What is a Graduate Assistantship?
A graduate assistantship offers opportunities for students to engage in administrative, research, teaching, and other projects during their graduate study.
There are different types of graduate assistantships:
- Graduate Assistant (GA): work 20 hours a week in an administrative position
- Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA): consists of teaching-related duties under the supervision of a faculty member
- Graduate Research Assistant (GRA): work with a faculty member on related research agenda or research conducted through external funding by a grant
- Graduate Teaching Associate (GTA): is the instructor of record for undergraduate courses in the specific discipline
If a student is serving as a GTA (Associate 9183, Assistant 9184, or Grader 9187), they must complete UCF’s GTA training. There is different training for different GTA responsibilities.
How do I get a graduate assistantship?
Tip #1
A student’s graduate program or department sometimes offers graduate assistantships. However, students may seek assistantships outside of their specific program in other departments or non-academic units.
Tip #2
Graduate assistantship opportunities are also available in non-academic university offices such as the Graduate Student Center and Student Development and Enrollment Services offices. Visit the College of Graduate Studies assistantship page for more information.
Tip #3
We encourage students to ask around, with resume in hand, visiting offices of various suites around the college and university for information on position openings.
Tip #4
To submit an application for a College of Community Innovation and Education graduate assistantship, complete the college graduate assistantship application. Completed applications are placed in an applicant pool from which professors and/or offices can view all potential candidates seeking assistantships when an open position is available. Completing the college’s application does not guarantee an assistantship.
What does a graduate assistantship entail?
The standard full-time graduate assistantship consists of working 20 hours per week for an academic year (fall, spring and summer). An assistantship is considered a serious time commitment that requires flexible hours, especially during the day. Responsibilities may vary based on the type of assistantship.
To be eligible for a graduate assistantship, students must be accepted in a degree program and enrolled full-time (9 credit hours in the fall and spring then 6 credit hours in the summer).
Can I be an out-of-state or international student to get a graduate assistantship?
Yes! Any graduate student accepted in a degree program and enrolled full-time (9 credit hours in the fall and spring then 6 credit hours in the summer) may apply for a graduate assistantship. Tuition support pays the resident tuition ("in-state" tuition); it does not include payment of local fees (health fee, athletic fee, etc.). It is important to note that the resident tuition rates are only in effect for the terms of the qualifying assistantship appointment.
What are the benefits of a graduate assistantship?
Depending on the assistantship, the full funding benefits package includes a tuition waiver, student health insurance and a bi-weekly stipend. The stipend for hours worked will depend on the program level and department. Students are still responsible for paying university fees.
Benefits are very position specific and will be addressed at the same time the assistantship is offered.
What is a graduate fellowship?
It differs from a graduate assistantship in that they are given based on merit and academic achievement (i.e., very competitive GRE scores). Graduate fellowships are more often awarded to doctoral students. Visit the College of Graduate Studies website for more information.