Financial Support
Incoming students who do not hold external fellowships will be awarded a Biochemistry & Cell Biology Graduate Fellowship for their first year of study comprised of a full tuition waiver and a stipend to cover living expenses. The BCB graduate program annual stipend for the 2024-25 academic year is $37,000, which is sufficient to live well as a student given Houston's low cost of living. Applicants DO NOT have to apply separately for financial aid; the application to the graduate program serves as the application for the graduate research fellowship.
Graduate student stipend levels are reviewed annually and periodically increased to maintain competitiveness with comparable institutions. If externally obtained stipends should fall below the program's stated level, a supplement is provided to bring the total to the annual program stipend. In addition, incoming first-year students may receive a bonus that can be used to assist with relocation or other expenses.
Rice University also offers graduate student campus housing, which includes furnished apartments in a variety of floor plans and their shuttle service provides easy transportation to and from campus, nearby grocery stores, and shopping centers. Free high-speed internet access through the Rice network gives you access to Fondren Library’s online journals and databases. Many graduate students live within two miles of campus.