The Ph.D. is a research degree. Our Ph.D. students also take courses, which give them the foundation on which to build their research programs. But the overriding goal of the Ph.D. program is to show students how to do outstanding research. We expect all our Ph.D. students to become involved in research within their first semester here (see Research Immersion below) and continue their involvement throughout their time at UT. To get a good feeling for the way in which our Ph.D. students are involved in our research activities, browse our research web pages.
As a consequence of early immersion in research, our Ph.D. students are often already recognized in the wider research community well before they graduate. They regularly travel to conferences, present papers, and sometimes receive best paper awards.
Most Ph.D. students receive financial support from the department. Each year, approximately 12 incoming students are awarded doctoral fellowships, which guarantee support for three years. Additional students will be offered Teaching Assistantships. The department's faculty also brings in substantial research funding, much of which is used to support graduate students on Research Assistantships.
