Assistantship with tuition waiver?

Question

Hi all.

I'm going to be attending Graduate School in the fall en route to earning a Ph.D and had a question about my new assistantship. The amount I will be paid covers the cost of tuition with a little amount left over (I checked the numbers.) However, it also said in my contract that it comes with a tuition waiver.

Does this mean that this assistantship money can be used for me to LIVE OFF OF as a poor Grad Student or does this just mean that the money has to go toward paying my tuition? I'm just not sure what assistantship with tuition waiver is supposed to mean.

Thanks!

Answer 1

Assistantships usually come with a tuition waiver and a stipend.  The amount you will be paid is yours to do with as you please, your tuition is already covered.