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| Assistantship (TA, RA, GA) vs. Fellowship: How to Get Paid for Grad School |
Securing financial support for graduate school, particularly for PhD programs, typically involves obtaining either an assistantship (Teaching Assistantship, Research Assistantship, or Graduate Assistantship) or a fellowship. While both options provide substantial financial support, they are fundamentally different in nature, requirements, and benefits.
I. The Fundamental Differences: Assistantship vs. Fellowship
A Graduate Assistantship (GA, TA, RA, GRA) is considered a form of employment by the university, meaning the student is performing specific work in exchange for compensation and benefits. Students with assistantships are employees of the institution, and their work primarily benefits the project or the institution itself. In contrast, a Fellowship is a merit-based award or grant that provides financial support for an individual's pursuit of study or research, and it typically carries no work or service requirement. Fellows are not considered employees of the organization providing the award.
The compensation structure differs significantly: Assistantships provide a monthly salary or wages that are paid after the service is completed, and these are subject to applicable payroll taxes (resulting in a W-2 form). Fellowships, conversely, provide a stipend for living expenses, often paid in advance, and stipends used for living costs are typically taxable income for which the university is generally not permitted to withhold taxes for U.S. citizens. Furthermore, the prestige associated with winning an external fellowship is highly sought after, as it demonstrates fundable ideas and can provide independence.
II. Types of Assistantships and Their Duties
Graduate assistantships are generally categorized based on the type of service provided, which requires a student to work a set number of hours per week.
1. Teaching Assistantship (TA or GTA):
This is an academic appointment focused on supporting the teaching mission of the university. TAs are typically involved in producing student credit hours. Responsibilities often include grading assignments, leading discussion or laboratory sections, proctoring exams, running office hours, and assisting professors with course preparation. In North American systems, TA experience is valuable for those aspiring to academic careers, especially at teaching-focused colleges. Full assistantships generally require working 15 to 20 hours per week (usually a 0.50 FTE or half-time appointment). Full assistantships typically grant a full tuition credit or remission. International students who are non-native English speakers may be required to demonstrate language proficiency or complete special training to serve as a TA.
2. Research Assistantship (RA or GRA):
This appointment involves assisting faculty members with research, typically by conducting experiments, data analysis, reviewing literature, programming, and helping to write research papers. A Graduate Research Assistantship (GRA) specifically focuses on research directly related to the student’s thesis or dissertation. Research Assistantships (RA) might involve work on a faculty member’s project that is not directly related to the student's degree requirements. RA positions are often funded by grants or contracts won by the professor. In STEM fields, RAs are often preferred because the work contributes directly to the dissertation, offering more dedicated time for research compared to TAs.
3. Graduate Assistantship (GA) or Graduate Service Assistantship (GSA):
This category typically involves administrative or academic support duties that are not strictly teaching or research. GA tasks are varied and can include clerical work, assisting with academic conferences, managing departmental websites, or working in student services. Like other assistantships, a GA position requires 15 to 20 hours per week.
III. Financial Components of Funding
Both assistantships and fellowships aim to cover the cost of graduate education, but they do so through different mechanisms.
Tuition Support:
Assistantships usually provide a tuition remission (exemption from payment) or a full tuition credit. Fellowships generally provide a tuition waiver (a scholarship award applied to the student account). Students in some programs, such as those with service-based or fee-based pricing, may not be eligible for tuition remission through assistantships.
Stipend/Salary:
This is the money paid to the student for living expenses. Assistantship salaries generally range from approximately $800 to $2,500 per month for a 20-hour work week, although the amount varies greatly by university, program, and location. Fellowships also provide a living stipend, and sometimes, winning an external fellowship that pays more than the base stipend can result in a pay boost.
Benefits:
Full assistantships often include institutional contribution toward health insurance premiums. Students on assistantships are usually responsible for paying mandatory university or segregated fees, although some packages may cover or remit a portion of these fees. Fellowships may include funds for tuition, insurance, travel, or books, depending on the terms set by the sponsor.
IV. How to Get Paid for Grad School
Securing funding involves proactive effort, especially for competitive positions or for Master's students, who face much stiffer competition than PhD students.
1. Apply for Admission and Wait for Initial Offers:
For PhD students, especially in STEM fields, full funding is often guaranteed upon admission, contingent on satisfactory progress, and the admission materials serve as the application for funding. Programs use their own internal processes to award assistantships.
2. Target Fellowships Early (Merit-Based):
Students are strongly advised to apply for prestigious external fellowships, like the NSF GRFP or Fulbright, at the same time they apply for graduate programs. The fellowship application process typically requires extensive materials such as personal essays, research proposals, and letters of recommendation. Since many fellowships are restricted to U.S. citizens or permanent residents (e.g., NSF GRFP), international students should check eligibility carefully. Winning a fellowship is seen as a prestigious distinction that can strengthen one's CV and provide independence.
3. Proactively Contact Faculty (Assistantships):
For RA positions, and highly recommended for all assistantships, students should reach out directly to professors whose research aligns with their interests. This outreach should occur even before or right after admission, as RA funding comes from the professor’s research grants. When contacting professors, it is important to emphasize specific skills and relevant past experience (such as high grades in previous coursework, coding proficiency, or research background), and to outline how the student can deliver value to the professor's work.
4. Leverage Departmental and Campus Resources:
Students should check departmental and university job portals for assistantship listings. They can also contact department coordinators or graduate advisors, as these staff members often know about available or unlisted roles. For TA positions, having achieved an excellent grade (e.g., an 'A') in the course or a similar higher-level course is a key factor, and applying for TA positions in undergraduate courses is a common strategy.
5. Be Aware of Stacking Policies:
If a student secures an external fellowship, it often replaces or buys out their internal assistantship obligation, allowing them to stop working and focus fully on research. However, policies vary; in some specific cases, smaller fellowships may supplement the assistantship stipend, or an institution may allow stacking if the award is protected from reduction. Students should carefully read their funding package letters and consult with their department's fiscal staff for clarification on stacking policies.
V. Student Status and Implications
Assistantships define the student as an employee of the university, which grants employment benefits but limits total work hours. Full assistantships generally require a commitment of up to 20 hours per week (0.50 FTE) during academic terms. International students on F-1 or J-1 visas are generally restricted by federal regulations to a maximum of 20 hours of work per week during the semester, combining all employment activities. Fellows, conversely, are not considered employees, which provides maximum freedom to pursue studies but means they may not be automatically entitled to the same employee benefits package as assistants.