Health benefits at Duke are split into two parts. A "health fee" of $550 per academic year is paid directly to Duke Medical Center by the university for infirmary and routine care. The student is required to show that he or she is covered by a health-insurance plan for the remaining medical expenses. Duke provides a plan for a premium of about $1,300 per year. This amount for health insurance is formally paid as part of the stipend so that a student can choose any plan that is suitable. The Duke plan is not required. If the student is covered by someone else's plan (e.g., spouse), the student gets to keep the health-insurance portion of the stipend.

Six TA's also receive supplements from research grants for the summer, bringing their total stipend to $20,000 for 12 months. RA's are generally working full time on dissertation research. Five RA's are paid for the summer as well, bringing their average stipend to $20,000 for 12 months. In addition, eight Ph.D. students are on full university fellowships or training awards that require no service. Four of these are paid the typical $16,000 stipend for the academic year. Four are paid also for the summer months, bringing their total stipend to $21,000 for 12 months.

TA stipends vary considerably as to level of course (from $12,400 to $21,600), but the median (and most typical) is $13,000. RA's are engaged in full-time dissertation research. In addition, 19 Ph.D. students are on full university fellowships (no service); these pay a $14,500 stipend plus all tuition and fees for the academic year.

Thirty-four Ph.D. students are receiving full fellowships from the university without any service requirement. The stipend for these is $14,500 plus all tuition and fees paid by the university.

Eight Ph.D. students in history are receiving full fellowships (without service) of $14,500, plus all tuition and fees for the academic year, from the university.

RA's work full time on their dissertation research. In additon, 3 Ph.D. students were supported on training grants or university fellowships (no service requirement) that paid an average of $21,000 (plus tuition and fees) for 12 months.

Some RA's are paid for 12 months at a stipend of $21,000, others for 9 months at an average of $14,500. Those students are working on their dissertation research full time and are generally paid from research grants. In addition, 11 students are on full fellowship (no service) at $14,500 for the academic year (plus tuition and fees).