Managing Your Fellowship

• Set up your fellowship and funding: Work with your advisor and department business office to activate the award in Purdue systems and process funding. They will be your primary points of contact for support on managing your fellowship. 
• Review fellowship terms and conditions: Carefully read the sponsor’s requirements and confirm you understand them. Contact your sponsor, advisor, or business office for clarification if needed. Every fellowship is different, but requirements may include progress reports, limits on other funding or employment, enrollment expectations, and acknowledgement language for publications or presentations. 
• Understand your benefits. Most fellowship recipients are not considered graduate employees and therefore are not eligible for graduate staff insurance plans. You are, however, eligible for Purdue’s student health insurance plan, and some fellowships provide a stipend toward insurance. More information about insurance benefits can be found at Purdue Student Health Insurance. 
• Understand tax implications of your fellowship: Fellowship stipends are generally subject to income tax, while other payments (e.g., tuition support, mandatory fees, books, supplies) are not. For domestic students, income tax is not withheld from the stipend—you are responsible for making tax payments directly. For international students, federal income tax may be withheld from fellowship payments. The interpretation and implementation of the tax laws is the domain of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). OGSPS takes no position on the status of a particular taxpayer, nor does it have the authority to dispense tax advice. Students should consult a tax expert for advice. For general questions, contact tax@purdue.edu.

Resources

• The Graduate Funding and Fellowships Manual offers detailed guidance on Purdue’s fellowship policies and procedures. 
• Fellowship-specific guidance documents will outline the requirements and expectations unique to your award.