All students in the program are matched with a JDP faculty mentor who is responsible for ensuring that the student’s tuition and fees, annual stipend, and health insurance are covered each year. Students also have access to various opportunities for additional funding, fellowships, and assistantships at SDSU and UC San Diego. Additionally, the JDP has made an effort to provide additional support to our students by providing incentive awards and by covering some of the extra costs our students incur throughout their time in the program. See below for a breakdown of each component that contributes to the overall financial support package available to each JDP student.

Tuition and Fees

Tuition and fees are covered by the program through a combination of resources each year until the internship is completed. If a student must enroll to defend their dissertation during the summer or fall semester after the completion of their internship, the student is responsible for paying the tuition charges, not the program. Also, the program does not cover registration of students during the summer; students who desire to take summer courses must pay for these themselves.

It is required that students who are eligible (i.e., who are U.S. citizens or hold permanent U.S. resident status) apply to become legal California residents after the first year in the program; all students must meet requirements at both SDSU and UC San Diego for this to be approved. Failure to apply for reclassification as a resident will result in the student being charged with the non-resident (or per-unit) portion of the SDSU or UC San Diego tuition and fees.

Annual Stipend

Effective Fall 2022, the JDP guarantees a minimum stipend that matches the NIH Predoctoral Stipend each year (currently $26,352 for 2022). 

Health Insurance

All JDP students must have health insurance.

The JDP requires that mentors provide health insurance. There are a variety of ways the requirement to provide you with health insurance can be met, and you have a right to know how your coverage will occur.  Make sure your mentor discusses with you how your health insurance will be provided for the upcoming academic year. Students who wish to secure coverage elsewhere (e.g., through purchase, through a family member) should notify the JDP Program Coordinators. 

Fellowships & Assistantships

There are a number of Fellowships offered through both SDSU and UC San Diego that our students may apply for. 

We also give our students (who are in their 3rd year and above) opportunities to either TA or teach a course for additional funds if interested and approved by their mentor.  

JDP Incentive Awards

All currently enrolled JDP students are eligible to receive the following JDP Incentive Awards:

  • JDP Professional Development Funds ($250-$500 each academic year) – These funds are intended to be used by students to support a wide range of professional development activities. Examples include registration for specialized trainings/workshops, membership fees for professional organizations, and to offset publication costs. Students will automatically receive the professional development funds (i.e., they do no need to be requested) and will be notified by email when the funds are issued.
  • JDP 1st Author Publication Award ($100 each paper) – The JDP Publication Award will present students with a $100 supplemental stipend for each 1st author paper accepted/published in a peer-reviewed journal while enrolled in our JDP.  
  • JDP Grant Submission Award ($100 each submission) – The JDP Grant Submission Award will reward students with a $100 supplemental stipend each time they submit (first submission only) a major grant proposal that will fund them for at least one year in the program (F31, NSF, Private Foundation, etc.). Students must submit the grant while enrolled in our JDP.  
Additional Program Support

The JDP reimburses students for the following program-related requirements:

  • Advancement to Candidacy Fee ($50) – Required by UC San Diego in order to Advance to Candidacy
  • Internship Match & Application Fees ($628 for the 2022-2023 academic year) – Covers the APPIC Match Fee required when applying for internship as well as up to 15 internship applications. 
  • PhD Graduation Application Fee ($100) – Required by SDSU in order to apply to graduate.

Updated 9/07/2022