Issue Date: November 11, 2025
Supersedes: Ph.D. Student Financial Support Policy, September 30, 2024
Last Review: November 11, 2025
I. PURPOSE
The purpose of this policy is to establish guidelines for financial support of Ph.D. students in the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences (“GSBMS”).
II. POLICY
It is the policy of New York Medical College (“NYMC”) to guarantee incoming GSBMS Ph.D. students financial support that includes stipend, tuition, and health insurance until completion of their program requirements or termination of their participation in the program. The extent of financial support by GSBMS will vary for students supported by external employers, extramural fellowships and scholarships (private and/or federal), and/or foreign governments.
III. SCOPE
This policy applies to students in all GSBMS Ph.D. degree programs: Integrated Ph.D. Program (“IPP”), Advanced Standing Ph.D. and M.D.-Ph.D. students (during the Ph.D. component of their studies).
IV. DEFINITIONS
GSBMS: Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences
NYMC: New York Medical College
Ph.D.: Doctor of Philosophy Degree
IPP: Integrated Ph.D. Program
Advanced Standing Ph.D. students: Students who entered GSBMS doctoral program following completion of one of the GSBMS Master of Science programs
M.D.-Ph.D. Program: Joint degree program opened to students currently enrolled in the NYMC School of Medicine
Dissertation Advisor: NYMC Graduate Faculty Member with mentor status who serves as the Principal Investigator of the research laboratory that the Ph.D. student has joined, and who oversees and guides the student’s doctoral research project
V. PROCEDURES
A. The GSBMS will support the stipend, tuition, and health insurance of IPP students during their first two years in the program. Each student’s Dissertation Advisor shall budget grant funds to provide full support of stipend, tuition and health insurance for the IPP students starting July 1st of year three of their program.
B. For Advanced Standing Ph.D. students and M.D.-Ph.D. students, it is the responsibility of each student’s Dissertation Advisor to provide full support of stipend, tuition and health insurance upon the student’s entry to the Ph.D. program.
C. In the case of a lapse of funding by a student’s Dissertation Advisor, the GSBMS will begin or resume financial support of the Ph.D. student (IPP, Advanced Standing, or M.D.-Ph.D.), upon the Dean’s approval. The financial support by the Dissertation Advisor shall start/resume with the start of the budget period of the new grant award.
D. All Ph.D. students who are recipients of GSBMS financial support must be registered as full-time students or participate in an equivalent full-time effort of approved academic activity, such as research training or dissertation research.
E. All Ph.D. students are strongly encouraged to apply for external funding and pursue extramural awards in order to develop grant / fellowship writing skills and enhance their resume.
F. Completion of the Ph.D. dissertation and passing the public Ph.D. dissertation defense constitutes fulfillment of the final requirements of the Ph.D. degree (see the GSBMS Policy on Graduation Requirements and Deadlines for more information).
Thus, Ph.D. program benefits will be terminated at the end of the next two-week pay period following the successful dissertation defense. This includes stipend and student travel grants.
G. Student health insurance will be terminated on the last day of the month following the month in which the student successfully defends their dissertation.
H. Students who have completed their degree requirements and who live in Student Housing should contact the Office of Student and Residential Life regarding their transition out of Student Housing.
I. Students who wish to continue working in NYMC laboratories should arrange to be hired by their respective departments in post-doctoral or research assistant positions following the successful dissertation defense, as appropriate, according to the employment guidelines of NYMC.
VI. EFFECTIVE DATE
This policy is effective immediately.
VII. POLICY MANAGEMENT
Executive Stakeholder: Dean, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences
Oversight Office: Dean’s Office, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences
