How to negotiate for summer funding when the department "saves" money on you?
Hi everyone,
I’ve been accepted to a PhD program in the US with a 3-year funding guarantee. However, I’m also a Fulbright scholar, and the department wants Fulbright to cover the first 2 years of my stipend. This means for those 2 years, the department isn't paying me a dime, and I won't have TA/RA duties.
Here is the catch: Fulbright only covers 9 months, and my department's offer doesn't include summer funding. I come from a low-income background (first-gen student) and going back home or relying on family isn't an option—in fact, I'm the one supporting them.
Since the department is essentially "saving" two years' worth of stipend thanks to my Fulbright, is it reasonable to negotiate for guaranteed summer RAs or fellowships for those first two years? How should I approach the DGS about this without sounding ungrateful?
Has anyone successfully negotiated summer support in exchange for bringing in external funding?