or have already received a dissertation completion fellowship (DCF) are generally not eligible for this funding. On rare occasions, exceptions may be approved by appeal provided that a student is making good academic progress with a clear plan to complete their degree.  
• November degree students are not eligible to receive this funding. 
• February degree students are not eligible to receive spring-term funding. 
• Students must have children under 18 to receive these funds.  
• Children must have a date of birth before their eighteenth birthday prior to the application deadline for each application cycle to be eligible to receive the child subsidy benefit.  
• Students who welcome children after the application closes are eligible to participate in the Harvard Griffin GSAS PAFS program and are welcome to apply for the child subsidy benefit in the next application cycle. 
• The child subsidy benefit cannot be paid retroactively.   
• If both parents of a child are enrolled at Harvard Griffin GSAS, only one parent may receive the funding. 
• Eligibility includes a financial need threshold that must not be exceeded.  
• Students whose total family income (including spouse/partner/any parent of your children) from all sources (taxable and untaxed) exceeds $200,000 are ineligible for this award. 
• Income from all parents of the child(ren) should be considered when determining whether the threshold is exceeded.  
• The most recently completed tax year should be used to calculate family income for this threshold (tax year 2025 for fall 2026 awards, and tax year 2026 for spring 2027 awards).  
• Students whose total family assets (including spouse/partner/any parent of your children) (not including primary home equity) exceed $500,000 are ineligible for this award. Assets from all parents of the child should be considered. 
• Students who exceed the family income or asset threshold should not apply for this funding.   

Funding Amounts  

• Funding is awarded during the fall and spring terms based on the number of children under the age of 18. 
• Students with one child are eligible to receive $3,250 per term (fall and spring), for a maximum award of $6,500 for the academic year. 
• Students with two children are eligible to receive $3,750 per term (fall and spring), for a maximum award of $7,500 for the academic year. 
• Students with three or more children are eligible to receive $4,250 per term (fall and spring), for a maximum award of $8,500 for the academic year. 
• Students are expected to be enrolled for the entire term in which they receive this funding. Changes in enrollment status may impact eligibility and necessitate repayment of all or a portion of benefits paid prior to changes in enrollment.    

Application Process 

• All PhD students will receive an email when each application cycle opens. This communication will contain the specific link to the application form. 
• Eligible students must apply in every application cycle via the online application form to be considered for this funding. 
• Applications are reviewed twice per academic year, in the fall and spring terms, and students may receive funds in both terms.  
• The child subsidy benefit is paid on the stipend payroll on or around the first of the month in November and April.     
• More information about stipend payments, direct deposit, and income tax obligations can be found on the "Stipends" page of the Harvard Griffin GSAS website and at the Student Financial Services page.    
• We encourage you to elect direct deposit to ensure efficient and prompt receipt of this funding. 

Application Timeline for 2026-2027 

Fall Term 

• September 14, 2026 – Application opens. 
• October 11, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. – Application deadline. 
• Week of October 19 – Students will receive notification of the awards. 
• November 1 – Students receive stipend payment for the fall term. 

Spring Term 

• February 15, 2027 – Application opens. 
• March 7, 2027, at 11:59 p.m. – Application deadline. 
• Week of March 22 – Students will receive notification of the awards. 
• April 1 – Students receive stipend payment for the spring term. 

Parental Accommodation and Financial Support (PAFS) 

Students of all gender identities enrolled in Harvard Griffin GSAS PhD programs are eligible for the Parental Accommodation and Financial Support (PAFS) program following a childbirth or adoption event, which provides a one-time supplemental stipend and academic adjustments. Details about the program and how to participate can be found on the "Support for Harvard Griffin GSAS Student Parents" page. Students should reach out to the student-parent resource coordinators in advance of the birth of the child. 

The Financial Aid Office collaborates with the student-parent resource coordinators to distribute the one-time supplemental stipend payment to eligible Harvard Griffin GSAS PhD students. For the 2026–2027 academic year, the award amount is $7,484. 

Winkler Fund for Parents 

Student parents of all gender identities enrolled in Harvard Griffin GSAS PhD programs are eligible to apply for support from the Winkler Fund for Parents. The Winkler Fund may provide stipend support to help students with the additional costs associated with raising children under 18. Students must be enrolled full-time in a PhD program and making satisfactory academic progress. Students post-DCF or beyond the G10 year may not be eligible for Winkler funding. Contact your financial aid officer if you have questions. 

Eligibility for the Winkler Fund is based on financial need and is subject to the availability of funding. Successful applicants typically demonstrate annual household income below $100,000. Priority is given to single parents and/or single-income households. Average award amounts range from $2,000 to $6,000 per year. 

Applications for the 2026-2027 academic year have closed. Applications for the 2027–2028 academic year open on March 15, 2027, in CARAT. All applications are due by May 15, 2027. Please complete the required budget form and upload it to your Winkler Fund application in CARAT. 

Winkler Budget Worksheet