Receiving Your Stipend

Assistantships

Students appointed on an assistantship (TA, GRA, GA, RA) for the semester will receive stipend payments on a semimonthly pay calendar. If you have not received your payment, then reach out to your graduate field administrator (GFA) to remedy the delay. 

Assistantship stipend payments are paid semi-monthly throughout the semester in Workday. The first and last payments are partial payments, you can find your specific payment details in your appointment letter. Your GFA can help you if you need a copy of your appointment letter for the semester. 

Stipend schedule for assistantship appointments:

  • Fall appointment: First paycheck on August 31.
  • Spring appointment: First paycheck on January 15.
  • Summer appointment: First paycheck on May 31.

Fellowships

Students appointed on a university fellowship should receive their stipends within the first few days of the first day of classes of that semester. Ph.D. students appointed on University fellowships should receive their spring 2025 stipends by January 23, 2025. Fellowship funding is a source of financial aid for enrolled doctoral students. A student must be enrolled for the semester in which they will receive the funds. If you have not received your fellowship stipend by January 23 then contact your graduate field administrator or grad_funding@cornell.edu to ask for an update.

As a reminder, fellowship checks are generally paid in one payment at the beginning of each semester as a bursar refund. You can find your specific payment details in your fellowship award letter. Your GFA can help you if you need a copy of your award letter.