by Steven Tagle
Graduate Assistantships Explained: How to Apply and Get Funding
Assistantships are one way to fund your graduate education. They are more often awarded to PhD students than to master’s students. (However, this varies depending on the type of master’s program. A department may also sometimes have funding available for exceptional master’s students). You could be awarded a teaching assistantship (meaning you help teach a class, teach a section of a larger class, teach a lab, or the like – responsibilities vary by institution) or a research assistantship (meaning you work with faculty to support their research, in which case your responsibilities will depend on your field).
Table of Contents
- When and how do you apply for an assistantship?
- How do you apply for positions outside your department?
- What skills should you emphasize in your application?
When and how do you apply for an assistantship?
Most PhD programs will evaluate your application for funding (including assistantships and fellowships) when they admit you, based on the same materials you submitted with your application for admission. Most universities also require that you file a financial aid application (including the FAFSA, if you are eligible for federal aid) so that they can also determine your financial need. Check the requirements for each university to which you’re applying.
Some universities offer “named” fellowships or assistantships through campus research centers or interdisciplinary teaching centers. These programs are likely to have independent application processes. Research your options carefully, and make sure you submit all your application materials on time.
How do you apply for positions outside your department?
If you’ve been admitted to a PhD program and your department has not offered you funding in the form of assistantships or fellowships, contact the department to ask whether students can apply for assistantships in other allied departments. If you must find assistantships on your own, be creative and cast a wide net. You may want to speak to the dean of the graduate school or the directors of several different programs. For instance, the university might offer graduate teaching assistantships for interdisciplinary general education courses, and positions might become available late in the year. If you’re in an English program, consider contacting the Composition department – which often needs additional teaching assistants (TAs) to teach first-year writing courses. Find out what materials you need to submit (usually your CV and letters of recommendation, and occasionally the application you submitted for admission).
What skills should you emphasize in your application?
If you’re applying for a teaching assistantship independently of your admission application, use your CV to highlight any previous teaching experience. In your cover letter, explain why pedagogy is important to you and why you see teaching as an important part of your academic training and career. A letter of recommendation that supports your teaching skills can also be helpful.
If you’re applying outside of your home department, make sure you can demonstrate that you have the skills to do the job. For instance, if you’re an applied math student, can you also work as a TA for a physics class? If you’re a comparative literature student, can you be a TA for a German class?
In addition to an assistantship, you can often supplement your primary funding by working as a grader or reader during exam periods.
When researching assistantship options, helpful resources on campus include your home department, the office of graduate studies, and the financial aid office.
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