Students who submit all application materials by the priority deadline of January 5 are automatically considered for Graduate Assistantships (GA) for the 2025-26 academic year.
Funding Opportunities
The Computing PhD program is interdisciplinary, and students are eligible for GA funding from a variety of sources. Please refer to the “Funding Opportunities” section for an explanation of the different types of funding.
Admission and GA Decisions
Although applicants are notified of admission decisions by mid-February, funding prioritization is determined after admission decisions are communicated. The Computing PhD program typically begins releasing Graduate Assistantship offers in late-February or early-March and will continue to do so until all GA offers are accepted. The process is competitive, and funding is limited. Therefore, we are unable to provide a specific timeframe for when, or if, an offer might be extended.
Funding Opportunities
Graduate Assistantships
The Computing Ph.D. program has limited funds and typically only funds students for their first year. Students are required to identify a major advisor by the end of their first semester. Advisors are expected to help students secure funding for the remainder of their degree program.
To maximize your chance to receive program funding you should submit your application by the priority deadline. If you submit by this deadline the process is as follows:
Early February – Students receive admission notification from the Graduate College.
Mid- to Late-February – Newly admitted students are prioritized for Graduate Assistantship funding.
March – The program begins to extend Graduate Assistantship offers to students.
Mid-March to July – Funding offers continue to be issued until all GA positions have been filled.
Deferred Admission
The program cannot hold GA offers for students who defer admission. However, students who defer can request to be considered for funding again.
Some departments, like Computer Science, also make GA offers to new students. Each department has its own timeline for making offers.
Research Assistantships
Research Assistantships (RA) are positions where a student is hired to work on a specific research project. Research assistantships are managed by faculty. Faculty may directly recruit students to apply to the program, or they may choose to recruit and hire a student who’s already been admitted.
Students are encouraged to learn about current faculty research through their homepages, GoogleScholar, or other electronic resources. You can also find them talking about their research in seminars, conferences, and workshops.
Visit our directory page for a list of program faculty, and contact those who are doing work in areas that align with your interests and background. Our faculty participate in a wide variety of programs, so please make sure to let them know you are interested in the Computing PhD program, along with your emphasis area of interest.
BRONCO SHIELD CyberCorps Scholarship for Service
The BRONCO SHIELD CyberCorps Scholarship for Service (SFS) initiative is designed for students who are passionate about cybersecurity and intrigued by the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) in enhancing cybersecurity measures, such as predicting and identifying threats, automating responses to incidents and enhancing the overall security posture. Explore the BRONCO SHIELD website, request more information by email at sfs@boisestate.edu.
The BRONCO SHIELD scholarship includes:
Full tuition
Annual stipend payment of $27,000 for undergraduates and $37,000 for graduate students
Financial support for health insurance
Annual professional development allowance of $6,000
Hands-on experience through research projects, internships, and competitions, enhancing their practical skills for real-world challenges in cybersecurity
Professional growth opportunities, including workshops, seminars, and networking events to foster connections within the cybersecurity community
Support in obtaining industry-demanded cybersecurity certifications that improve student competitiveness in the job market
Gem Scholarships
Gem scholarships are merit-based scholarships awarded by the Graduate College. A Gem Scholarship waives non-resident tuition for out-of-state and international graduate students with an overall GPA of at least 3.30
External fellowships are funding from sponsors outside of the university, such as government agencies, industry, and foundations. Fellowships can provide generous salaries and tuition waivers and can demonstrate distinction and achievement on your CV after graduation. We encourage both new and continuing students to apply for fellowships.