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Please be aware that we update this webpage on a regular basis. Nevertheless, you should always refer to correspondence you receive directly from GSAS via email for the most up-to-date stipend information that applies to you.
Below, please find information regarding stipends, including how to receive payment through direct deposit or paper checks; salary payments; additional compensation; the stipend and payroll student hotline; and tax reporting.
The standard nine-month stipend for the 2021–2022 academic year is $31,140. To expedite receipt of the stipend, all students are strongly encouraged to arrange for the direct deposit of their stipend payments by following the steps outlined below under “Receiving Stipend Payments: Direct Deposit and Paper Checks.”
1. GSAS Fellowships with No Service Component
The GSAS Office of Financial Aid disburses stipends to registered students whose fellowship does not contain a service component in two payments: during the registration periods at the beginning of the fall and spring semesters (late August/early September and January).
Fellows supported through non-service awards who withdraw during a semester or who are terminated must return a prorated portion of the award to the University. The GSAS Office of Financial Aid determines this prorated amount.
2. GSAS Fellowships with Student Officer Appointments
Students who are appointed to the role of Teaching Fellow, Research Fellow, or Preceptor receive support and compensation in two forms:
Beginning in Fall 2021, the calendar for stipend payments has been modified to more closely align with how other graduate students in other student officer roles receive their compensation and support. Students appointed to the three positions noted above will receive a lump-sum stipend distribution of $2,600 prior to Labor Day. This disbursement represents the amount for September. The remainder of the stipend will be paid on a semi-monthly basis beginning in mid-October through the fall term. These semi-monthly payments will be aligned with the semi-monthly payroll. Please note that this change in the disbursement process will not affect tax withholding on stipends.
Fellows holding student officer appointments described above who withdraw during a semester, who resign from their appointments, or who are terminated from their appointments will have their stipend disbursement suspended as of the next semi-monthly pay date following their withdrawal, resignation, or termination.
GSAS requires all registered students who receive stipends to enroll in direct deposit. Instructions for how to enroll may be found here. Please note that students with US bank accounts may enroll in direct deposit for stipends at any time, including prior to matriculation. Entering students who are unable to establish a US bank account and enroll in direct deposit before the beginning of August will receive their stipends as a paper check. Once on campus, students should register for direct deposit as soon as possible.
In order for a stipend payment to be disbursed via direct deposit in a particular term, students must already be registered for that term when payment is initially processed. For fall stipends, students must be registered by the first week in August, and for spring stipends, before the end of the December registration period.
During this time, when the Payments and Deposit offices are physically closed, entering domestic student stipends without direct deposit information will be mailed to the recipient’s local address in SSOL. International student stipends without direct deposit information will be mailed to the recipient’s home address in the University’s HR/Payroll system (PAC).
Update home address in SSOL
Please following the following steps to update your home address in SSOL:
Update home address in PAC
Stipends for international students are processed through the University Payroll System. Please follow the following steps to update your home address in PAC:
As noted above, students appointed to Teaching Fellow, Research Fellow, and Preceptor positions receive one-third of the total award semi-monthly payroll (paid on the fifteenth and last day of the month, respectively). Students holding graduate research assistant appointments receive their entire stipend as semi-monthly payroll. All students may receive the payroll portion of their award via direct deposit and are strongly encouraged to do so; to enroll in direct deposit, follow the steps described here. Please note that there are separate instructions for stipends and payroll.
Students may review and print their monthly salary statements through the MyColumbia portal.
Student officers may receive additional compensation (also known as "add comp") as long as the total service they are rendering the University does not interfere with their studies and the total hours associated with their fellowship and those associated with the activity for which they will receive additional compensation does not exceed twenty hours per week. Students who are not US citizens or permanent residents should check with the International Students & Scholars Office to determine if the additional work is permitted by the terms of their visa. The payment of additional compensation to student officers requires the prior approval of the Dean of GSAS, the department chair and/or the dean of the unit in which they are providing the additional services, the dean or vice president of the unit within which they hold an appointment, and the Provost.
As part of the University’s ongoing enhancement of student-service operations, Columbia’s Human Resources and Finance divisions have implemented a hotline to resolve student questions related to payroll and stipend payments and about the timing of disbursements: (212) 854-5000.
As an alternative, you may put in a ticket here. Both options reach the same team.
This resource is meant to complement the help that you would typically seek from your departmental administrator or the GSAS Office of Financial Aid.
The Student Service Center remains available for inquiries related to student accounts, tuition and fees, refunds, and transcripts.
Information about tax reporting may be found here.