Teachers College is committed to supporting the research and scholarship of its graduate students through assistantship programs.
Assistantships provide valuable opportunities for academic exposure to industry techniques and professional skills development. Research, teaching, or administrative graduate assistantships offer a partial salary and up to 3 tuition points/credits for the semester appointed (up to 9 tuition points/credits in an academic year) in exchange for working on an assigned project. Students are strongly encouraged to discuss each program with their advisor, to attend graduate assistantship job fairs, and/or to network with administrators and professors in their academic program, well in advance of their application.
All students appointed for a position will be given an appointment letter and a copy of the student employment policy. Positions typically become available at the beginning of each semester, and it is important to note that our office is not involved in the placement and hiring process. Graduate Assistantship and Fellowship positions are typically listed on the TC Human Resources website.
Research Assistantships (RA)
RA performs academically relevant research and will receive a partial salary and tuition points/credits.
- Must be registered at least half-time (or the equivalent) during the semester(s) of employment.
- Fall and Spring RAs typically work 15 to 20 hours per week for 15 weeks each semester.
- Summer RAs work 18.75 hours to 25 hours per week for up to 12 weeks.
- RAs earn anywhere from $3,375 to $9,000 ($4,500 to $9,000 if you are receiving grant pay) per semester. The salary is taxable and is paid according to the payroll schedule.
- RAs may receive up to nine (9) tuition points/credits for the academic year, but they cannot receive more than three (3) tuition points/credits per semester. These scholarship points/credits will appear on the student's financial aid package.
- Total hours per week on average for all part-time positions held simultaneously cannot exceed 27.
Teaching Assistantships (TA)
Graduate TAs assist professors in instructional activities while receiving a partial salary and tuition points.
- Students must be registered at least half-time (or the equivalent) during the term(s) that they are employed.
- Fall/Spring TAs typically work 15 to 20 hours per week for 15 weeks each semester.
- Summer TAs work 18.75 hours to 25 hours per week for up to 12 weeks during the summer.
- TAs may earn from $3,375 to $5,000 per semester. The salary is taxable and is paid according to the payroll schedule.
- TAs may receive up to nine (9) tuition points/credits for the academic year, but they cannot receive more than three (3) points/credits per semester. These scholarship points/credits will appear on the student's financial aid package.
- Students who are interested in learning more about these positions should contact their departments directly.
- Total hours per week on average for all part-time positions held simultaneously cannot exceed 27.
Administrative Fellowships (AF)
An Administrative Fellow will perform academically relevant administrative services while receiving a bi-weekly salary and tuition exemption points/credits (up to 3 per term). Those appointed for an AF will receive an electronic letter and details regarding the policy.
- Students must be registered at least half-time (or the equivalent) during the term(s) that they are employed.
- AFs typically work a minimum of 15 to a maximum of 20 hours per week for 15 weeks each semester.
- If summer work takes place, the student can work up to 25 hours per week for 12 weeks.
- AFs earn from $4,050 to $9,000 per semester and up to nine (9) tuition exemption points/credits per year; the salary is taxable.
- The first $5,250 worth of tuition points will be non-taxable, and these points do not appear on the student's actual financial aid package. Instead, they appear as resources processed through the Office of the Bursar.
- Total hours per week on average for all part-time positions held simultaneously cannot exceed 27.
Course Assistantships (CA)
A course assistant performs academically relevant services and has the opportunity to work closely with a faculty member.
- A course assistant must be a primarily TC student and registered for TC courses during the semester(s) of employment.
- CAs are paid $1,238 per semester for the course in which they are working. CA positions are not eligible for tuition points/credits.
- CAs work up to 5.5 hours per week (per 3 credit course) during the Fall and Spring semesters and 13 hours per week during the Summer semester.
- Total hours per week on average for all part-time positions held simultaneously cannot exceed 27.
Doctoral Research Fellowships (DRF)
Doctoral Research Fellowships provide modest support to Ph.D. or Ed.D. students who are engaged in research under the direct supervision of a faculty member. Fellows receive a salary and tuition points/credits, mainly funded by an external grant with a small contribution from the College. Only recipients of the Doctoral Research Fellowship are eligible for this type of employment.
- Students must be registered for a minimum of twelve (12) credit hours (or the equivalent) during the academic year. Enrollment is not required to maintain DRF through the summer. DRFs may work up to 20 hours per week and earn between $20,000 and $30,000 each year.
- DRFs cannot hold another position except Course Assistant (CA).
- DRFs receive up to 24 tuition points/credits per academic year that will appear as part of their financial aid package.
- Total hours per week on average for all part-time positions held simultaneously cannot exceed 27.