The University of Illinois offers several benefits and services to graduate students and graduate assistants. These benefits help support students as they pursue advanced degrees while balancing academic, employment, and personal goals. The information below lists several benefits and provides links to additional information and details.
Benefits for Graduate Students
Benefits for students may vary based on the number of hours enrolled.
Leave of Absence
Graduate students in degree-seeking programs who will not enroll for a semester can request a leave of absence. For details, see the Graduate College Handbook.
Alternative Registration Options
Students in advanced stages of their degree program or who will be studying or conducting research more than 50 miles always may wish to utilize one of the following registration options: Research Credit or Zero Credit, in absentia, or GC 599. Note that some of these options have reduced service benefits. International students and students with fellowships or assistantships should check eligibility. Compare these alternative registration options.
Family Friendly Benefits
Health Care for Dependents
Graduate students have the option of adding dependents to Student Health Insurance, Dental Insurance, and Vision Insurance plans and can purchase coverage for spouses at McKinley Health Center.
Pregnancy and Related Conditions
The University of Illinois is committed to creating and maintaining an equitable and inclusive environment for students and employees who are experiencing current, potential, or past pregnancy or related conditions. This policy addresses the university’s responsibilities involving pregnancy and related conditions under state and federal law, including Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Pregnancy Discrimination Act, the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, the PUMP Act, the Illinois Human Rights Act and the Nursing Mothers in the Workplace Act.
Campus Lactation Space Guide
The Women's Resources Center webpage lists available lactation spaces across the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus.
Student-Parents
Students who, in addition to engaging in academic pursuit, are committed to providing and caring for children have a unique set of needs and experiences, joys and stressors. The Student-Parents website provides information about campus and community resources to support student-parents in their educational journey.
Child Care Resource Service
Located at the University of Illinois, CCRS is an agency that works to support the well-being of children and families by promoting the availability of quality child care services in the area.
Benefits for Graduate Assistants
There are four types of assistantships: Research Assistant, Pre-Professional Graduate Assistant, Teaching Assistant, and Administrative Graduate Assistant. See the Illinois Human Resources website for definitions and additional details.
This slide presentation provides and overview of benefits for graduate assistants.
Family Friendly Benefits
Parental Leave Policy
Eligible assistants are entitled to up to six (6) weeks of paid parental leave following the birth of a child, or upon either the initial placement or legal adoption of a child under 18 years of age. Eligible assistants are those who have an active appointment at the time the parental leave is taken. The same conditions apply as for other academic staff.