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 are paid monetarily and/or through tuition points (up to six per 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 salary and tuition points.
- 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 must work with a faculty member or an instructional staff member on campus during the assistantship appointment. They work 18.75 hours-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 for the academic year, but they cannot receive more than three (3) points per semester. These scholarship points 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 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 hires must work with a faculty member or an instructional staff member on campus during the assistantship appointment. Students can work 18.75 hours-25 hours per week for up to 12 weeks during the summer.
- TAs may earn from $3,375 to $5,000 per semester and up to nine (9) tuition points for the year. The salary is taxable and is paid according to the payroll schedule in the TC Bookmarks section.
- TAs cannot receive more than three tuition points per term. These scholarship points 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. 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 15 to 20 hours per week for 15 weeks each semester.
- If summer work takes place, the student can work up to 25 hours for each of 12 weeks.
- AFs earn from $3,375 to $9,000 per semester and up to nine (9) tuition exemption points 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 in the form of scholarship.
- 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.
- This role may be combined with other student or part-time employment but total hours may not 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, mainly funded by an external grant with a small contribution by 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 points per academic year that will appear as part of their financial aid package after the add/drop period ends for each term.
- Total hours per week on average for all part-time positions held simultaneously cannot exceed 27.