It’s no secret that moving out for university takes a heavy financial toll.
A report released by Ellucian, a higher education technology solutions provider, found that 57% of its surveyed students said they had to choose between college expenses and basic needs like food and clothing.
But what if there was an easy solution to this problem?
Get paid to help out your fellow students or juniors on campus through university assistantships. Source: AFP
Enter university assistantships. They’re an excellent way for you to earn money while getting your degree or PhD, and even help build your professional portfolio or resume.
Assistantships are usually reserved for PhD students, sometimes master’s and even undergraduates. Being in one involves working closely with a professor or department in various capacities, such as conducting research, grading assignments or helping out with administrative tasks.
In return, you get a stipend or salary and may even have your tuition partially or fully covered. Some university assistantships even offer room and board – if you’re lucky, even food and other living expenses are covered.
Given the astronomical student loan debt figure, especially for international students, it’s reassuring to know that there are ways to lighten the financial burden of higher education.
But how do they differ from part-time jobs? Wouldn’t they offer similar benefits and real-world experiences?
Let’s take a look.
Working a part-time job during university can be a tricky decision, and it’s no one’s fault if you need one to earn some extra cash.
But, not all part-time jobs are ideal for busy students. Retail, fast food, or customer service – most of those options have demanding, unpredictable hours, low wages between US$12 to US$15, and hot, stressful, environments filled with complaining customers.
Nobody wants to do this for eight hours and spend the rest of their waking hours completing assignments, research and fieldwork. It’s draining, and may not even provide ample financial support.
Perhaps an undergraduate could get away with a part-time job. The same can’t be said for a master’s or PhD student as they have to juggle more responsibilities.
So, if you have the means to do so, consider taking up university assistantships.
Graduate assistantships are highly prized and are often difficult to secure as you have to compete against quite several other graduate students. Source: AFP
There are a few kinds available. The most common are regular teaching assistantships (TAs), research assistantships (RAs), graduate assistantships (GAs) and graduate research assistantships (GRAs).
Beyond the financial benefits, university assistantships are great for building relationships with professors and gaining insights into the academic world.
Apart from getting steady pay, you get a more intellectually stimulating and flexible work environment, work that aligns with your field of study, and relevant experiences that enhance your academic and professional profile.
With the experience you get, you’ll have a better chance of securing a job post-graduation.
It’s a win-win-win situation – and that’s not including all the other transferable soft skills you stand to hone, such as collaboration and time management.
At the end of the day, by opting for an assistantship, you’re putting your master’s or PhD degree first while still earning a stipend or having your tuition covered.
Interested? Here are some universities that offer these opportunities.
Assistantships are an arrangement in which financial support is given to a graduate student who teaches or completes research at the university. Source: AFP
Cornell University
Cornell University offers a range of assistantships catering to the diverse needs of international students pursuing full-time PhD and research master’s programmes.
They offer four types of university assistantships.
TAs are crucial in supporting course instruction, leading discussions and overseeing laboratory sections. They contribute no more than 15 hours per week for the base stipend.
The GRAs focus on degree-related research, supporting a student’s thesis or dissertation, while RAs involve academic appointments for non-thesis-related research, typically 15 to 20 hours per week.
GAs are general academic roles, such as assisting faculty in coordinating academic conferences, requiring a commitment of 15 to 20 hours per week.
Assistantship packages here include a stipend, full tuition credit and individual student health insurance, with potential additional supplements in certain fields or summer appointments.
Penn State University
At Penn State University, graduate students can apply for competitive assistantships in departments such as the School of Education, College of Engineering, College of Agricultural Sciences, and more.
While offerings vary between departments, they share similar qualities. These assistantships are usually awarded to full-time students who show high academic potential.
Assistantship packages may include partial tuition support, a stipend for living expenses, health insurance, and other similar perks. Additional funding may be available on a case-by-case basis for students who wish to continue their research and teaching apprenticeship in the summer months.
Here, you can apply to become a Graduate Resident Advisor. Your duties will include counselling undergraduates or graduate students on personal, social, and academic matters and helping to plan activities for residents, in return for a furnished room and meals.
Kent State University
Kent State University students have the opportunity to engage in three main types of graduate assistantships: administrative, teaching or research.
Typically awarded to doctoral students, various programmes across the university offer these assistantships. While some programmes fund 100% of their graduate students, others may offer different amounts.
These awards include many benefits, including a full tuition waiver and a monthly stipend for 10 to 20 weekly work hours.
To be eligible for these university-funded assistantships, students must apply for an appointment and meet academic criteria. Full-time enrollment, equivalent to at least eight credit hours per semester in a specific degree programme, is a prerequisite.
Many students take on assistantships to help with the financial burden that comes with studying abroad. Source: AFP
University of Kent
International students at the University of Kent can benefit from the Graduate Teaching Assistantship (GTA) programme.
As a GTA, you take on the dual role of a university employee and a research student — a commitment of 240 hours in 12 months with 40 hours of paid annual leave.
This is approximately seven hours per week, where you have to perform duties such as teaching, demonstrating, preparing, marking, and work-related training.
In return, the university provides a tax-free scholarship, a monthly salary and additional stipends, along with paid teacher training through the Associate Fellowship Scheme (AFS).
The University of Liverpool
The University of Liverpool’s Graduate Teaching Assistantship Scheme is ideal for those with a strong commitment to research and a commendable first degree.
In exchange for contributing teaching services, the school covers your fees and provides a stipend to support living costs.
Perhaps what’s more valuable is the support you’ll get from supervisors and a designated teaching mentor.
Vacancies for GTAs are regularly posted under the “Studentships” section on the university’s job vacancies pages.
University of Manchester
Multiple Schools and Faculties at the University of Manchester offer assistantship opportunities as a form of part-time employment. Take up GTAs or project-specific studentships, which are advertised throughout the year.
Even if you don’t land the position, don’t worry. Many Schools also offer tutoring and demonstrating opportunities, usually paid on an hourly basis. Should you need further advice, the International Advice Team in the Student Services Centre can provide advice on working while studying.
Every little bit of extra money helps towards graduating debt-free. Source: AFP
University of Waterloo
The University of Waterloo offers TA and RA along with sessional teaching opportunities. All positions are considered official employment and are subject to statutory deductions (Human Resources website) for income tax, Canada Pension Plan (CPP) contributions and Employment Insurance (EI) premiums.
As a TA, you’ll help a faculty member with instructional responsibilities, working 10 hours a week for a total of 16 weeks a term. Effective May 1, 2024, the monthly rates are CA$1,918.62 (US$1,350.28).
As a GRA, you’ll perform a designated list of research duties under the supervision of one or more faculty members. Working hours are similar to the TA position.
At the master’s level, this will earn you CA$1,829.59 (US$1,288.04) monthly. Doctoral candidates get CA$2,176.94 (US$1,532.57).
University of Ottawa
While priority is given to scholarship holders, some departments may allocate assistantships to other students based on the availability of funds.
What sets the university apart from others is that it provides formal training to teaching assistants, other graduate students and/or postdoctoral fellows intending to engage in university teaching.
The formal training takes place in the form of a course and a practicum:
University of Windsor
The University of Windsor offers GA and TA positions to full-time master’s and doctoral students in eligible programmes.
For the GA position, you’ll work up to 140 hours per term. Master’s students receive CA$5,943 (US$4,183.88) per term for Master’s GAs for up to three terms, while doctoral students receive CA$6,623.40 (US$4,662.89) per term for up to seven terms. Additional terms may be provided depending on availability.
The TA positions, however, are only available for undergraduate students and are paid on an hourly basis.
Disclaimer: This article was last updated on February 18, 2025.
