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Assistantships

The George Washington University has three types of assistantships for graduate students: Instruction-related Assistantships and Research Assistantships.

• Academic Assistantships employ graduate students to assist professors with academic work. Duties could include grading assignments, preparing academic materials or assisting with an academic journal. 
• Instruction-Related Assistantships  employ graduate students to assist professors with teaching courses. Duties could include Blackboard management, hosting office hours, leading discussion sections or serving as an Instructor of Record. 
• Research Assistantships  employ graduate students to assist professors with their research. Duties could include data collection and analysis, grant writing, or general research support.

Learn more about Academic Assistantships

Learn more about instruction-related assistantships, learn more about research assistantships.

Assistant­ship awards are usually made for the full academic year (but can also be one semester only). Responsibilities vary among departments, but work must average no more than 20 hours per week during the academic year.  

Compensation varies by the type of graduate assistantship role. All Graduate Assistants are paid a monthly salary. Assistant­ship salary payment amounts may vary by school, department, or sponsored project. In addition to receiving a monthly salary, some graduate assistants may also receive a stipend or tuition coverage.

How to Obtain an Assistantship Position

All assistantships are offered and managed directly by departments. If you are interested in obtaining an assistantship, please reach out to your department to inquire about current assistantship availabilities.

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Assistantships.

Full-time Ph.D. 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). These awards are administered by fields and departments. 

Assistantships are an arrangement in which financial support is given 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. 

Students on full assistantships receive the following:

• a full tuition credit at the research degree rate , and
• Cornell individual student health insurance.

Some fields may supplement the stipend and/or make summer appointments.

See also:  University Policy on Assistantships

Assistantships are awarded by departments, fields, and Principal Investigators. There is no separate application for assistantships. The assignment is usually in your major field or a closely-related one.

Teaching Assistants (TAs)

A teaching assistant is an academic appointment in support of the teaching of a course. Teaching assistants may assist in teaching a section of a course, lead discussions, and/or lead laboratory sections. Teaching assistants spend 15 to 20 hours per week, averaging no more than 15 hours per week, for the base stipend as established by the Board of Trustees.   

Special information for incoming international students: 

International students who come from countries where English is not the first language and who will TA in their first year at Cornell should visit the Center for Teaching Innovation’s International Teaching Assistant Program webpage for language assessment information.

See also:  On-Campus Work

Support and resources for TAs: 

The Center for Teaching Innovation (CTI) offers a central place where teaching assistants can go for insight and assistance with their teaching responsibilities, including programs and workshops for teaching assistants with all levels of experience. 

Graduate Research Assistantships (GRAs)

A GRA is an academic appointment focused on thesis or other degree-related research of a type that is required from all candidates for the degree. The research project for a GRA directly supports the student’s thesis or dissertation. Because a student devotes considerable time to thesis or dissertation research, the time spent is connected with the project.  

Research Assistantships (RAs)

A RA is an academic appointment for research that is not directly thesis-related. RAs spend 15 to 20 hours per week, averaging no more than 15 hours per week. For example, a RA appointment might include data analysis on a faculty research project not directly related to the student’s dissertation topic. As with other assistantships, there is no separate application. Students are appointed by departments, fields, or individual faculty.

Graduate Assistantships (GAs)

A GA is an academic appointment requiring 15 to 20 hours per week, averaging no more than 15 hours per week, for the base stipend as established by the Board of Trustees. For example, a GA appointment might include assisting a faculty member in developing and coordinating an academic conference. 

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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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Penn GSE Graduate Assistantship Program

Student opportunities.

Graduate assistantships (“GAships”) are funded, part-time opportunities at the University of Pennsylvania and other participating institutions of higher education for Penn GSE students. These positions typically entail 15–20 hours of work per week, and compensation, hours, and locations vary; students do not earn course credit for GAships.

All full-time students in the Higher Education M.S.Ed. program are especially encouraged to seek GAships, and typically do so upon admission every Spring. GAships are not required, nor guaranteed.

New and continuing Penn GSE students from other programs are welcome to apply as well.

Please see below for the current listing of GA opportunities. Positions are open until filled unless otherwise stated. Please see listings for instructions on how to inquire/apply.

Why GAships?

• Professional experience: Build your resume or CV while gaining applied postsecondary experience in one of many roles at Penn or other participating institutions of higher education.
• Financial support: Most GAships are hourly paid, with total compensation for Fall and Spring term GAhips (30-week academic year) typically ranging between $12,000 and $15,000.

Who is eligible to apply for GAships?

• If you’re an admitted M.S.Ed. student in the Higher Education M.S.Ed. Program, you can begin to inquire and request to interview/apply for positions directly as soon as you are admitted in March. You do not have to commit to attending Penn GSE to apply for GAshps, but you do have to commit to attend Penn GSE before accepting a GA offer.
• New or continuing Penn GSE students in any other program can apply for open GAships after April 15.
• GAships are open to domestic and international students. International students must verify eligibility with their academic advisor and ISSS before applying to GAships outside the University of Pennsylvania.

Additional Opportunities

• Workday@Penn - (PennKey login required)
• College Houses & Academic Services

Important Links

• GA Program Info Sheet
• GA Policy Guidelines
• Personal Information Form - (for positions within Penn GSE only)

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).

Search open AI postings

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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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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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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10.2.1 Graduate Student Assistantships

Formerly Known As Policy Number: 24.2

This Guide Memo summarizes the regulations regarding Graduate Student Assistantship appointments at Stanford University. Definition of the Graduate Student Assistantship is followed by the criteria for eligibility to hold an assistantship, a brief description of each type of assistantship, the rules governing Tuition Allowance, and other policy matters. For questions regarding this subject, please contact the Financial Aid Office .

Applicability: Applies to the appointment of graduate students to Graduate Student Assistantships.

1. Definitions and Distinctions

A. graduate student assistantships.

are a form of student employment, earning a compensation package including both salary and tuition allowance (TAL) for the performance of research or teaching services to the University as part of the student's academic and professional training and development.

Distinctions from Assistantships:

Fellowships.

Fellowship stipends are financial aid, not salary. No service is expected in return for a fellowship; it is awarded on a merit basis to assist a student in the pursuit of a degree.

Hourly Employment through Payroll

Graduate students may be employed and paid for work unrelated to the student's academic and professional training as described in Administrative Guide 10.2.2 : Graduate Student Hourly Employment. Such employment is not considered an assistantship appointment, does not generate tuition, and is not processed in GFS.

b. The Graduate Financial Support (GFS) system

is the online application used to enter all graduate student research and teaching assistantship appointments and fellowships. Although they are not matriculated Stanford graduate students, Postdoctoral Scholars' appointments also are entered in GFS. GFS also handles financial support for other non-matriculated graduate students, e.g., Visiting Student Researchers. Non-matriculated students are, however, in general not eligible for assistantships.

2. Assistantship Eligibility Criteria

A. matriculation at stanford.

with an active authorization to enroll and an active graduate degree program, or, for Research Assistantships only, enrollment in non-matriculated graduate status as a Student of New Faculty. Coterminal students in both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree program are eligible for assistantships after completion of 12 quarters or, upon request, after completion of 180 units of undergraduate work.

b. Enrollment

All students holding assistantships must be enrolled in each quarter in which the assistantship appointment is held. For autumn, winter and spring quarters, unless the student is on TGR status, the student must be enrolled for 8-9-10 units. Except for Terminal Graduate Registration (TGR) students, the GFS System will not allow payment of TAL unless the graduate student is enrolled full-time during autumn, winter and spring quarters. Exceptions to this enrollment requirement are allowed for Honor Co-op students, for students with disabilities, and for a childbirth accommodation.

c. Relevancy

The service performed (teaching or research) must be related to the student's academic program in order to qualify for the assistantship appointment.

Note: Entering and approving the assistantship appointment in Graduate Financial Support (GFS)/Worklist Manager constitutes a statement that the work involved is relevant to the student's academic program.

d. English proficiency for teaching assistantships

All international students required to submit TOEFL scores as part of their Stanford graduate program application must be approved for English proficiency before being appointed to any teaching position.  Students need only pass the TA screening prior to their first teaching assistantship; it does not need to be repeated for subsequent teaching positions.

• The department that plans to appoint an international student as a TA/CA must have the student review the TA screening webpage , that has information about making an appointment. Note : Whenever possible, the TA screening should occur at least one full quarter in advance of the assistantship appointment. This allows the student time to take any required or recommended classes to improved communication skills.
• Upon successful completion of the TA screen and/or required classes, ESOL enters the approval of English proficiency (TA OK) in the GFS system, after which the assistantship appointment can be processed.

e. I-9 eligibility to work in the U.S.A.

By federal regulation, all individuals receiving salary through Payroll must demonstrate eligibility to work in the U.S.A. by filing Federal Form I-9. Departments must forward necessary paperwork to Payroll in advance of the student's first paycheck. For more information, see Student Specific Payroll Administration . 

f. Social Security Number

must be on file with Payroll.

g. Alternatives

In the case where no matriculated graduate student is available to fill a need for a Research or Teaching Assistantship, an undergraduate or non-matriculated person may be hired in the categories of Teaching Aide or Research Aide. These are hourly-paid positions, processed through the Human Resources Management System (HRMS), not the GFS system. Individuals appointed to these positions are never eligible for a Tuition Allowance. The appropriate department chair (or program director) and school dean's office should confirm that no matriculated graduate student is available before these alternative appointments are processed.

3. Types of Assistantship Appointments: Teaching

Graduate student teaching responsibilities are categorized into the following four appointment levels.

Stanford University establishes annually a minimum salary rate for each of these levels. (Mentor Teaching Affiliate and Graduate Teaching Affiliate positions have the same minimum salary.)

Note: No student may be appointed to any of the following positions for a course in which the student is simultaneously enrolled.

a. Course Assistant

Assists a faculty member who has primary responsibility for a course. Duties vary but do not include classroom teaching. Duties may include:

• Assisting in the preparation of lecture materials and running laboratory sessions.
• Conducting review sessions and grading exams.
• Holding office hours.
• Monitoring or maintaining existing course web sites.

b. Teaching Assistant

Has significantly more independence than a Course Assistant. The Teaching Assistant works with a faculty member who has primary responsibility for a course, or assists a group of students in several courses. Duties vary and may include:

• Preparing for class sections and/or laboratories where new material may be presented.
• Presenting material in classroom or lab setting.
• Marking and/or grading some portion or all of the exams or papers (but not independently assigning the final grade).
• Holding regular office hours.

c. Graduate Teaching Affiliate

This teaching appointment is limited to graduate students who have had substantial teaching experience. The Graduate Teaching Affiliate will typically be identified as the Instructor in Stanford publications, and will have primary charge and responsibility for the course (with the mentorship of a faculty member). Responsibilities for the class typically include:

• Preparation, teaching, grading, holding regular office hours, etc., in keeping with the established practices of the department.
• In some cases Graduate Teaching Affiliates have full responsibility for a course where the content is defined by a faculty coordinator. In other cases, they will develop course materials independently with the guidance of a faculty mentor for a course that has been approved by the department/program in which it is offered.

d. Mentor Teaching Assistant

This teaching appointment is limited to graduate students who have had substantial teaching experience. In addition to the responsibilities of a Teaching Assistant, this student:

• Serves as a head Teaching Assistant to coordinate the training and guidance of Teaching Assistants in a given course or set of courses.
• Develops complex materials (including web-based) in support of a course or group of courses.

4. Types of Assistantship Appointments: Research

The following research appointments are listed in ascending order of qualifications, responsibility, and compensation.

a. Research Assistant

Works on a research project under the supervision of a faculty member.

b. Predoctoral Research Affiliate

An advanced Ph.D. student in one of these appointment categories:

(1) Engineering and Natural Sciences

• Performs research or administrative tasks beyond the scope of a typical graduate research assistant's work.
• This category should not be used to fill a regular staff position.

(2) Humanities and Social Sciences

• Is engaged in research under the supervision of a faculty member.
• Makes an original contribution to a research effort that serves the common professional objectives of the student and supervisor.

5. Percentage and Period of Assistantship Appointments

A. full-quarter appointments.

Assistantship appointments are made for a full quarter (3 months of either teaching or research work). Standard appointment periods are: October 1–December 31, January 1–March 31, April 1–June 30, and July 1–September 30. An alternate quarter schedule is available for students whose work begins before the start of a standard quarter. Students on an alternate schedule must remain on that schedule throughout the academic year.

b. Autumn, Winter and Spring Assistantship Appointments

• The minimum assistantship is 10% time. Percentage of appointments must be in increments of 5% time.
• 50% Maximum — The typical assistantship appointment is for a maximum of 50% time, to allow students to make expeditious progress toward their degree. Assistantships totaling more than 50% can impede that progress.
• An appointment of 40% may be combined with a 10% appointment to total 50%. Appointments of 45% are not allowed.
• Approval for Exceptions — Assistantships for more than 50% time during the academic year, two concurrent assistantships totaling more than 50% time, or enrollment in more than 10 units while holding a 50% appointment, require the prior approval of the student's advisor, the Department Chair, and School Dean's office.
• Recommendations for such assistantship appointments should indicate the academic progress of the student and the anticipated degree completion date; the student must have been admitted to candidacy.
• Approval will be granted only where such an assistantship appointment will not interfere with progress towards the degree and normally will be granted for no more than one year.

c. Summer Assistantship Appointments

(1) percentage of time.

In summer quarter, in addition to the standard 10-50% assistantships, appointments at 60-90% time are permitted (see section 5.d).

(2) Number of Units

In summer quarter, graduate students must be enrolled in at least one unit or TGR (Terminal Graduate Registration) to have any size assistantship appointment. Students with appointments totaling more than 50% will have their Tuition Allowance reduced proportionately (see TAL tables ) in order to accommodate additional employment. (For example: A student's 70% appointment(s) earns the same TAL as a 30% appointment. Appointments of 90% provide TAL equal to the value of 1-3 units of tuition.) Students combining an assistantship with more than 8 hours of hourly employment during the summer should reduce their enrollment in proportion to their total Summer Quarter employment. Students registered TGR must enroll in the TGR course (801 or 802).

For additional information regarding TAL in Summer, see Section 7.d(4).

d. Assistantships Totaling More Than 50%

• Whether approved as an exception (5.b.4 above) or permitted as summer employment, the maximum combined assistantships for any student during any quarter is 90%. Appointments totaling more than 36 hours/week may not be processed in GFS, are not considered assistantships, and do not include a tuition allowance; they should instead be processed through HRMS.
• Whenever possible, graduate student assistantship appointments totaling more than 50% should be established as a single appointment, rather than a combination of smaller appointments. (This allows GFS to calculate the appropriate TAL; if entered separately, administrators must determine the appropriate TAL cost and split, and coordinate adjustments to GFS.)

e. Shortened Summer Assistantships

During Summer quarter, when many courses are shorter and the between-quarters period is longer than in Autumn/Winter/Spring quarters, a teaching or research assistantship may be offered for less than the full three-month period, but must be at least two months in duration. Summer assistantships must begin on the quarterly start-date (July 1, unless the student is on the alternate calendar), but the end date may be set at two months or later, rather than the full 3-month period. This should be done only in the Summer Quarter, and only where the research or teaching effort is significantly less than expected in a normal quarter-long appointment. In these cases, the student will earn the full tuition allowance and a specific salary per pay period (often, the department's standard semi-monthly salary). The student should be advised that the shorter work period will generate less total salary.

Stanford University establishes annually the minimum salary levels for Graduate Student Assistantships. No maximum salary level is specified by the University, although individual schools may do so. (The minimum salary rates for TAs, RAs, and the TAL Tables can be found at http://gfs.stanford.edu/tables

Source of Funding

A. salary for ras.

may be paid by an external/sponsored source of funds or school/ departmental funds.

b. Salary for TAs

may be paid by a University budget allocation to the schools/departments or by school/departmental funds.

7. Tuition Allowance (TAL)

A. definition.

TAL represents a commitment to support a student's educational program through the payment of a portion of the student's tuition bill.

b. Eligibility

All eligibility requirements for assistantship appointments must be met. (See section 2.)

c. Source of Funding

The value of TAL for a 50% assistantship appointment is established as the tuition value for 8-10 units (8-9 units in the Law School, and 8 units in the MED MD program). The value of TAL for assistantship appointments of between 10% and 50% is a proportional amount defined by TAL Tables published each year. 

Tuition charges and TAL are based on the student's home school tuition rate, regardless of the location of the assistantship. The school/department where the student holds the assistantship appointment is responsible for the salary, as well as the tuition based on the student's home school tuition rate.

The University requires that any outside tuition support to which students have access will be used to the full extent before TAL is claimed. Acceptance of a Stanford assistantship appointment obliges a student to inform the department of any other aid received.

The cost of the TAL is shared among Stanford University funds and school, department, and/or sponsored project funds supporting the assistantship.

(1) TAL Funding for Research Assistants

TAL for Research Assistants is divided and funded as follows:

• Sponsored portion: Except for the School of Medicine, 60% of the TAL amount is charged directly to the sponsored project or other source of funds supporting the assistantship; in the School of Medicine, 81% of the TAL amount is directly charged.
• Stanford portion: 40% (55% effective September 1, 2023  for sponsored awards that pay the full Facilities and Administrative  (F&A) rate )   of the TAL amount is paid by Stanford University, or by the school in which the assistant is working; the School of Medicine pays 19% of the TAL amount. Except in the Schools of Business and Medicine, University general funds are used to pay the Stanford portion of TAL for Research Assistants. The Schools of Business and Medicine cover the Stanford portion of TAL for Research Assistants from their own funds.

(2) TAL Funding for Teaching Assistants

• In all schools other than Schools of Business and Medicine, TAL for Teaching Assistants is funded by a University budget allocation to the schools/departments. Schools, departments or programs may also fund additional TAL for Teaching Assistants, beyond the University budget allocation.
• The Schools of Business and Medicine are responsible for covering the cost of TAL for Teaching Assistants working in their schools.

(3) Federal Work Study (FWS)

• FWS funds cannot be used to pay TAL.
• If a student has a research assistantship funded by FWS, the FWS funds pay the student's salary, the school/department pays the "sponsored portion," i.e., 60%, of the tuition, and the University pays the difference, i.e., 40%, from general funds.
• If a student has a teaching assistantship funded by FWS, the FWS funds pay the student's salary. TAL funding for these students is as described in Section 7.c (2) above.

(4) TAL Funding for Military Personnel

Stanford Principal Investigators may use research project funding to pay the tuition for graduate students on military scholarships where the provision of their military support includes a prohibition of salary payment from Stanford in certain limited circumstances:

• The student has a statement of financial support from their branch of the US military, defining the terms of the student's support while enrolled at Stanford. The agreement must state that the student can receive tuition support from Stanford but may not be paid a salary by Stanford. If this arrangement continues for more than one year, the student should present evidence that the military scholarship is continuing for each year.
• The student will average at least 20 hours of work per week on the project for each quarter in which they are paid, earning TAL for a 50% assistantship. This arrangement should also be documented by means of an assistantship agreement.
• All records to document this arrangement are kept with the student's records.

In the case where the student is working on a faculty member's research project and meets all eligibility requirements, the student may be appointed as an RA. The salary line may then be cancelled, leaving the remaining TAL payment in compensation for the work performed.

(5) Students Working in Schools Other Than Where They Are Enrolled

When graduate students are appointed as Teaching or Research Assistants in a school other than the one in which they are enrolled, the school in which the student works is responsible for paying the TAL at the student's home school tuition rate. In the case of Research Assistants, splitting tuition between the sponsored source and the University (either 60%/40% or 81%/19%) is controlled by the school paying the student.

(6) Terminal Graduate Registration (TGR), Terminal Medical Registration (TMR) and Medical School Research Rate (MSRR)

• TAL cannot be carried forward to pay TGR/TMR/MSRR tuition in future quarters.
• TGR/TMR/MSRR tuition is paid in full by the associated assistantship (see below). The GFS system will not divide TGR/TMR/MSRR tuition and share the cost with university or school funds.
• For Research Assistants, TGR/TMR/MSRR tuition is charged directly to the source of funds paying the student's salary.
• For Teaching Assistants, TGR/TMR/MSRR tuition is paid in the same manner as other TAL funding for Teaching Assistants (see section 2, above).

d. Amount of TAL

(1) percent time.

The amount of TAL earned depends on the percentage of time of the graduate student assistantship appointment(s). See the Tuition Allowance Tables .

• The minimum assistantship appointment is 10% and provides TAL equal to the value of two units of tuition. (Note: The minimum tuition charged by Stanford is three units, and therefore a 10% assistantship will not provide enough tuition allowance to cover Stanford's minimum unit-based tuition.)
• The maximum assistantship appointment during autumn, winter and spring quarters is 50%, and provides TAL equal to the 8-10 unit tuition charge, except in the Law School where they earn the 8-9 unit value and in the MED MD program, where they earn the value of 8 units.
• For assistantship appointments of 50-90%, the total TAL earned decreases as the percentage of time increases. (For example: A student's 70% appointment(s) earns the same TAL as a 30% appointment.) For the rules governing appointments greater than 50%, see section 5.b.4 (required pre-approval for exceptions, Autumn, Winter and Spring), 5.c (summer), and 5.d. See also Tuition Allowance tables for Summer Quarter.

(2) Length of Assistantships

Appointments are made for a full quarter (see "Percentage and Period of Appointment," Section 5 of this document). Appointments will earn the designated amount of TAL for the full quarter in which the student is appointed.

(3) Multiple Assistantships

Students may hold multiple assistantship appointments, including both RA and TA appointments, simultaneously. At most, the 8-10 unit TAL value may be earned when combining multiple assistantships.

• Multiple assistantships totaling 50% or less: GFS automatically calculates the total combined percentage of the assistantships that will be the basis for the amount of TAL. For example, two 25% assistantship appointments earn a combined TAL equal to a 50% appointment: 8-10 units. (During the academic year, combined appointments should not total more than 50%; see 5.b, above).
• Multiple assistantships totaling more than 50% (e.g. in summer): If entered as one appointment with multiple sources of funding, GFS correctly calculates the combined TAL as described in 5.d.1. If entered as separate appointments, GFS cannot do the calculation: administrators must determine both the reduced total TAL and the proportional cost to each appointment, then adjust each appointment's TAL in GFS.

(4) Summer Appointments

• In summer quarter, some students may enroll in fewer units than the TAL earned by their assistantship appointment(s). In such cases, the TAL for their Summer Quarter Assistantships is reduced by adjusting the TAL amount in GFS to match the actual tuition amount billed.
• Summer appointments are for three months, even though courses may be scheduled for 8 or 10 weeks. If an appointment ends before the end of the full quarter, salary can be ended on the corresponding date, but students will receive the amount of TAL associated with a full-quarter appointment.

e. Use of TAL

• TAL can be used only in the quarter in which it was generated by an appointment.
• TAL may be used only as a credit against tuition charges. It is:
• Not convertible to cash
• Not transferable to another student
• Not usable for any other charges, such as ASSU fees
• Not applicable to tuition charges for Continuing Studies Program courses

8. Work in Addition to Assistantship Appointment

To preserve the focus on the student's academic progress, Stanford University formally limits the number of hours a student may be employed while also holding an assistantship appointment. Graduate students are expected to coordinate additional hourly employment with the assistantship appointment, and with their academic obligations, including course load, number of registered units, and the academic expectations of their program. Academic departments/programs, offices employing students, and funding sources may also impose employment limitations. Graduate student hourly employment is described in Administrative Guide Memo 10.2.2 : Graduate Student Hourly Employment.

During break periods when classes are officially not in session, including between-quarter break periods and Thanksgiving break, the University does not limit the number of hours graduate students may be employed. Additional information about break periods is located in Administrative Guide 10.2.2 Graduate Student Hourly Employment . The quarter period is different from the assistantship pay periods, as the standard "start" and "stop" dates for assistantships are intended to pay the student continuously, including break periods.

a. Limit on Hours for U.S. Students

During Autumn, Winter and Spring quarters, students on 50% time assistantships may not be employed more than an additional eight hours a week inside Stanford and/or outside of Stanford; those eight hours cannot be in other assistantship positions. During Summer quarter, enrolled graduate students are limited to 36 hours of student employment, combining hourly employment and assistantship appointments.

b. Limit on Hours for International students

International students on F-1 or J-1 visas are subject to both University policies on employment and visa requirements that limit employment; in all cases, the more restrictive limitation will apply. International students are eligible for on-campus employment if they are maintaining their F-1 or J-1 status. During the academic year (Autumn, Winter and Spring quarters), students on F-1 or J-1 visas are limited to a total of 20 hours of employment per week (except the break periods between quarters), including both hourly jobs and assistantship appointments), and including any off-campus employment that they may have been authorized to perform.

For further information regarding regulations for students with F-1 and J-1 visas, contact Bechtel International Center .

9. Cancellation or Modification of Assistantship Appointments

A. cancellation as of the start date of the assistantship.

If an appointment is cancelled on or before the start date of the assistantship:

• No salary is paid.
• No Tuition Allowance is provided.
• If Tuition Allowance has been applied to the student's bill, it will be withdrawn.
• The student is responsible for any tuition charges for the quarter.

b. Cancellation of Appointment During the Quarter of the Assistantship

• If the school or department terminates the assistantship for any reason during the quarter, other than for cause, salary will end but the student will receive the full quarter TAL. This includes circumstances where sponsored funding for an assistantship ends.
• If a graduate student voluntarily terminates an assistantship appointment or is removed for cause during the quarter, salary ends and TAL is withdrawn for the quarter.
• Salary ends and TAL will be applied as needed to pay the student's bill for the quarter when an assistantship appointment is terminated because a student has:
• Completed all of the degree requirements and leaves the University, or
• Formally withdrawn from a degree program and leaves the University, or
• Taken an approved Leave of Absence from the University (for emergency/medical needs).

10. Taxes and Tax Reporting

A. salaries and tuition allowance.

• All salaries from assistantships awarded after August 16, 1986, are subject to federal and state income tax and tax withholding.

Tuition Allowance associated with assistantships for degree-seeking students is not

subject to tax.

b. Exemption from FICA and VDI Taxes

Enrollment and regular attendance in courses or fulfillment of other requirements associated with a degree program are required for all students in each quarter of their appointment(s), including summer, in order to qualify for exemption from FICA (Social Security) and VDI (Voluntary Disability Insurance) taxes.

11. Benefits

The graduate appointments described in this Guide Memo are designed for and available only to Stanford students.

a. Time Off

Assistantship appointments do not accrue vacation leave.

Students with research or teaching assistantship appointments will receive a lump sum of 40 hours of paid sick time per calendar year, which is available for use during any period of assistantship appointment during the year. Sick time does not carry over from one calendar year to the next.

Arrangements for any variations in work hours, including time off for vacation, jury duty, illness, or related use of sick time should be made individually with the faculty sponsor. To the extent possible, students are encouraged to make arrangements outside of their working hours and faculty sponsors are encouraged to offer flexibility in work hours.

Regular semi-monthly salary is paid during periods when sick time is used. When sick time is used, the student notifies Payroll via Help Ticket . Sick time accrued for an assistantship appointment is paid only when used to replace work hours during the course of employment as a research or teaching assistant. Otherwise, sick balances are not paid out. Graduate students who have student hourly employment, either concurrently or at different times of the year, will see a separate accounting of sick time accrued for the student hourly employment (see Administrative Guide Memo 10.3.1 : Sick Time for Student Hourly Employees).

Students with research or teaching assistantship appointments may use sick time for themselves or a family member: for absences due to illness; for preventive care or diagnoses, care, or treatment of an existing health condition; or for purposes related to domestic violence, sexual assaults, or stalking.

b. Health Insurance

Eligibility for a health insurance benefit is determined quarterly on the basis of assistantship and fellowship appointments approved as of the payroll deadline of each quarter. Graduate students are eligible for a health insurance subsidy as long as they do not waive Cardinal Care insurance or have their insurance paid fully by an outside source of funds. The Health Insurance subsidy will be paid as follows:

• Students with assistantship appointments for 25% time or more per quarter will receive a subsidy paying 100% of the cost of the single-student Cardinal Care premium.
• Students with assistantship appointments of less than 25% time per quarter will receive a subsidy paying 50% of the cost of the single-student Cardinal Care premium.

12. Resources for Additional Information

• All graduate student assistantships must be entered online using the Graduate Financial Support (GFS) system in PeopleSoft.
• For policy questions, refer to the GFS Policy Website .
• For entry questions, contact the IT Help Desk at 5-4357 (5-HELP), or http://helpsu.stanford.edu .
• For graduate student health insurance, contact Vaden Health Center .
• Salary rates and Tuition Allowance tables: The minimum salary rates for TAs, RAs, and the TAL Tables can be found at http://gfs.stanford.edu/tables .

Related Policies

10.3.1 sick time for student hourly employees, 2.2.1 definitions, 10.2.2 graduate student hourly employment, 2.2.3 university payroll, 1.7.4 equal employment opportunity, non-discrimination, and affirmative action policy.

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• Graduate Student Assistantships

Assistantships are graduate financial support (aid) in the form of student employment, earning compensation for the performance of research, teaching, or course support services to the University while students continue their academic and professional development. A salary is paid twice per month (i.e., bimonthly) through University Payroll. In addition, a tuition allowance is awarded that covers partial to full tuition depending upon the student’s level of employment (i.e., the total number of weekly hours worked).

The types of assistantship appointments available to graduate students are as a Research Assistant, Teaching Assistant, and Teaching Affiliate.

The assistantship level or percentage is determined by the amount of weekly hours worked. For example, a student who works 20 hours per week is a 50% assistant (i.e., half of 40 hours or 100% employment). Likewise, a student who works 10 hours per week is a 25% assistant. The most common assistantships are offered at the 25% and 50% levels, though there are variations. While enrolled in 8 to 10 units, Stanford students cannot exceed the 50% assistantship level during the regular academic year (Autumn, Winter, and Spring Quarters). This is a University-wide policy applicable to all graduate students. In summers, however, students can work up to the 90% assistantship level, which translates to 36 hours per week with a minimum course enrollment of 3 units. See the Summer Funding section for more details.

A University committee determines the policies, salary structure, and terms of graduate student assistantships. In addition, GSE reserves the right to clarify and augment these regulations.

In relation to the GSE guaranteed funding policy, a student’s work performance in assistantships will be part of the student’s yearly academic progress review. The review determines whether the student’s funding may continue, conditional upon satisfactory performance in research work, for another year.

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Handbook Contents

• Timetable for the Doctoral Degree
• Degree Requirements
• Degree Milestones
• Registration and Student Statuses
• Policies Governing Teaching Assistantship and Teaching Affiliate Appointments
• Student Pay
• Sick Time for Graduate Student Employees
• Registration Requirements
• Additional Work
• Summer Funding and Employment
• GSE Fellowships and Grants
• Assistantship Support from Stanford (i.e., non-GSE Departments, Schools, Centers
• Stanford Graduate Fellowships
• Outside (non-Stanford) Support
• Leaves of Absence
• Campus Health Service Fee
• Cardinal Care and Health Insurance Subsidy
• Managing Student Online Bills (Statements)
• Emergency and Additional Support Funding
• GSE Courses
• Curriculum Studies and Teacher Education (CTE)
• Developmental and Psychological Sciences (DAPS)
• Learning Sciences and Technology Design (LSTD)
• Race, Inequality, and Language in Education (RILE)
• Social Sciences, Humanities, and Interdisciplinary Policy Studies in Education (SHIPS)
• Contact Information
• Stanford University Honor Code
• Stanford University Fundamental Standard
• Doctoral Programs Degree Progress Checklist
• GSE Open Access Policies

PhD students, please contact

MA POLS and MA/PP students, please contact

EDS, ICE/IEPA, Individually Designed, LDT, MA/JD, MA/MBA students, please contact

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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.