phd graduate assistantship

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THE GRADUATE SCHOOL

Assistantships, additional assistantship opportunities.

An assistantship provides a monthly stipend and  tuition scholarship.  Assistantship stipends are used when the student is performing service .  Assistantsh i ps may be in the form of: 

• graduate or teaching assistant ships
• research assistant ships

Academic programs or faculty  advis e rs  select graduate students to serve on assistantships.  

Duties and workload

The duration of an assistantship may range from a single academic term to a full year.  Students usually  serve between 15 to 20 hours per week with a maximum 20h/week.  

During the term of an assistantship, students are expected to continue making academic progress towards their degree.  

Every graduate assistant in TGS must meet the eligibility requirements set for all students receiving financial aid.  Please review the   Regulations Governing Recipients of University Assistance   for more information.  

Graduate/teaching assistants

Duties may include :  

• Serv ing  as graders for a course  
• Function ing  in an administrative capacity  
• Lead ing  discussion sections as part of a larger lecture course  
• Instruct ing  their own class sections  
• Assist ing  with academic projects such as editing a b ook  
• Coordinat ing  program activities  

Learn more about graduate or teaching assistantships.

Research assistants

Research assistantships are primarily funded on sponsored research projects.

Duties may include:

• Working in a lab  
• Conducting other types of investigative research for their  advis e r  

Learn more about research assistantships.

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• Assistantships

Graduate Assistantships

Graduate assistantships give students opportunities for professional experience , academic training , and financial support while pursuing advanced degrees. Prospective students are encouraged to ask about assistantship opportunities in their academic program. Those in graduate assistantships are considered nonregular academic appointees; more information about such appointments is available from the UM System’s Collected Rules and Regulations . Those with assistantships are hired into one of the following job codes and titles:

• Graduate Research Assistant (GRA, 4715)
• Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA, 4717)
• Graduate Instructor (GI, 4685)
• Graduate Library Assistant (GLA, 4690)
• Graduate Fellow (4680)

Obtaining a Graduate Assistantship

Most students with graduate assistantships obtain them through their  academic programs ..

If you are a graduate student seeking an assistantship, contact your academic program for information about open positions. Generally, an assistantship might be offered as part of an admissions package or developed through a professional relationship with faculty or administrative staff. A small number of assistantships that do not require program-specific expertise and other campus employment options (not assistantships) may be posted at  HireMizzouTigers.com . International students at MU should consult International Student Services for additional information about employment restrictions based upon visa type.

Acceptance of Assistantship Offers

The University of Missouri, along with hundreds of other U.S. universities, is a signatory to the Council of Graduate Schools’ Resolution regarding offering and accepting University financial support (e.g., scholarship, fellowship, assistantship).

Students are under no obligation to respond to offers of financial support, which includes assistantship offers, for the coming academic year before April 15.

When a student accepts an offer before this date and subsequently desires to withdraw that acceptance, the student may submit in writing a resignation of the appointment at any time.

However, an acceptance given or left in force after April 15 should commit the student not to accept another offer of financial support until they have informed the program of the withdrawal.

Eligibility

To hold a graduate assistantship, a student must be:

• Admitted to a department or area with a specific graduate-degree objective.
• Enrolled in a program and making  satisfactory progress toward degree attainment during the period of the assistantship. If a unit wishes to employ a student for longer than one semester (including summer semester) after graduation, they must transfer the graduate into a non-student title.

Note: Certificate students who are not also enrolled in a graduate degree program are not eligible for a graduate assistantship.

Each department or unit establishes its own documented procedures for recruitment, selection, retention, and dismissal of students with graduate assistantships in accordance with MU policy and  Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity guidelines .

Financial Support

Any assignment of responsibilities must be associated with a fair and reasonable stipend. This precludes a graduate student from “volunteering” for extensive service commitments to the academic programs without an appropriate stipend. The University sets the minimum stipend amount . The minimum stipend levels are adjusted based upon percentage salary increases for faculty and staff from the previous year set by the University.

Academic programs may differentiate graduate assistantship stipends by graduate student status (e.g., master’s or doctoral , first-year or experienced). Within academic programs and within each level of differentiation, stipends should be equivalent. The academic program should provide accessible guidelines used to determine stipend levels to students.

The table below details the minimum stipend funding levels for AY2024-25.

Students who are in 9-month assistantships are to be paid the 9-month stipend over 10 months, from August 1st through May 31st, unless prohibited by a funding source (i.e., granting agency does not allow it).  These positions may also be eligible for deferred pay over 12 months. Students are expected to perform their assistantship responsibilities over 9 months, even if their pay is deferred for 10 or 12 months. If a student is in a position for only one semester, they should receive equal stipend amounts per month for 5 months (either August 1 through December 31 or January 1 through May 31.

In addition, students who meet eligibility requirements also qualify for tuition remission and insurance subsidy . Recipients of graduate assistantships may qualify for merit-based stipend increases through competitive fellowship awards .

Minimum Course Load

Individual academic programs may require full-time enrollment or a minimum course load for funded students. Students enrolled at least half-time (4.5 student credit hours in the fall and spring semesters) are not subject to Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) taxes.

Graduate assistantships generally entail 10-20 hours of responsibilities per week (.25 to .50 full-time equivalent (FTE)). For GI or GTA roles, one student credit hour is considered 3.33 hours of assistantship responsibilities. Thus, one 3-credit hour class is considered a .25 FTE or 10 hours/week. Teaching two 3-credit hour classes in one semester is considered a .50 FTE.  A 5-credit hour language class is equivalent to 16.65 hours/week; a GTA or GI qualifies for a .50 FTE assistantship if the unit provides additional responsibilities, up to approximately 3 hours/week. Students with assistantships enrolled for the first time in Summer 2022 or later can be in a .25 assistantship ONLY if they have a second .25 assistantship or equivalent fellowship. A portion of any project that is part of an assistantship may include minor clerical elements, but all projects should incorporate decision-making, judgment, analysis, and evaluation skills.

Students with assistantships and/or part-time work on campus cannot hold an appointment above a .74 FTE (28 hours/week). During the academic year, students on visas are restricted to .50 FTE (20 hours/week).

Assistantships provide relevant professional and academic experiences that may include:

• Teaching one to two 3-hour class(es) or one 5-hour language class during a semester.
• Leading one to five discussion or laboratory sections of a course during a semester.
• Proctoring and grading large lecture and/or laboratory exams.
• Assisting faculty with research activities that vary from providing assistance with proposal development through participating in preparation of research reports and manuscripts for refereed journals.
• Helping students and faculty use microscopes, computers, and other lab equipment.
• Helping solve assigned research and class problems.
• Keeping library open and staffed to assist users.
• Cataloging new acquisitions.
• Developing administrative and other professional skills

Note:  Specific assignments vary by type of assistantships.

Supervision

All projects are supervised by graduate faculty , administrative staff , or principal investigators . Supervisors should provide feedback to students regarding their performance in the assistantship.

Those holding graduate assistantships may be required to provide their academic advisor with a written report of academic progress at the conclusion of the period for which the assistantship is awarded.

Types of Graduate Assistantships

Research assistantships, research assistantships are intended to support students to graduate with the knowledge and skills to become independent scholars..

A student may be granted a research assistantship (GRA) through a faculty member’s grant or other University funds, enabling the student to progress toward an advanced degree while performing research activities related to the grant or fund requirements.

Academic programs decide whether the research activities required as part of the graduate research assistantship is directly related to the student’s academic program. For example, in some academic programs, research conducted in the context of the assistantship is expected to directly inform the topic of student’s dissertation or thesis research. In other programs, the assistantship responsibilities are designed to help students gain expertise in research skills that can be applied to another project.

Teaching Assistantships

A teaching assistantship in an academic program provides a stipend to a student who assists in teaching duties during the academic year., duties and responsibilities.

Graduate Teaching Assistantship responsibilities include:

• Leading discussion, tutorial, and/or laboratory sections and/or grading student work

Additional responsibilities may also include:

• Setting up laboratories
• Preparing materials for discussion section
• Posting materials online
• Assisting with recording grades
• Providing support for administration of course and classroom instruction

All graduate students with teaching assistantships (GTA or GI) are required to:

• Participate in the graduate teaching orientation (GTO).
• Continue working toward an advanced degree throughout the assistantship.
• Work only with undergraduate students, unless the GTA is a doctoral candidate. Doctoral candidates are eligible to serve as GTAs (not GIs) for graduate-level classes in which only master’s and/or specialist students are enrolled. GTAs cannot be the instructor of record or have responsibility for the overall course direction and final grades. Doctoral candidates are eligible to serve as GIs (instructors of record) for undergraduate courses. This excludes any courses cross-leveled as 4000/7000.
• Successfully complete online teaching certification if they are the primary instructor for an online course.

Requirements for International Students

Graduate students with teaching assistantships whose native language is  not  English are required to:

• Participate in Graduate Teaching Orientation .
• Complete an evaluation by the  International Teaching Assistant Program .
• Meet established criteria for teaching at the level of instruction required for the assignment.

Academic Freedom

The academic freedom of graduate teaching assistants (GTAs) is not necessarily coextensive with that of faculty. GTAs are engaged in supervised teaching or instruction activities. Supervisors are responsible for defining the nature, scope, and manner of instruction for each course.

Supervisors should communicate the extent to which GTAs have discretion to introduce additional material, and GTAs should follow supervisors’ instructions. GTAs should not be penalized for expressing their own views on matters within the scope of the course if they represent those views as their own.

In interpreting teaching evaluations, supervisors make every effort to distinguish legitimate critiques of the course from negative evaluations related to:

• Prejudice against the GTA on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, disability, status as a qualified protected veteran, or other protected status.
• Disagreement with viewpoints expressed by the GTA or by students in the class.

Other Graduate Assistantships

Other graduate assistantships provide stipends for students who assist in academic or nonacademic program activities 10-20 hours per week..

These graduate assistantships (e.g., GLI, Graduate Fellow) may involve diverse duties covering a wide variety of functions and may not be housed in an academic unit. However, the responsibilities of these positions must be aligned with the students’ academic and professional goals, verified by the hiring and academic unit that they are academically appropriate, and approved by the Graduate School.

Additional MU Assistantships-Related Resources & Information

• Medical Insurance Subsidies
• Vacation Policy
• Intimate Relationships with Students
• International Teaching Assistants Program
• Appealing Assistantship Evaluation or Termination
• All students who hold an assistantship, must comply with the University’s Conflict of Interest policy

Performance & Renewal Evaluation Criteria for Graduate Assistantships

Graduate assistantship evaluation methods, the responsibilities of the graduate assistantships and the performance evaluation methods should be provided in writing to the student by the immediate supervisor at the beginning of the assistantship., conducting evaluations.

The faculty or staff member who supervises the assistantship must conduct a written evaluation of the student’s performance for at least once a year and provide a copy to the student and to the chair/director of the program or department for placement in the student’s file in MyVita.

This evaluation is separate from the annual review of student academic progress and should take the following criteria into account:

• Prompt, efficient, and accurate completion of assigned tasks.
• Independent work.
• Analysis and problem-solving.
• Adequate evaluations by students for instructional and tutoring assignments in courses, laboratory, and clinical settings.
• Cooperation with a mentor, director, and other students and staff.
• Professional and ethical behavior in all assigned tasks and duties.

Opportunities for improving performance should be outlined.  An appeal process  is available for those with graduate assistantships who assert they have not been fairly evaluated or dismissed.

Equal Treatment

The university of missouri is an  equal opportunity/affirmative action institution ..

Evaluation of graduate assistant performance must not be influenced by  race , color , religion , national origin , ancestry , sex , sexual orientation , gender identity , gender expression , age , genetic information , disability , or status as a protected veteran .

Discrimination on the basis of pregnancy , childbirth , or related medical conditions is also prohibited.

In addition, evaluations must not be influenced by a student’s exercise of First Amendment freedoms of expression and association.

Renewing Assistantships

In the rare case that a fixed term was not specified in the initial letter of offer, the assistantship may, at the discretion of the academic program, be renewed if the following criteria are met:.

• Funding is available.
• Academic program guidelines for the funding duration or limited semesters of support of a student are met.
• The student is making satisfactory academic progress, with a GPA not less than 3.0.
• The student’s assistantship performance is evaluated in writing by their supervisor to be satisfactory.
• The student’s professional and ethical behavior in all tasks and duties — including in courses in which they are enrolled and in research and creative work — is judged by the academic program to be satisfactory.

If the renewal falls within the number of years of funding specified in the initial letter of offer  and  the five criteria listed above have been met, the assistantship must be renewed.

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• Graduate Teaching Assistants

Written by Ben Taylor

Becoming a graduate teaching assistant is a great way to fund your PhD while gaining valuable teaching experience. Along with earning a salary, you’ll have the chance to lead seminars, give feedback and supervise practical work.

This page is an introduction to graduate teaching assistantships, covering applications, responsibilities and average salaries.

On this page

What is a graduate teaching assistant.

A graduate teaching assistant (GTA) is a PhD student who takes on paid teaching responsibilities for undergraduate university courses. You may work at your own university or at another local institution. These graduate teaching assistantships are designed to help postgraduate research students develop valuable teaching and assessment skills , with a full training programme.

GTAs are often awarded as part of a PhD scholarship programme, offering a living stipend and tuition fee waiver, as well as a salary for the teaching activity. This means that applying for a GTA can be a competitive process, like a job application. However, successfully completing a GTA can be an important first step in a career in academia (as well as a great source of funding during your PhD).

What are the responsibilities of a graduate teaching assistant?

Most graduate teaching assistantships will require you to complete a set number of hours of work and professional development over the course of an academic year. This amount varies from GTA to GTA (and from university to university), but generally speaking you should expect to undertake between 180 and 240 hours of work per year.

These are some of the responsibilities you’re likely to have as a GTA:

• Holding tutorials and seminars
• Supervising practical work (particularly in the laboratory and on field trips)
• Providing feedback, marking and assessment to student
• Taking part in professional development activities
• Support the department with administrative duties
• Give pastoral support to students who need it

You’ll usually be responsible for teaching undergraduate students, but in some cases you may also be involved with Masters students (particularly in the case of lab supervision activity).

Teaching during a PhD

Our guide to teaching as a PhD student has more detail on what to expect from this, with tutoring tips and more.

How do you apply for a graduate teaching assistant job?

You can usually apply for a graduate teaching assistant job after you’ve been accepted onto a PhD programme or project. The process is, unsurprisingly, fairly similar to applying for a traditional role, in that you’ll have to provide a cover letter and a CV , as well as the likelihood of an interview for the position.

The main requirement that you’ll come across in most GTA roles is that you have a good undergraduate degree and / or Masters in a relevant subject (if you’ve already been accepted onto a PhD, it’s pretty likely that you already satisfy this requirement!). You won’t usually be expected to have teaching experience, but any evidence you can show of extra-curricular academic activities during your university career will be very beneficial.

As with any job application, it’s very important to tailor your documents to the position you’re applying for. Don’t be tempted to copy and paste the personal statement or CV you put together for your original PhD proposal.

It’s vital to write a new graduate teaching assistant cover letter that emphasises your existing teaching and supervisory experience, as well as tweaking your academic CV to show that your skills match the requirements of the job role.

If you’re invited to an interview for the GTA position, make sure you have a clear idea of your motivations for applying (don’t just say that you desperately need the stipend!). Be prepared to answer questions about how you want your experience as a GTA to shape your future career ambitions. You should also ensure that you have plenty of concrete examples to back up any claims you make in your cover letter / CV.

Can international PhD students apply for a graduate teaching assistantship?

Yes, full-time international students are normally eligible to apply for a GTA role. The UK student visa allows applicants to work for a maximum of 20 hours a week, so you cannot exceed this during your PhD.

You should make sure that you meet the English language requirements of the GTA, which might differ to those stipulated for your PhD.

What is a graduate teaching assistant salary?

How much you earn during a graduate teaching assistantship depends on the nature of the position and whether or not it’s tied to Research Council funding.

You can usually expect to earn the equivalent of a Research Council stipend per year. In 2020-21, this was at least £15,285 per year (tax-free).

In some cases, you may be paid on an hourly basis. Each university will have its own pay grade for GTAs, generally corresponding to a scale agreed upon by the University and College Union. At the University of York, for example, GTAs are paid £13.45 per hour.

If you’re paid on an hourly basis, you will usually be allocated between 45 minutes and an hour of preparation time for every hour of teaching you undertake.

Most GTAs are also entitled to a certain amount of paid annual leave , too.

Importantly, you’ll receive a tuition fee waiver as well as earning a salary. This will usually be at the domestic rate – international students might have to pay the difference themselves, unfortunately.

Where can you find graduate teaching assistant jobs?

If you're looking for a graduate teaching assistantship scholarship you can search for GTA as a keyword in our course search, highlighting those programmes that mention GTAs in their description.

If you’re applying for PhD funding or a scholarship, you may find that you’re given the option to say whether you’re interested in a teaching position.

Universities will often advertise GTA roles on their internal job boards , or on departmental websites .

Ready to do a PhD?

Search our project listings to find out what you could be studying.

Want More Updates & Advice?

Ben worked in the FindAPhD content team from 2017 to 2022, starting as an Assistant Content Writer and leaving as Student Content Manager. He focused on producing well-researched advice across a range of topics related to postgraduate study. Ben has a Bachelors degree in English Literature from the University of Sheffield and a Masters from the University of Amsterdam. Having also spent a semester at the University of Helsinki through the Erasmus programme, he’s no stranger to study abroad (or cold weather!).

We've answered some of the most frequently asked questions about PhDs, covering course types, applications, funding and the benefits of further study.

Not sure how to fund your PhD? This guide answers some of the most common questions about PhD funding in the UK.

The seven UK Research Councils provide government studentships for PhD research in different subject areas. Our simple guide explains how this funding works, what you can get and how to apply successfully.

You may be able to get a PhD loan of up to £27,892 for a UK doctorate from Student Finance. Our guide explains eligibility, applications and repayments.

Our guide explains the best ways to fund international PhD study in the UK, with information on all the main scholarships available to you.

A range of scholarships may be available to help you fund a PhD. Our guide explains the different types of award with tips for making a successful funding application.

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The Graduate School

Graduate assistantships overview, graduate students collecting data as laura marcoux rides a stationary bicycle inside the mission heat lab at gampel pavilion, what is a graduate assistantship.

An assistantship is awarded to a graduate student who provides teaching (teaching assistantship: TA) or research (research assistantship: RA) support to the University that is a part of their academic program. In recognition of this support, tuition is waived by the University and subsidized health insurance is offered. Graduate Assistants (GAs) are responsible for paying their student fees at the negotiated GA rate.

What is the Eligibility Criteria to be a GA?

To be appointed, to retain an appointment, or to be reappointed, a student must hold Regular (not Provisional) status, must maintain a cumulative average of at least B (3.00) in any course work taken, must be eligible to register (i.e., must not have more than three viable grades of Incomplete on their academic record), must be enrolled in a graduate degree program scheduled to extend through the entire period of the appointment or reappointment, and must be a full-time student.

In order to perform duties with direct instructional responsibilities, a graduate student appointed as a Teaching Assistant will need to provide proof of English proficiency. UConn’s English Proficiency Policy for TAs and Testing Procedures details information about how to provide proof of proficiency.

What is the Appointment Length and Hours Per Week?

Effort devoted to the duties of a graduate assistantship typically range between 10 and 20 hours per week (also sometimes called a “half GA” and “full GA” respectively). Appointments ordinarily are made for the nine-month period, August 23 through May 22, but may be of shorter duration for a variety of reasons.

What Benefits Do GAs Receive?

The Human Resources website has an extensive compilation of information on graduate assistant benefits, payroll, and policies, including detailed information about health insurance benefits . If employed in an assistantship that falls under the Graduate Employee Union (GEU) , additional benefits may be described in the GEU contract and on our GA Onboarding page. Please note, GAs employed solely at UConn Health do not fall under the GEU.

Do GAs Receive a Tuition Waiver?

A graduate assistantship provides the student with a tuition waiver for the duration of the appointment in the fall and spring semesters. There is no tuition waiver for summer or winter intersession courses. GAs are still required to pay student fees. When graduate fee bills are calculated by the Office of the Bursar , the tuition waiver will automatically populate to the GA’s fee bill once two items are in place:  an active payroll authorization input by the hiring department and enrollment for the semester in at least six credits.

What are the Stipend Rates?

Stipend rates for graduate assistants are graduated in terms of progress toward the advanced degree and experience.

• Level B/I: for graduate assistants with at least the baccalaureate.
• Level M/II: for experienced graduate assistants in a doctoral program with at least the master’s degree or its equivalent in the field of graduate study. Equivalency consists of thirty graduate level credits beyond the baccalaureate degree, together with admission to a doctoral program.
• Level P/III: for students with experience as graduate assistants who have at least the master’s degree or its equivalent and who have passed the doctoral general examination.

Specific stipend rates may be found on Payroll’s website and will be included in the GA offer letter.

Are GAs Required to Do Any Additional Trainings?

As part of their employee role, GAs are required to participate in these mandatory trainings . There may be additional trainings or orientations required or recommended depending on the specific GA duties.

What is a Supplemental Description of Duties?

In addition to an offer letter for a graduate assistantship, the hiring department must also provide GAs with a Supplemental Description of Duties (SDD) form for each semester they are appointed. This form summarizes the specific duties a GA is expected to perform and may include, among other things, the assigned course, lab, research project, or position; the faculty member to whom the GA will report; course meeting times and location; the maximum number of students for which the GA will be responsible per class, section, lab, etc.; and the work location. The Supplemental Description of Duties must be signed by both the GA’s supervisor and the GA. The Supplemental Description of Duties form may be issued separately from the assistantship offer letter.

Can GAs Hold Additional Employment?

Graduate Assistants seeking on-campus employment or wishing to hold an internship in addition to a full-time (20 hour) GA appointment during the semester must complete the online Supplemental Employment Approval form, which requires their advisor’s approval and is submitted to The Graduate School for final approval. International students on UConn-sponsored visas are not able to work above 20 hours per week during the semester.

Job Offer Acceptance Etiquette

When accepting a job offer feel free to ask clarifying questions. If you feel that you are not being given enough time to make your decision, ask if additional time might be granted. Supervisors are encouraged to give candidates up to a week to accept an offer but sometimes this may not be possible. 

Once accepting an offer and if resigning from a different graduate assistant position, it is recommended that you immediately notify the department of your resignation. This is especially important when departments are already counting on you to teach courses or labs. They would rather know immediately and be able to initiate a hiring process to fill open positions, ensuring that course offerings remain available, etc.  

If you are applying to UConn, there is a place within the application where you can indicate that you wish to be considered for a graduate assistantship.

If you have accepted an assistantship offer, please visit our GA Onboarding page . This webpage will orient GAs employed at Storrs and regional campuses who fall under the Graduate Employees Union (GEU) and provide information, resources, and to-do items specific to your role as a GA to help you successfully transition into your assistantship.

Current Opportunities

Are you an academic or non-academic department that would like to advertise a GA position here? If so, please send your job description to [email protected] to be posted. Additional guidance for non-academic units can be found on our Appointing a GA in a Non-Academic Unit page.

There are currently no positions posted – check back soon!

There are currently no positions posted - check back soon!

Contact Information

860-486-3617

[email protected]

The Whetten Graduate Center, Second Floor University of Connecticut 438 Whitney Road Extension, Unit-1152 Storrs, CT 06269-1152

8:30am to 4:30pm Monday through Friday

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Graduate Assistantship: Everything You Need To Know

A graduate assistantship is a pivotal aspect of graduate education, blending academic and professional development. Here's everything you need to know to get one.

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Graduate assistantships are a cornerstone of graduate education, offering students a unique blend of academic and professional development. These roles not only provide financial benefits but also pave the way for significant growth in various skills and networking opportunities.

Understanding what a graduate assistantship entails is crucial for students aiming to maximize their graduate school experience.

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Graduate assistantships are key components of graduate education, merging academic and professional development.

These part-time work opportunities for graduate students offer roles in teaching, research, or administrative tasks, and are a financial boon, providing tuition fee waivers and stipends.

Types of graduate assistantships

Graduate assistantship positions come in various forms. Each one requires a different skill set:

• Teaching assistantships : Involves undergraduate course instruction, lab management, and grading.
• Research assistantships : Encompasses support in academic research, project involvement, and potential lab work.
• Administrative assistantships : Focuses on departmental or university administrative support.

Becoming a graduate assistant

Crafting a graduate assistant resume.

• List your highest degree first, typically your ongoing graduate program.
• Include the name of the institution, degree type, major, and expected graduation date.
• Highlight any academic honors, awards, or a high GPA if relevant.

Relevant academic and research experience

Detail any previous experiences that align with the graduate assistantship, whether in teaching, research, or administrative roles.

• On a research assistant resume, emphasize involvement in research projects, lab work, or relevant academic studies.
• For a teaching assistant resume, list any experience in teaching, tutoring, or educational program involvement.

Work experience

Include part-time jobs, internships, or volunteer work, especially if they have relevance to the assistantship.

Use bullet points to describe your responsibilities and achievements in each role, focusing on how these experiences have prepared you for the assistantship.

List skills relevant to the assistantship, such as:

• Laboratory skills for research assistant roles
• Communication and presentation skills for teaching assistantships
• Organizational skills for administrative positions

Certifications or additional training

Include any certifications or extra courses that enhance your qualifications for the assistantship, such as teaching certification, research methodologies, software proficiency, or administrative training.

Professional affiliations and extracurricular activities

Mention any relevant membership in academic or professional organizations, participation in clubs, or engagement in campus activities.

Writing a graduate assistantship cover letter

Crafting a cover letter for a graduate assistantship is a pivotal step in showcasing your suitability and enthusiasm for the role. This document serves as a personal introduction and a persuasive argument for why you are the ideal candidate for the position.

The best thing you can do to maximize your chances of landing the role is to tailor the letter to your specific role .

Begin by thoroughly researching the specific graduate assistantship role . Whether it's a teaching assistant, research assistant, or administrative assistant position, understanding the nuances of the role is crucial. Familiarize yourself with the department's focus, the faculty's research interests, or the administrative duties involved.

Your cover letter should clearly demonstrate how your previous experiences , whether in academic settings, research projects, or relevant work environments, make you a strong fit for the assistantship.

• For a teaching assistant role, emphasize any prior teaching or tutoring experiences.
• For a research assistantship, highlight your involvement in similar research projects or lab work.
• Teaching assistantships

Teaching assistantships are the most common type of graduate assistantship. Here are a few things you should know if you'd like to work as a teaching assistant (TA).

Teaching assistant responsibilities

Lesson preparation: TAs are often responsible for developing lesson materials, creating presentations, and preparing instructional resources. This requires a deep understanding of the subject matter to ensure that the content is accurate, relevant, and engaging for students.

Leading discussions: In many courses, particularly in the humanities and social sciences, TAs lead smaller discussion groups. This role involves facilitating debates, encouraging student participation, and ensuring a comprehensive understanding of the course material.

Student consultations: TAs often hold office hours to provide additional support to students. This includes clarifying lecture content, offering guidance on assignments, and sometimes providing mentorship and career advice.

Grading: An essential part of a TA's role is grading assignments and exams. This not only involves assessing student work based on a rubric but also providing constructive feedback to help students improve.

Collaborating with faculty: TAs work closely with faculty members to develop course content, coordinate class activities, and sometimes assist in research related to the course.

Becoming a teaching assistant

Teaching assistant qualifications

• Enrollment in a relevant graduate program, demonstrating expertise in the subject area
• Strong communication skills in order to deliver lessons effectively and engage with colleagues
• Organizational skills and adaptabilities as TAs have to juggle various tasks and adjust to different teaching environments

Teaching assistant resume

If you want to work as a TA, you should craft a strong teaching assistant resume covering your:

• Previous teaching, tutoring, or mentoring roles
• Curriculum development skills
• Ability to engage and captivate an audience
• Ability to engage students in learning

Frequently asked questions

1. what is a graduate assistantship.

A graduate assistantship is a part-time employment opportunity offered to graduate students, involving roles in teaching, research, or administrative tasks, along with financial benefits like tuition waivers and stipends.

2. What are the different types of graduate assistantships available?

The main types of graduate assistantships include:

• Research assistantships
• Administrative assistantships

3. What are the teaching assistant's responsibilities?

Teaching assistant responsibilities encompass preparing and delivering lesson plans, leading discussion sessions, holding office hours, and grading student assignments.

4. What roles and responsibilities do research assistants have?

Research assistants are involved in conducting literature reviews, performing experiments, collecting and analyzing data, and assisting in the publication of research findings.

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Sara is the Content Manager at Keystone Education Group, in charge of creating and managing editorial content for students across the globe. After getting a Bachelor's in Interactive Media Design, she pursued a career in Content and UX. She's been involved in the international education industry since her high school years.

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Graduate School

Assistantships

Engage the next stage of your academic career through a teaching or research appointment.

Assistantships provide a tuition and stipend contribution, paid as salary, for research or teaching. While requirements vary by department, Princeton believes strongly that assistantships are an integral part of one's academic training and professional development. 

Assistantship in Instruction (AI)

During an Assistantship in Instruction (AI), graduate students may be involved in a combination of classroom teaching, laboratory supervision, and grading in undergraduate courses. Most Ph.D. programs require teaching as part of the graduate academic experience, often in specific years of study. AIs are also commonly held by master’s students and DCE students. Ordinarily, first year students in Ph.D. programs are not appointed as AI's.

Visit the Academics section for complete details regarding the AI program . A summary of financial considerations is included here.

Each term, the Dean of Faculty provides departments with an AI hours allocation, based on teaching needs for undergraduate courses. Departments assign these hours in turn. AI appointment hours vary from a minimum of one hour to a maximum of six per term. A six-hour AI represents a full-time commitment of roughly 20 hours weekly.  The University limits students with external fellowships providing a stipend of 75% or more of the standard university rate to AI assignments of up to 3.0 hours per term.

AIs make a commitment for a full academic term and are paid over five months (fall term: August through December, spring term: January through May).

An AI appointment provides tuition and salary. The AI University rate is the same across divisions and is higher than both the University Fellowship and Assistantship in Research stipend rates .

Support from an AI replaces, in full or in part, other University funding. If a less-than-full-time AI is assigned, tuition and stipend amounts are prorated. For example, with a 50% AI, the appointment would provide half of tuition and half of the AI stipend. The balance of support would then come from other sources. 

The following chart demonstrates how teaching combines with fellowships and research to provide 100% support.

Other Considerations:

• Graduate Students in DCE Status : If you hold a minimum AI appointment of two hours, the Graduate School provides you a tuition grant for the full DCE tuition and Student Health Plan fee, determined on a per term basis. If your AI appointment is one hour, you receive prorated tuition and are responsible for the balance of tuition and fees for the term (unless funded by other sources).

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Assistantship in Research (AR)

During an Assistantship in Research (AR), graduate students contribute to faculty research. Funding is generally provided by faculty research grants. In the natural sciences and engineering, students are commonly supported by an AR after the first year of study and during summers. 

AR tuition and stipend components are the same for students across divisions. The stipend is provided as salary. 

If a student has additional University or external funding, tuition and stipend amounts are prorated, depending on the percent of AR commitment.

Tax Information

Assistantships are a form of employment, and are subject to federal and state tax withholding .

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/images/cornell/logo35pt_cornell_white.svg" alt="phd graduate assistantship"> Cornell University --> Graduate School

Assistantships.

Full-time Ph.D. and research master’s students may be awarded financial support in the form of an assistantship. These fall into four general categories: teaching assistant (TA), research assistant (RA), graduate assistant (GA), and graduate research assistant (GRA). These awards are administered by fields and departments.

Graduate student assistantships ( Policy 1.3 ) are an arrangement in which financial support is awarded to a graduate student who engages in teaching and/or research in furtherance of the university’s academic mission, as well as his or her graduate education. All assistantships include a tuition credit, a stipend at least at the university’s published minimum rate, and health insurance coverage.

Students may hold different assistantships during their time at Cornell, or may receive funding from a variety of other funding arrangements such as fellowships or external awards. Because assistantships include a service component, the stipends are processed semi-monthly through Cornell’s payroll system with applicable tax withholdings. 

Because students funded through assistantships are expected to make progress towards their research degrees, assistantship hours for TA, RA, and GA appointments are limited to 15 to 20 hours per week, averaging no more than 15 hours per week. Hourly limits for GRA appointments are not explicitly defined because they, by definition, are “an academic appointment focused on thesis or other degree-related research of a type that is required from all candidates for the degree. Because a student devotes considerable time to dissertation research, the time spent on research connected with the project is variable. GRAs are awarded full tuition credit and a stipend.”

Assistantship stipend increases are approved annually by the Board of Trustees, which includes two voting student members, upon recommendation from the provost and Graduate School based on input gathered annually from the General Committee of the Graduate School, which includes two voting student members, Graduate and Professional Student Assembly (GPSA), faculty directors of graduate studies (DGSs), and college deans. 

Cornell assistantship minimum stipend rates have increased consistently over time, averaging a 2.5% annual increase for the past eight years. Most (95%) doctoral students also receive funded assistantship or fellowship stipends during the summer months.

Stipend rates Cornell University Policy 1.3, Graduate Assistantships International TA Program Course Center for Teaching Innovation I9 eligibility for students with DACA status

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Graduate Assistantships

Graduate assistantship (GA) is a generic term referring to financial support of graduate students that results in a stipend and compensation and for which performance of defined duties is expected. Specific graduate assistant appointments are made in one of three categories: research assistants, teaching assistants represented by the Graduate Employees Union, and teaching assistants not represented by the MSU - Graduate Employees Union Collective Bargaining Agreement.

More than 3,000 assistantships are available to qualified graduate students at Michigan State University. The University is concerned with the quality of educational experience that graduate assistants receive, and, for teaching assistants, also the quality of the instruction that they provide to undergraduates.

Graduate assistants are enrolled students whose primary association with MSU is directed toward advance degree completion. Satisfactory progress toward earning a degree is a condition of maintaining the assistantship. Departments may limit the number of years that a graduate student may hold an assistantship.

Graduate assistants are responsible for knowing the specific policies and procedures that govern their particular assistantship and academic program. One good place to look for these is  Academic Programs  which includes the Illness, Injury, and Pregnancy Leave Policy .

Graduate assistants are covered under other MSU policies, including those regarding laboratory and campus safety, Drug and Alcohol-Free Workplace, policy on Religious Observance, Procedures for Handling Allegations of Misconduct in Scholarship, MSU Anti-discrimination Policy, and the policies on Sexual Harassment and Conflict of Interest in Educational Responsibilities Resulting from Consensual Amorous or Sexual Relationships.

Graduate Teaching Assistants  (GTAs or TAs) are subject to the collective bargaining agreement with the Graduate Employees Union/American Federation of Teachers. to view the contract, see Graduate Employees Union (GEU) Contract 2019-23 .

If a student has completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, then the student should be aware that receipt of a fellowship, scholarship or assistantship may reduce the student's eligibility for federal student loans.  Please contact the Office of Financial Aid at [email protected] if you have questions.

For graduate programs looking to recruit and retain graduate students who have been accepted into a master’s or a doctoral degree program and whose enrollment will contribute to our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion while enhancing their program’s academic excellence and diversity please see the Academic Achievement Graduate Assistantships page.

Graduate assistant appointments are related to the academic semester of enrollment (Fall: August 16- December 31, Spring: January 1-May 15, Summer: May 16 - August 15). The appointing department/unit defines the conditions of the assistantship (e.g. quarter- or half-time, Fall, Spring, and/or Summer Semesters).

Based on student experience a graduate assistant is assigned to the appropriate level. Level details are found on  Academic Programs .

The hiring unit must complete an offer letter that the student will sign. There are offer letter templates for each of the various types of appointments. These templates may not be modified. The offer letter signed by the student will be attached to the hiring form in EBS.

Prior to the appointment, a criminal background check is required. An electronic disclosure and authorization form will be provided to students via email. The form must be signed and submitted to initiate the background check. Appointments will be contingent upon satisfactory results.

An INS I-9 form (Employment Eligibility Verification) must be completed and attached to the GA Appointment Recommendation form. A department representative must see the documents used to verify eligibility and identity. Acceptable documents can be found at https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents . The I-9 form must be completed within three business days of the appointment start date. If I-9 forms are not filed within 3 days the appointment will be cancelled.

All student employees will have their I-9s processed by the hiring department. Human Resources offers training to those department administrators who need assistance completing an I-9 for a foreign national with valid visa status. Departments needing support can email [email protected] for I-9 assistance.

Graduate assistants are paid on a bi-weekly basis . Departments appointing graduate assistants must meet deadlines set by Human Resources ( https://hr.msu.edu/ua/hiring/graduate-assistants/index.html ) for the filing of appointment forms. If they are unable to meet deadlines, delays may occur in the issuance of the first payroll payment and enrollment in the health insurance plan.

Graduate Assistants are encouraged to complete a withholding tax authorization (Form W-4) and payroll direct deposit form. Graduate Assistants can access the website to complete Form W-4 and enroll in the direct deposit program at https://ebs.msu.edu/ under the Employee Self-Service Portal.

A completed appointment form is the key to receiving the stipend and benefits. It also indicates intent by the department and the student to comply with the regulations pertaining to graduate assistantships as published in this brochure, the Graduate Students Rights and Responsibilities document, and the Academic Programs catalog.

• Graduate assistantships are available only to graduate students who are in good standing and actively pursuing graduate degree programs.
• International graduate assistants must check in online with the Office for International Students and Scholars. Check-in instructions will be sent to their MSU email account.
• Doctoral students with quarter-time or half-time assistantships must carry at least 3 credits (exceptions stated in chart ). They may carry a maximum of 16 course credits (for a quarter-time appointment) or 12 course credits (for a half -time appointment), excluding 899/999 credits. Doctoral students who have passed comprehensive exams may enroll for 1 credit the semester after the student’s unit administrator submits the completed exam form to the appropriate college Associate Dean and the college sends the approval to the Office of the Registrar . Note: There is a maximum of 36, 999 credits for all doctoral students.
• Master’s students with quarter-time assistantships or half-time assistantships must carry at least 6 credits. They may carry a maximum of 16 course credits (for a quarter-time appointment) or 12 course credits (for a half -time appointment), excluding 899/999 credits.
• Doctoral and master’s students with three-quarter-time assistantships must carry at least 3 credits. They may carry a maximum of 8 course credits, excluding 899/999 credits.
• During the summer session, graduate assistants must carry a minimum of 3 credits.*
• Visitor credits may count as part of a student’s credit load if approved in writing by the student’s department chair or unit director, college and the Dean of the Graduate School.
• Deviations from the minimum enrollment requirements listed above, except as noted for doctoral students, are permitted only during the semester in which the degree is granted, when students must enroll for at least the number of credits required to complete the degree or meet the University minimum registration requirement of one credit.
• Any deviation from the maximum credit requirements must have the written approval of the dean of the student’s college before registration.
• Graduate enrollment must be in courses recognized as being of graduate level unless the student’s department, school or program has granted written permission for course work constituting an exception to this policy.
• Graduate assistants must achieve and maintain satisfactory academic records. This means a 3.00 or higher grade point average. Appointing units or colleges may establish additional or higher required standards.
• Recommendation for appointment as a graduate assistant must be made by the department chairperson or school/program director.
• Lifelong Education students and College of Law students (except if dually enrolled in an MSU graduate program) are not eligible for graduate assistantships. Dually enrolled bachelor’s/master’s degree students are not eligible for graduate assistantships until the minimum number of credits required for a first bachelor's degree is completed.

Graduate assistants are appointed on a quarter-time, half-time, or three-quarter-time basis for 18 -19 weeks each (depending on number of University holidays) for Fall and Spring Semesters and 12-13 weeks (depending on number of University holidays) for Summer Semester. The approximate expectation of normal workload, averaged over the entire period of the appointment, is: 

• 10 hours per week for a quarter-time stipend;
• 20 hours per week for a half-time stipend; or
• 30 hours per week for a three-quarter-time stipend.

Graduate assistants are responsible for understanding the weekly workload expectations during the entire period of their appointments. This includes work assigned and the time frame within which the work must be completed, essential duties and responsibilities, work conditions and vacation opportunities, if any. Graduate assistants are appointed at one of three levels.  See ASSISTANTSHIP LEVELS below.

MSU annually sets stipend ranges based on level and appointment type.

An assistantship includes tuition waiver and health insurance. Academic Programs gives additional information. The non fringe research assistant job is for post-comps (DD status) Ph.D. students during the summer semester with no tuition benefit. For additional information about this assistantship see the related HR page .

Graduate assistants are eligible to purchase a parking permit. For information about Graduate Assistant parking permits go to  Parking Services , click on the Student "Learn More" button, and scroll down to the Other Permits section.

Additional benefits including spousal benefits are listed in Academic Programs .

Graduate Assistantship stipends may not be subject to Social Security (FICA/Medicare) taxes as long as they meet both federal guidelines and requirements for enrollment. Please check with payroll if you have a ¾ time appointment.  These are often subject to FICA.

Stipends are subject to income taxes with few exceptions. The taxability of stipends is subject to review by the Internal Revenue Service. For more information, call the Payroll Office at 517-355-5010. Please note that tax laws are subject to continuing revision and students should verify their tax liability yearly.

The Controller’s Office has a list of tax forms and department contact at https://www.ctlr.msu.edu/COFA/TaxForms.aspx

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Graduate assistantships allow graduate students to work for a specific University unit in exchange for certain benefits. Those benefits include:

• Tuition coverage
• Medical insurance benefit

Over 60 percent of graduate students at Purdue are on assistantships. There are two basic classifications of employment for students who are eligible for a graduate assistantship appointment:

• Graduate staff performing teaching, research, academic counseling, or other activities directly supporting teaching and research under close faculty supervision.
• Graduate administrative/professionals performing administrative or other duties not directly related to teaching or research.

Assistantship positions are hired at the department or unit level. Please contact the department graduate coordinator for more information on assistantship opportunities.

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Assistantship Information

Graduate Assistants (GAs) are, first and foremost, graduate students pursuing an education. The opportunity to work closely with faculty members and undergraduate students in teaching, research, or administrative environments is an integral part of that education.

Graduate students who hold assistantships benefit educationally and professionally. They gain further expertise in their field; enhance their research skills and develop pedagogical skills; acquire experience in leadership, interpersonal effectiveness, and performance evaluation; acquire academic administrative experience; and enjoy collegial collaborations with advisors that may result in joint publications and other professional activities. Skills learned in assistantships prepare students not only for the academy, but also for corporate, government, and nonprofit organizations.

Assistantships also provide graduate students with the financial resources necessary to pursue their degrees. This financial support—stipend, tuition assistance, and benefits—is part of the University’s commitment to the success of our graduate students. Graduate Assistant stipend levels  are reviewed each year.

For information on Graduate Assistant tuition assistance eligibility requirements and allowances please visit the Graduate Assistant Tuition Assistance webpage.

Please visit the  Office of the Student Financial Aid website  for information about other student financial aid.

The official title of Graduate Assistant is used in all university documents, but, in general practice, Graduate Assistants are referred to either as Graduate Teaching Assistants (TAs), Graduate Research Assistants (RAs), or Graduate Administrative Assistants (AAs). Additionally, a small number of Graduate Assistants serve as resident life counselors. Qualified graduate students often move between these kinds of appointments during their graduate education.

For full details, please see  Policies for Graduate Assistantships .

Teaching Assistantships

The specific duties of Graduate Teaching Assistants (TAs) vary across disciplines and departments. For the majority of teaching assistants, however, assignments and responsibilities fall into four categories:

• Assuming teaching responsibility for a laboratory or discussion session of a course; 
• Assuming teaching responsibility for a classroom section of a multi-sectional course, under the close supervision of the director(s) of the course; 
• Assisting a faculty member in the grading, advising, and administrative duties necessary for a course(s); 
• Assisting in general departmental administrative duties, such as advising or the administration of community programs, workshops, etc.

Within a department, the particular assignment depends on the department’s needs and the experience and academic qualifications of the TA. All graduate TAs serving in any capacity are under the direction and close supervision of a member of the faculty.

Research Assistantships

The specific duties of Graduate Research Assistants (RAs) vary according to the nature of the research project in which they participate and the source of the funding. RAs may occasionally be asked to conduct some work at home or to do their research at times when classes are not officially in session. The duties of RAs are also performed under the close direction and supervision of a member of the faculty.

Administrative Assistantships

A number of academic and non-academic units employ Graduate Administrative Assistants (AAs), generally to perform administrative support functions in an office setting. Such positions are expected to have a research or professional development component. Some administrative appointments are for less than one academic year.

Tips and Other Opportunities

• There is no centralized posting of all available assistantships on campus; however, many are listed on the  University Human Resources ejobs website .
• There are also a small number of positions available on campus as  Resident Life Graduate Assistants . 
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Graduate Assistantships While Abroad

With the exception of temporary overseas research/scholarly trips (extending for only part of a semester), the following policy applies to all GA positions at UMD: Graduate assistantships are not allowed for students abroad. The University's Office of General Counsel, in consultation with Maryland's Office of the Attorney General, has determined that we may NOT provide graduate assistantship appointments to students who are residing outside the US. This applies to new and continuing students, regardless of visa status, whether the duties can be performed remotely, and whether the student currently holds or previously held a GA appointment. Students who have not entered the U.S. with permanent or temporary residency within the first four weeks of the semester cannot be appointed as GAs. Students residing outside the US may receive a fellowship stipend, so long as there is no work requirement or expectation apart from progress on degree requirements (e.g., dissertation research). International students shall consult with campus officials about any visa limitations prior to any temporary scholarly trips.

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Graduate Assistantships

Graduate Student Assistantships are a form of student employment which includes compensation in the form of a stipend, tuition, and lab/course fees. Assistantship recipients perform research, teaching, or administrative services for the University as part of a student’s academic and professional training and development. Assistantships provide graduate students with experiences that strengthen and enhance their education and contribute directly to their thesis, dissertation, or report.

Three types of assistantships are offered:

• Teaching Assistantships involve working to assist faculty with teaching (GTA) or being fully responsible for teaching a course (GTI).
• Research Assistantships involve working to support research on a specific externally funded grant or contract (GRA) or an internally funded project (GA).
• Administrative Assistantships involve administrative work and are externally funded in support of a project or grant (GADE) or internally funded (GADI).

Assistantships are available only to full-time, degree-seeking students. For more information on a specific type of assistantship please refer to the Policies and Procedures for Assistantships page.

Applying for an Assistantship

All applicants to the Graduate School are automatically considered for graduate assistantship opportunities. Your application for the program also acts as your application for financial consideration. Funding is typically reserved for PhD applicants, although not guaranteed. Master's level applicants are rarely awarded assistantships .

If you have additional questions about the availability of funding, please contact your Graduate Program Director and/or a faculty member within your program.

Availability of Assistantships

Graduate assistantships are typically awarded by a student’s academic department. The availability of assistantships varies by department and by semester.

Positions associated with research grants are available in some programs and research centers . For more information, students should speak with their Graduate Program Director or advisor.

Receiving an Assistantship

Assistantship recipients will receive an offer letter as soon as decisions are made. Awards for the upcoming academic year are typically decided in March or April, although this may vary by program.

Appointment Types and Compensation

Students on full assistantship appointments are expected to work half-time (20 hours/week). Programs may offer less than a full appointment, resulting in three-quarter, one-half, or one-quarter assistantship appointments. All assistantship recipients are full-time students who perform their duties in concurrence with work appropriate for at least nine credits of coursework or research activities. As such, a student’s workload, including teaching preparation and grading, should not exceed the level of their appointment in order to better ensure their success as a graduate student and as a graduate assistant.

The amount of a student’s tuition support and stipend depends on the level of their appointment. A full-time appointee will receive full tuition support and a stipend of at least the Minimum Stipend Rate . Tuition support and stipend rates will be adjusted proportionally to the level of a student’s appointment, as shown in the table below.

Minimum Stipend Rates are set each academic year and are dependent on a student’s degree type and previous academic accomplishments. Students on assistantships are paid bi-weekly.

Tuition Caps

The tuition cap is the maximum a department will allocate for tuition and lab/course fees for a supported student on an assistantship per semester. Full-time status is granted to students who are enrolled in at least nine credits of coursework and/or research activities in one semester. Although it is possible for a student to enroll in more than nine credits in a semester, most departments will not pay for more than nine credits per student in order to maximize the number of students they are able to support in one semester. Support will pay 25%, 50%, 75%, or 100% of the student's home department tuition cap (tuition and course/lab fees).

Supported students who enroll in more credits than their department’s tuition cap will support are responsible for paying the tuition associated with those extra credits. Please refer to Tuition Caps to determine the maximum number of credits supported by each department.

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4 Reasons You Should Apply for a Graduate Assistantship

Posted by Shelly Quance on 3/30/22 8:53 AM

Graduate school is a great way to invest in your future. You further your potential by giving yourself a better chance to get noticed in today’s job market, pursuing your interests in more depth, and making more connections.

Your graduate education is more than what you learn in the classroom — it’s also the work experience you gain. One way to obtain work experience in graduate school is through a graduate assistantship .

A unique experience during graduate years, graduate assistantships provide an excellent learning environment, exposing students to what it is like to be in the workforce (and will also help you in financing graduate school !) .

The Admissions Team at WVU are here to teach you about the value of graduate assistantship and how securing a graduate assistantship can help you finance graduate school while boosting your resume with practical work experience.

Here are several reasons why becoming a graduate assistant will be helpful as you pursue a graduate degree:

What is a graduate assistantship ?

A   graduate assistant   is a graduate student who has secured a specific form of academic employment for which students must apply and be accepted based on academic excellence and faculty referral. Graduate assistants receive a tuition waiver based on the tasks they perform for faculty members or departments.

In addition to payment, graduate assistantships are a strategic way for PhD and master’s degree students to gain practical field experience, deepen academic understanding, and network with thought leaders and students in their field.

Graduate assistantships are offered through the university and take place within the university or off-site where the university has connections. Application procedures for graduate assistantships vary by school, but the process typically starts at least a semester before the start of the graduate assistantship.

"I know that many of the leaders at WVU that I have met and work with will make a difference in this world, in particular with the opioid crisis. I am confident that the skills I have gained in my graduate research assistantship at WVU will help me continue to make a difference."  —Sara Warfield, Graduate Research Assistant, PhD in Public Health at WVU

1. By participating in a graduate assistantship, you'll get to network with field experts.

From an educational standpoint, the benefits are fairly clear, but graduate assistantships can also provide you with a valuable network of contacts to look to for references and advice post-graduation.

A graduate assistant often works alongside professors or staff members. Mentorship is an important part of learning, whether you’re in school or in your career — and it’s a built-in part of becoming a graduate assistant. Not only does working with experts in their fields provide a great learning environment, but it also comes in handy after school when you’re looking for references for job applications.

Pro Tip: Hear from one grad assistant who benefited from a graduate assistantship at WVU!

2. You get quality, practical work experience  while  getting your graduate degree.

Your education shouldn’t be reduced solely to classroom time. In order to advance your knowledge and skill set, you need focused, applicable experience in your field. A graduate assistantship can offer you this experience because you’ll have the opportunity to work with and learn from professors and other professionals in your field. 

Not to mention, by working in a graduate assistantship, you'll experience juggling multiple tasks with multiple deadlines. You'll learn to move forward with your own goals and responsibilities while helping others progress as well.

By shadowing a professional, you get to see firsthand what the field is like day-to-day.  For example, being an Athletics Compliance Assistant at a NCAA university would give you the opportunity to work under the Director for Athletic Compliance. You get to know the ins and outs of what it is like to be the Director for Athletic Compliance by assisting in monitoring prospective student-athlete recruitment and student-athlete transfers, research rules interpretations, and learn how to use the NCAA Compliance Assistant software. On top of that, you get to interact with student-athletes, athletic staff members, and other institutional staff. These interactions serve as an exceptional learning experience and allow you to expand your network.

3. A graduate assistantship will help you finance your education.

A graduate assistantship position is largely invaluable due to the academic/practical work experience and the networking benefits you'll gain. That said, many graduate assistantships offer a tuition waiver  plus  a monetary stipend. Thus, a graduate assistantship position can actually help you to fund your graduate degree in addition to providing you with important real-world knowledge and skills.

Pro Tip: Need more information on financing graduate school ? Check out these resources . 

4. You assist and learn from other students in your field.

In leading others, you have the opportunity to relay your experience in the field to others in hopes that they will be inspired to pursue your field. For example, as a Strength and Conditioning Assistant at a local high school, you might be responsible for developing and improving various teams’ strength and conditioning programs, maintaining weight room facilities, marketing, communication between faculty and staff, and ensuring safety standards.

In this setting, you will be surrounded by younger, like-minded students. This opens the opportunity for not only you to gain experience by working with these students, but students to learn from you. Whether you are in the classroom or directly in the field, you have the chance to see what younger generations have to contribute to the field, essentially forming mentorships between you and those of the younger generation.

Are you ready to become a grad assistant at WVU?

West Virginia University awards approximately 1,700 graduate assistantships annually to incoming and continuing students. Students considered for a graduate assistantship must be accepted into a degree program and are required to be enrolled full time — nine credits or more.

Here are the types of graduate assistantships offered at WVU:

• Graduate Teaching Assistantships
• Graduate Research Assistantships
• Graduate Service Assistantships

A graduate assistantship is truly a rewarding experience. Serving as support to some of the best in your field, getting a glimpse of what it is like to be a professional in the field, and building those who are the future of your field exemplify why a graduate assistantship is essential to your graduate education. If you're interested in transforming your future at WVU and participating in a graduate assistantship, we encourage you to contact us today !

We invite you to explore our new digital resource page —  Your Guide to Understanding Graduate Assistantships in Graduate School  — for insight into the value of securing a GA position in grad school. 

Recommended for you

Topics: Funding Your Graduate Education

Posted by Shelly Quance

Shelly Quance has spent almost 20 years working in higher education marketing communications. She currently serves as Director for West Virginia University’s Office of Graduate Admissions and Recruitment where she works collaboratively with College leadership to develop, implement, and evaluate creative and effective comprehensive communication and marketing plans to increase graduate student enrollment.

About the Blog

Deciding what graduate school to attend can be daunting at times, and navigating the admissions process can be that much more difficult. We hope to make the journey from considering graduate school to enrolling in a graduate program easier by publishing content that will be helpful to you as you discern if, when, and where, to pursue your next degree.

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Graduate Assistantships

Graduate assistantships appointed at 33.3% or higher (>13 hours/week) provide multiple benefits:

• monthly stipend;
• remission * of both resident and non-resident tuition (students will still need to pay segregated fees , roughly $726/semester); and
• eligibility for health insurance ( health insurance options  for a  reasonable premium are among the country’s best group health insurance plans), with appointments of at least a full semester (for academic year positions) or six months (for annual positions). Student employees paid on an hourly basis are not eligible for the graduate benefits package.

* Graduate students enrolled in service-based pricing programs , such as online and accelerated programs, are ineligible to receive tuition remission.

Graduate students should consult with their graduate programs and read their admission and appointment letters carefully to understand their benefits eligibility.

Skill development

Students also gain valuable skills through assistantship roles.  This work may apply directly to their career goals or build broad, transferable skills in areas like communication, teamwork, and leadership.

“Through this position, I have developed a broad understanding of higher education issues… and continued to strengthen my applied analytical and technical skills.” -Project Assistant

Minimum stipend levels

The campus stipend rates for 50% graduate assistantship appointments in 2024-25 are:

Research assistantship Annual: $32,396 Academic: $26,506

Teaching assistantship Academic: $26,506

Project assistantship Annual: $32,396 Academic: $26,506

Lecturer Student Assistant Academic: $29,068

PA grader/reader Hourly rate: $25.83

Assistantship stipends by program

Graduate programs may adjust stipend amounts above the campus minimum to remain competitive in attracting top students. The Graduate School reviews, approves, and posts program rates annually.

• View 2024-2025 program rates.

More information on the process for setting graduate assistantship minimum stipends and program rates  is available in the UW–Madison policy library.

Investing in graduate assistants

UW–Madison, through internal, extramural, and gift funding sources, supports over 5,400 graduate students – including 71% of doctoral students – through graduate assistantship appointments. The university’s continued investment in graduate students has resulted in minimum stipend levels at or above the peer institution median.

Read more about how UW–Madison supports graduate assistants.

Four years of graduate assistantship minimum stipend increases planned

UW – Madison has committed to increasing minimum graduate assistant stipends for the next four years in a forecasting plan , which emphasizes factors that are critical to student success: tuition remission, health and dental insurance benefits, paid vacation and sick leave, and mentorship training. The new approach gives students, principal investigators, departments, programs, schools, and colleges the ability to budget for increases to minimum stipends several years into the future.

Teaching Assistantships:

Instructional positions that include such duties as lecturing, grading papers, supervising laboratories, leading discussion sections, or developing course curriculum

Project Assistantships:

Project-related assignments such as coordinating programs, organizing events, analyzing data, or supporting student services

Research Assistantships:

Research under the guidance of a faculty member

Finding and applying for graduate assistantships

The vast majority of graduate assistantship positions are not posted publicly or available to all graduate students. Instead, they are “owned” by particular graduate programs and are reserved for students in those programs. Programs use their own internal processes to award assistantships to students. To find out how your program awards assistantships, you should contact your program.

A smaller number of graduate assistant positions are not reserved for students in particular programs, and any graduate student can apply for those positions. Those positions are usually listed as they become available on the website of the  Student Job Center . Generally, the positions are posted relatively close to the time they will start, so positions that start in the fall semester will usually be posted in July or August.

Browse UW Graduate Assistantships

If you have a graduate assistantship, visit the Office of Financial Aid to understand how your assistantship will affect your financial aid offer .

Office of Human Resources Policies

Graduate assistant policies and procedures.

Graduate Assistant Policies and Procedures (GAPP) outlining employment-related practices for graduate student teaching assistants, research assistants, and project assistants.

Teaching Assistant Orientation and Training

Many programs offer specialized Teaching Assistant (TA) training during orientation, the week before classes begin. Other programs offer teaching methods seminars for their TAs. Some schools and colleges offer TA orientation sessions (typically during orientation week in August). Students should contact their program’s graduate coordinator or payroll representative for more information, or call one of the deans’ offices listed above.

Letters and Science TAs should watch for information from the L&S TA Training and Professional Development Office .

College of Engineering TAs should look for information from the Collaborative for Engineering Education and Teaching Effectiveness .

For international students

The  International Teaching Assistant (ITA) Training Program , coordinated by the English as a Second Language (ESL) Program, helps non-native English speaking TAs (or potential TAs) improve their oral communication and classroom teaching skills.

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Everything You Need to Know About Graduate Assistantships

Gabriel Jimenez-Ekman is a content editor and writer at Scholarships360. He has managed communications and written content for a diverse array of organizations, including a farmer’s market, a concert venue, a student farm, an environmental NGO, and a PR agency. Gabriel graduated from Kenyon College with a degree in sociology.

Learn about our editorial policies

Cait Williams is a Content Writer at Scholarships360. Cait recently graduated from Ohio University with a degree in Journalism and Strategic Communications. During her time at OU, was active in the outdoor recreation community.

Maria Geiger is Director of Content at Scholarships360. She is a former online educational technology instructor and adjunct writing instructor. In addition to education reform, Maria’s interests include viewpoint diversity, blended/flipped learning, digital communication, and integrating media/web tools into the curriculum to better facilitate student engagement. Maria earned both a B.A. and an M.A. in English Literature from Monmouth University, an M. Ed. in Education from Monmouth University, and a Virtual Online Teaching Certificate (VOLT) from the University of Pennsylvania.

Graduate assistantships are exciting opportunities to earn money in college while making connections and obtaining skills in your field. Students with graduate assistantships form close relationships with professors and meet other professionals in their line of study. You may even graduate as a published author in your field. 

Here is everything you need to know about graduate assistantships. We’ll start by comparing the different types of assistantships. Then we’ll go over all of their benefits and drawbacks. Finally, we’ll guide you in the right direction to get hired.

Related: How to find online jobs for college students

Types of graduate assistantships

Graduate assistantships can take several different forms. Depending on your intended profession, some positions will be a better fit than others. Here, we’ll contrast the responsibilities and benefits of each position.

Teaching assistant

Teaching assistants help professors with the day-to-day operation of an undergraduate course. This can include:

• Giving lectures to supplement the main course lectures
• Grading papers
• Assisting with curriculum design 
• Holding office hours where students in a course can ask questions

Teaching assistantships are a great fit for students who are considering continuing in academia. Students who graduate with teaching experience under their belt will have a huge advantage in pursuing a teaching position. But teaching assistantships also have further-reaching applications. Teaching a course requires a diverse skill set, and students can apply their experience to a wide variety of professions.

If you are considering a teaching assistantship, it’s a good idea to look into the responsibilities of the specific position. 

Related: Top scholarships for teachers

Research assistant

Research assistants help professors with research projects they are undertaking. Professors have limited time to pursue their own research, which makes research assistants so crucial. As a research assistant, you won’t have any facetime with your professor’s students. You’ll only be in contact with your professor and anyone else they are working on the research with. Research assistantships vary in their duties based on the field of study; general duties may include:

• Combing and summarizing relevant articles and firsthand studies 
• May help write the actual paper that the professor will publish
• May assist in field studies or experiments

Research assistantships can be a huge asset on your resume after graduation. Research assistants demonstrate exceptional writing, research, and collaboration skills. In collaborative studies, they also have the opportunity to network with people in their field. This can include other professors, researchers, publishers, and more.

Former research graduate assistant perspective

Maria Geiger | Director of Content at Scholarships360, Monmouth University

Other assistantships

Some schools offer other graduate assistantships that serve a more general function. Other graduate assistants may help coordinate campus life or help with clerical work. These assistantships vary more widely than teaching and research assistantships. However, they often still help form close relationships with school officials. 

Students interested in logistical, planning, or office work may pursue other graduate assistantships. They can be a great opportunity to accrue work experience at a respected institution. Students who are interested in working for their college after graduation should definitely look into a graduate assistantship.

Don’t miss: How to pay off student loans

Benefits of graduate assistantships

Graduate assistantships come with a host of benefits. They are a great opportunity to:

• Establish relationships with professors and network with other professionals in your desired field
• Earn money while also being in school to help keep the cost of grad school down and avoid taking out loans
• Deepen your understanding of your field and gain valuable experience that you can use in future jobs

There are more benefits than just the ones listed above, but these are just a few that we wanted to highlight. If a graduate assistantship sounds like something you might be interested in, you should look into them and assess what other benefits they may offer you! No matter what type of assistantship you take, graduate assistantships look great on resumes and will tell a lot about who you are! 

Read more: How to complete the FAFSA for graduate school

Drawbacks of graduate assistantships

Although graduate assistantships are a great opportunity for many students, they are not always the right fit. Graduate assistantships can vary widely based on the professor and school that offer them. 

A potential drawback is the possibility of working for an unhelpful professor. If your professor is unavailable to their graduate assistants, you’ll lose one of the biggest benefits of the position. In addition to making it difficult to perform your duties, you won’t be able to consult your professor. This could render some of the networking benefits of the position ineffective. So before you decide to work for a professor, try speaking to some of their previous assistants. Try to find out if they are a helpful professor to work for.

Additionally, some schools pay lower wages than others for graduate assistantships. In these cases, a student could make more money by working another job while they take classes. So, you’ll need to decide for yourself what is most worthwhile. 

Related: Top scholarships for graduate students

How to get hired

Now that you’ve heard all about graduate assistantships, you may be wondering how to pursue one yourself. 

Identify a professor

The best way to start the process is to identify a professor you would like to work for. Whether it’s because of their helpful personality, their field of study, or both, you’ll want to find the right match, as you’ll be working closely with them. 

Build a connection

Once you’ve found someone you’d like to work for, try to build a relationship with them. If they hold office hours or stick around for a short bit before and after classes, strike up conversation. When the time comes to apply, make sure to tailor your resume to the position. Brush up on your interview skills, and prepare to discuss the subject matter that you’d be working with. 

We’re not saying this will absolutely secure you an assistantship, but it is a good start. If it doesn’t work out with the first professor you apply to, don’t worry! You can ask around about positions with other professors. You can also maintain the relationship with your first choice professor in case they offer more positions in the future. Good luck in pursuing your graduate assistantship!

Learn more: Graduate school financial aid options

Key Takeaways

• Graduate assistantships exist in several capacities, some may include helping a professor teach, aiding in research, working with campus life, and more
• Depending on where you go to school and what professor you are working with, graduate assistantships can vary quite widely
• Be sure to do your research before agreeing to an assistantship, as pay, your responsibilities and other benefits should impact your decision about whether an assistantship is right for you
• Whether you’re working for a professor or are simply a student, it’s always a good idea to network and foster strong professional relationships with professors. 

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What is the difference between graduate fellowships and graduate assistantships, how do i ask for a graduate assistantship, how competitive are graduate assistantships, 3 reasons to join scholarships360.

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40 USA Graduate Assistantships (UPDATED FOR 2025) for International Students

Ifeoma Chuks

July 13, 2024

Have you been looking for USA graduate opportunities to study in the USA?

Also see: 20 Graduate Assistantships in the Middle East for International Students

Get Up to $100,000 Student Loan for Your Master in US or Canada - See if you are eligible

Also see: Proven Steps to Get a Graduate Assistantship in the USA

List of US Universities Accepting 2.2 & HND from International Students (with Proof)

The thing is, the USA graduate scholarship is a very popular option for international students. As in, tens of thousands apply to only a handful of scholarships every year. So it follows that your chances of competing and winning a full scholarship to study in the USA are very slim, even more so if you have plans to work while/after schooling.

So then, why restrict your options to applying only for scholarships when universities, polytechnics & colleges offer international students “graduate assistantships”? What’s a Graduate Assistantship, you ask?

It will be easier to simply list out top USA Graduate Assistantship opportunities to plan or apply for but you see, while you might know something and then think it is general knowledge, plenty of learners do not know what you know. The lack of information is so overwhelming that in my experience evaluating scholarship applications, many do not know what or why they have applied. Imagine walking into a room blindfolded.

Shocking, right?

So education begins from the ground level up. In future articles, we will tackle how to apply successfully for a graduate assistantship, cold calling a professor, writing a great SOP, etc (other strategies are listed in this interview ).

For this article though, we define Graduate assistantships and list some of them from the United States (US) that you may apply for.

What then is a Graduate Assistantship?

A Graduate Assistantship is walking the talk. A GA enables you to get your education fully funded in exchange for a professional contribution to your major. So while your tuition is fully paid off, sometimes along with your housing and maintenance, it comes with working in your faculty. Like having a job while studying, only that for a GA, it usually entails academic/administrative work not bartending or housekeeping. GA advances your development more than a scholarship.

In the US of A, Graduate Assistantships are of 3 types:

• A Graduate Assistant (GA) : A Graduate Assistant works with and assists students daily. they are not required to teach the students. The GA primarily works in an administrative capacity with a member of the faculty or the school coach, yet the work of the graduate assistant should not be to do filing and clerical duties. The keyword is “should not”. It’ll however depend on the faculty’s pressing needs at the time
• A Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA): The GTA is required to teach undergraduate students and mentor them. In some cases, the GTA is assigned to master’s and doctoral candidates in rare circumstances where exceptional expertise or experience is shown. The teaching assignment is an opportunity to obtain depth of knowledge within the academic discipline. 
• A Graduate Research Assistant (GRA) : The GRA is employed to aid the research of a faculty member in a capacity that enhances the student’s career and educational development. For the GRA, the research project typically results in a professional paper, thesis, or dissertation. Duties vary depending on the type of research project. It may include laboratory experiments, library searches, data entry, preparation of reports, and other relevant assignments.

All graduate assistantships are professional positions that allow you to build the skills employers seek. For master’s students applying to doctoral programs, an assistantship demonstrates that you are well-prepared to contribute to the department. Indeed, for many research fields, not having an assistantship during your master’s could count against you when applying to PhD programs.

If you need to speed up the process or ensure your graduate school application is written by a professional, you can address an essay writing service online, like SmartWritingService. There professional writers offer affordable assistantships with various assignments, including admission essays. Don’t go with the flow — take control, get writing help, and secure your academic future.

How to Apply for a Graduate Assistantship (GA)?

GAs are typically awarded by a specific Graduate Course or Department or College. So you would most likely not be aware of a call for applications if you do not contact the department or college.

You would most likely not be aware of a GA call for applications if you do not contact the department or college.

Let’s point you in the direction of 30 USA graduate schools that open their assistantships to African/international students

So what say you? Wanna apply to some GA positions? Let’s get cracking!

2025/2026 additions:

Ifeoma Chuks is a naturally-skilled writer. She has written and contributed to more than 6000 articles all over the internet that have formed solid experiences for particularly aspiring, young people around the globe.

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Wayne State University

Graduate school graduate school, graduate assistantships.

Graduate assistantships are appointments made to students enrolled in a master's or doctoral program at Wayne State University. Appointments may be made for one, two or three semesters of the calendar year. Graduate student appointees must be in good academic standing (i.e., have a minimum 3.0 honor point average or its equivalent). The graduate assistant must be enrolled for a minimum of six graduate credits each per fall and winter semester appointments.

Assistantship positions provide a salary and a tuition scholarship. Graduate assistants have the option of accepting subsidized medical, dental and vision insurance. The hiring unit determines the salary but must offer at least the discipline category minimum listed in the Compensation Schedule . The tuition scholarship provides payment for up to 10 graduate credits for each of the fall and winter semesters and up to two graduate credits for the spring/summer semester appointment. The scholarships will pay for only graduate credits listed on a student's Plan of Work.

GTAs and GSAs are represented by the Graduate Employees Organizing Committee/American Federation of Teachers (GEOC) , except those who serve as counselors, supervisors, confidential employees or coaches. 

Types of assistantships

Graduate teaching assistants (gtas).

GTAs provide approximately 20 hours of instructional service per week over the course of a semester. GTAs may be assigned teaching duties, including grading, in undergraduate-level courses or related laboratories or discussion sections, and may serve as instructors of record for undergraduate courses.

Graduate Student Assistants (GSAs)

GSAs provide approximately 20 hours of service per week over the course of a semester. GSAs may be assigned research, administrative and scholarly duties for the primary benefit of the university or granting agency under the supervision of a university faculty member or administrator. Students who are engaged in work whose product is reasonably expected to be used among other purposes for the student's dissertation, thesis, essay, or independent or directed study, or who are engaged in other work for the primary benefit of the student's research, scholarly or education program, should not be classified as Graduate Student Assistants but as Graduate Research Assistants. All Graduate Student Assistant appointments must include a Graduate Student Assistant Certificate of Relevancy.

Graduate Research Assistants (GRAs)

GRAs are typically doctoral students in good standing who hold their appointments in academic or research units. In some instances, the Graduate School may approve appointment of master's students as GRAs, provided their master's program carries a significant research component directly relevant to their own academic programs of study. Graduate Research Assistants provide approximately 20 hours of service per week over the course of a semester in research or academic activities relevant to their own academic programs of study. These activities should relate directly to the student's degree requirements and should be reasonably expected, among other purposes, to contribute to a student's dissertation, thesis, essay, independent or directed study, or otherwise be undertaken for the primary benefit of the student's research, scholarship or academic program. All Graduate Research Assistant appointments must include a Graduate Research Assistant Certificate of Relevancy.

How to apply

The Graduate School does not offer all the graduate assistant positions that are available at the university. Many are determined and offered by departments, although not all departments have assistantship positions. Typically, a department's website will indicate if positions are available. At least one person with contact information will be provided on the site. Assistantship application deadlines vary by department and program. Inquiry or application for fall semester assistantships should begin one year in advance if application deadline information is not readily available on the program website. Most departments or programs with assistantship positions will provide an application form. If you cannot obtain an application form from the department, contact the program concerning your interest in an assistantship.

See frequently asked questions about graduate assistantships .  See assistantship forms and policies .

The GEOC is the union representing graduate student employees at Wayne State University. 

Frequently asked questions about GEOC dues

Graduate assistants in positions represented by the GEOC/AFT have the option of paying union dues (union member) or paying a representation service fee (non-member).

Every student accepting a Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA) or a Graduate Student Assistant (GSA) position has the option to:

• Pay dues as a member of the GEOC-AFT union.
• Pay a voluntary fair share fee to the GEOC-AFT union.
• Do not pay membership dues or agency fees.

To authorize payroll deductions for GEOC membership dues or voluntary fair share fees, a completed  GEOC Union Membership/Voluntary Fair Share Card  must be submitted to GEOC directly.

No. The card is activated only if and when a graduate assistant moves to a represented position. When the student is in a non-represented position, the Employment Service Center simply retains the form in a non-represented file for possible future use. A student who was a graduate research assistant would not have completed the card and may only want to do so if and when they are appointed to a GSA or GTA classification.

Graduate assistants authorize payroll deduction from their biweekly paycheck, which will be activated when they are in a represented position.

Whenever possible, dues and fees will be deducted beginning with the first pay in a semester and extending through the last  pay of the semester. The biweekly deduction is prorated so that the entire semester dues amount is deducted over the course of all the semester pays.

A graduate assistant may change the information they indicated on the card by submitting a new completed, signed and dated card, clearly marked as REVISION.

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Graduate assistantships are funding packages awarded to degree-seeking students that involve teaching, research, or administrative activities. They are designed to support and enhance a graduate student’s overall educational experience, and are an opportunity for professional development, and provide financial support. Each graduate program or academic college is responsible for awarding assistantships to graduate students, and more than 4,500 graduate assistantships are awarded annually.

Students interested in internship opportunities should contact their graduate program for information, and can also note their interest on their J. Jeffrey and Ann Marie Fox Graduate School application.

Assistantship funding support

An assistantship includes:

tuition remission

insurance premium subsidies

payment of Student-Initiated Fee

Stipend amounts

A stipend is commensurate with both the type (quarter, half, or three-quarters) and grade level of an assistantship, and these are determined by the department providing the assistantship. The type refers to the volume of activities associated with an assistantship.

Stipend amounts for each grade are set annually by the University, and the minimum recommended grade level for all assistantships is grade 12. Stipend amounts increased by 3.5 percent for the 2023-24 academic year, and will increase by 3.5 percent in the 2024-25 academic year, as approved by the Penn State Board of Trustees .

To view stipend amounts, visit the Table of Graduate Assistant Stipends .

Length of assistantships and summer funding

Graduate assistantships last 18 weeks per semester, or 36 weeks for a fall and spring appointment. Students who had assistantships, fellowships, or traineeships in both the fall and spring are eligible to apply for summer tuition assistance (STAP)  of up to 9 credits of required coursework during the subsequent summer. Many graduate students find additional funding for the summer through wage payroll, scholarship funds, summer graduate assistantships, or other means.

Required credit load

The table below lists the minimum and maximum credit load for each of the three types of assistantships: quarter-time, half-time, and three-quarters time. Post-comprehensive doctoral candidates should be enrolled in a 601 level course in place of the typical course load.

Health insurance subsidies

Penn State subsidizes health insurance (medical, dental and vision) for graduate assistants and full-time fellows and trainees. Health insurance is required for international students. The  Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) for Penn State provides robust coverage tailored to meet student needs for the entire academic year, including summer.

For more information, visit the Student Affairs website for dental and vision insurance or health insurance premiums .

The SHIP provides robust coverage tailored to meet student needs through input by graduate student representatives to the Student Insurance Advisory Board (SIAB) and the Student Insurance Administrative Council (SIAC). SHIP provides coverage for the entire academic year, including summer.

Total Estimated Value of 2023–24 GA Economic Benefits

For gas receiving individual insurance coverage.

For GAs Receiving Family Insurance Coverage

The table includes the average stipend amount across the University for the Fall/Spring 2023-24 academic year.

Graduate students on fall/spring assistantship appointments often receive some form of additional support in the summer, so that total annual support is often greater than reflected for the fall/spring assistantship.

Actual support value will vary with assistantship type, stipend amount, number of summer credits taken and residency status, and choice of SHIP, Dental and Vision coverage (e.g., Individual, Individual & Dependent, Family, etc.).

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How you can subsidise the cost of a grad degree while gaining career-ready skills

Are you thinking about  pursuing a postgraduate degree  in the US? Many American universities provide students with world-class facilities and seasoned academics to bolster their learning and career opportunities post-graduation. If you’ve been doing your research, you might have come across the term “graduate assistantships”, but what are graduate assistantships, and how do they benefit you?

What are graduate assistantships?

In its simplest terms, a graduate assistantship is a type of employment for graduate students that are offered through the university. It allows you to gain practical field experience while receiving financial support for your degree. A particular department or college usually awards them.

There are several types of graduate assistantships. These include teaching assistantships, where a graduate student might teach courses at the undergraduate level or run an undergraduate laboratory; research assistantships, where a student works under the supervision of a faculty mentor to assist with tasks such as  literature reviews  and the design of the research or scholarly project; and graduate assistants, who may manage  special projects  or work in a clerical capacity within a variety of university departments. 

What are the benefits?

Many. West Virginia University (WVU) notes that graduate assistantships allow PhD and master’s degree students to  gain practical field experience , deepen academic understanding, and network with thought leaders and students in their field. This could open up opportunities for grad students in the future, be it for references to building their knowledge and skills in students’ areas of interest. 

Students should contact their respective departments or colleges about these opportunities as they often conduct individual hiring processes. Source: Melissa Sue Gerrits/Getty Images North America/Getty Images via AFP

Where can I apply for a graduate assistantship?

Many universities in the US offer graduate assistantships; there may not be a separate application for it. Be sure to clarify with the respective departments or graduate coordinator for details. Below are some universities in the US that offer graduate assistantships:

Cornell University

Cornell notes that full-time PhD and research master’s students may be awarded assistantships, which fall into four general categories: teaching assistant (TA), research assistant (RA), graduate assistant (GA) and graduate research assistant (GRA). Students on full assistantships receive a stipend, a full tuition credit and Cornell individual student health insurance.

Penn State University

Are you an aspiring master’s or PhD candidate at Penn State University Department of Architectural Engineering? The university notes that all applicants are considered for research or teaching assistantships and applicable fellowships. “Applicants will be notified by the Department of any assistantship offers or fellowships at the time of admission,” it said. 

Curious about what are graduate assistantships? They are offered in academic and administrative roles. Source: Jean Philippe Ksiazek/AFP

University of Washington

The University of Washington notes that there are three types of graduate student assistantships: teaching assistant (work with students in a classroom, lab or quiz section setting), research assistant (work on research projects; does not involve teaching) and staff assistant (other types of duties such as, advising or administration). 

They note: “Some, but not all, assistantships provide a tuition waiver and health insurance through the Graduate Appointee Insurance Program (GAIP). Your offer letter from the hiring department will confirm the length of employment, salary and benefits eligibility.”

 International students are eligible to serve in assistantship positions. 

University of South Florida

The university notes that to receive an assistantship, graduate students must meet eligibility requirements, which include being accepted into a graduate degree programme and meeting the qualifications as specified by the graduate programme; meeting the academic qualifications as specified by the GA job code; and meeting the necessary English language requirements if English is not their primary language.

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Ph.D. Assistantships

Graduate School Ph.D. assistantship stipends (“service stipends”) are merit-based stipends provided in return for service. Recipients of assistantships are appointed as either research assistants, teaching assistants or teaching associates. Students may be appointed to a Graduate School Ph.D. assistantship for a full academic year (August through May) or for a single semester. Students holding a Graduate School assistantship appointment in one semester of an academic year may be appointed to a Graduate School fellowship in the other. Students are not permitted to receive both a Graduate School assistantship and a Graduate School fellowship award concurrently in the same semester. Please review the Recipient Obligations Statement posted on the Financial Support Policies webpage for detailed information on policies and procedures for assistantship awards. Topics covered:

• Details & Restrictions

Requirements

Payment schedule, taxes and ids, stipend details, ph.d. stipend rate (academic year 2023-2024): $38,950.

• Fall Semester (August – December): $19,475
• Spring Semester (January – May): $19,475
• Summer Semester: Assistants who are appointed as instructors of record during summer school sessions shall receive a minimum rate of $5,150 per course*

* S ome academic programs may independently provide a summer stipend. Please contact your program for more information.

Restrictions

• Ph.D. assistantships occupy up to 15 hours per week. Students may assume a secondary hourly role or clerical student position up to 5 hours per week. Graduate students may not exceed a combined total of 20 hours a week working at Georgetown.
• Winter Break begins Saturday, December 28, 2024 and ends Tuesday, January 7, 2025.
• Spring Break begins Saturday, March 1, 2025 and ends Sunday, March 9, 2025.
• Summer Break begins Thursday, May 15, 2025.

* Students may exceed the 20 hour weekly cap unless there is a visa-related restriction applicable to international students . International students should meet with the Tax Department to complete their tax forms.

• Students must make satisfactory progress toward a Graduate School degree, as determined by their academic program and the Graduate School.
• Ph.D. students are required to be enrolled full-time as a condition of their assistantship award.
• Ph.D. students commit to 15 hours of service per week for their assistantship award.

Unsatisfactory degree progress or violations of academic integrity may result in termination of your assistantship stipend and retroactive revocation of any scholarship for the current semester. In other words, you may become responsible for the full tuition and fees for that semester.

Pay Cycle: Bi-weekly

Payment Dates: See the Bi-weekly Payroll Calendar on the Calendars and Forms webpage.

• Fall-only stipend: Bi-weekly payments between the months of September and the beginning of January
• Spring-only stipend: Bi-weekly payments between the months of January and the beginning of May
• Full academic year: Bi-weekly payments between the months of September and the beginning of May
• All Ph.D. assistantship recipients must have a valid U.S. Social Security number. If you do not have one, you must apply for one in order to receive payment.
• International students should go to the Office of Global Services (OGS) website to learn about obtaining a social security number.
• International students should also meet with the Tax Department to complete your tax forms. See the Tax Office website to prepare for the meeting.
• Assistantships are reported each year by the university to both the recipient and to the United States Internal Revenue Service (IRS) as taxable income on Form W-2.
• W-2s are distributed by the Payroll Office. Electronic W-2s are also available in the  Georgetown Management System (GMS).

All students must complete the following when starting a Ph.D. assistantship for the first time (and have not worked at Georgetown). Georgetown University cannot hire and pay students without Form I-9 and a valid social security number.

Form I-9 (with appropriate documentation)

• The student should go to the Human Resources office to complete this. Explore the Human Resources website and office locations .

Federal Tax Information

• The student should submit this information in GMS .

Direct Deposit

• The student should submit this information in GMS .

PhD Stipended Graduate Assistantship

Khoury College of Computer Sciences awards Stipended Graduate Assistantships (SGAs) to students in the college’s doctoral programs. SGA awards consist of a stipend, tuition waiver, and NUSHP health insurance fee waiver.

• Contact the Khoury Advising Team

SGA stipends are paid twice monthly on/about the 15th and on the last day of each month during the semester(s) of appointment. Should either of these dates fall on a weekend or holiday, human resources/payroll will disburse pay on the last working day prior to the regular pay date.

All SGAs must have a valid checking account and enroll in direct deposit via their myNortheastern account in order to receive pay. To learn more about direct deposit, please visit the FAQs page on the Student Financial Services website .

SGAs are also required to report their Social Security number to the Office of Student Employment, Graduate Assistantships & Fellowships located at 271 Huntington Avenue. International students who do not have a Social Security number may follow the application instructions found on the Office of Global Services site.

If you have received an SGA but have not been paid during a given pay period or you receive the incorrect amount, please contact Khoury graduate administration immediately.

Tuition remission

The university bills all students for registered courses, including students who hold assistantships. These bills will include charges for tuition and fees. Students who hold assistantships may disregard the tuition and health insurance portion of their bill, but must pay all other fees promptly.

These fees include :

• International student fee
• Student center fee
• Student recreation fee
• Student activities fee
• University Health and Counseling Service fee

Tuition remission information will appear on your student account starting the eighth week of each semester. Tuition remission is provided as part of an assistantship during the dates of the appointment for courses in the student’s degree program as approved by an academic advisor and by the graduate school. If the student leaves the university or switches to another program within the university mid-semester, the student will then be responsible to pay tuition for that semester. If after the eighth week, the tuition waiver has not been posted, please contact the Khoury graduate administration so that we can make sure the credit is applied to your account.

SGA awards include the Northeastern University Student Health Plan (NUSHP). Like tuition, this will be paid within the first eight weeks of the semester. If after the eighth week, your health insurance has not been paid, please contact the Khoury graduate administration so that we can make sure the credit is applied to your account.

• Visit the NUSHP site

Assistantships do not cover state or federal taxes. U.S. citizens and permanent residents must complete Form W-4 at the Office of Student Employment, Graduate Assistantships & Fellowships. Please go here for the list of forms. International students should contact the Office of Global Services (OGS) for information regarding taxation. 

SGAs stipends are taxed as income. Tuition remission is not subject to taxation.

The human resources/payroll office deducts the federal and state taxes, and credits your account with the balance. SGAs are not subject to FICA (Social Security) tax due to the student’s full-time student status. Students must remain enrolled as a full-time student throughout the duration of the appointment. Failure to maintain full-time status (registering for 8 SH per term) may subject the student to FICA tax withholding including back taxes and/or penalties for any semester the student held an assistantship and did not maintain proper full-time status.

International student information

International students who do not have a Social Security number will need to complete an SGA Social Security Number Letter Request form , which can be found on the OGS website. This completed OGS-approved letter must be submitted to a local Social Security office in order to request a Social Security number. This should be done at the beginning of the semester. The process takes two to four weeks on average for the Social Security office to issue a Social Security number once they have received the appropriate paperwork. Students are then required to report their SSN to student employment when it has been received.

There is a university-wide new PhD student orientation every year prior to the fall semester. This orientation is intended to be an overview for all university teaching assistants. More in-depth teaching and communications workshops for all students (including international students) are hosted by CATLR (Center for Advancing Teaching and Learning Through Research) and OGS during the fall term. More information will be sent to students in the weeks prior to the start of the academic term.

All Khoury SGAs who will be working as course assistants are required to attend the TA orientation prior to the start of their first term in the program.

Students receiving an SGA must be registered for a full-time course load by the end of the second week of the fall and spring semesters. Per university regulations, failure to register may result in loss of benefits. Students register through the myNortheastern web portal. Any registrations made after the second week of the semester require the approval of the graduate school.

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Dr. Christine Oh: Supporting Impact With Students and Faculty

Christine Oh, Ph.D., is the assistant dean in The Chicago School’s College of Graduate and Professional Studies

For Christine Oh, Ph.D., assistant dean in The Chicago School’s College of Graduate and Professional Studies, the university’s commitment to integrated care is really what sets it apart.

“After graduating with a doctorate in sociology with a focus in mental health, I gained early career experience with the University of California, Los Angeles and San Francisco, and the LA County Department of Public Health,” Dr. Oh says. “These institutions taught me so much about the ways in which we need to treat mental and physical health challenges as interconnected to make the biggest impact. Mental health impacts physical health and physical health impacts mental health, so only by treating challenges in an integrated way will we make the necessary change in our communities.”

“When I saw an opportunity to join The Chicago School, the university’s long-standing belief that there is no health without mental health really resonated with me, and I knew this would be the right place for me,” Dr. Oh says.

Beyond the university’s core mission and vision, Dr. Oh has been energized by working with The Chicago School’s students and faculty. According to Dr. Oh, “Our students are so naturally curious and care so deeply about giving back to the community. I love seeing students get excited about how they can apply what they’re learning in class to make their communities stronger, and our faculty really encourage this type of community engagement as well. Our faculty are the hardest-working, most compassionate, most generous people I’ve ever had the chance to work with. Our students are so lucky to have them as educational guides and partners.”

Within Dr. Oh’s academic disciplines of Marriage and Family Therapy and Public Health, she is focused on developing creative, inclusive healthcare leaders of tomorrow.

“I want our students to always have exposure to what’s new in their field so that they can be pioneers for their colleagues and communities,” Dr. Oh says. “I want to ensure that the latest innovations are available to all communities, not just those who are traditionally the most privileged. All communities deserve access to expert care.”

In the years ahead, Dr. Oh wants to continue expanding and developing programs in Marriage and Family Therapy and Public Health. “Through opportunities like online learning and new scholarship programs, we can make higher education and service in the healthcare field more accessible and inclusive for students of all backgrounds,” she says. “I am committed to creating a healthcare workforce as diverse as the communities it serves.”

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A biographical sketch (also referred to as biosketch) documents an individual's qualifications and experience for a specific role in a project.  NIH requires submission of a biosketch for each proposed senior/key personnel and other significant contributor on a grant application. Some funding opportunities or programs may also request biosketches for additional personnel (e.g., Participating Faculty Biosketch attachment for institutional training awards).  Applicants and recipients are required to submit biosketches

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