Graduate assistantships are an employment position for students enrolled in graduate academic programs. These positions not only provide a source of financial support for graduate students, but assistantships also give graduate students additional training and skills development in research, teaching, mentoring, and higher education administrative processes.
Types of Assistantships
Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA)
GTAs perform duties that support the teaching mission of K-State and the student’s educational goals. These duties might include classroom or laboratory teaching, proctoring exams, grading exams, papers or other assignments, preparing instructional materials or other general assistance in the instructional process.
Graduate Research Assistant (GRA)
GRAs support the research mission of K-State and the student’s educational goals. Research duties vary but are supervised by graduate faculty. The research project that the students’ activities support may be part of their thesis or dissertation.
Graduate Assistant (GA)
GA positions are primarily held in non-academic units. Responsibilities of GAs involve administrative services that can include gathering, organizing and analyzing information, providing student services, performing administrative tasks to support a program or organizational unit or performing routine research support activities.
GTAs and GRAs are appointed primarily by individual departments and graduate programs. At the time of application and admission, your graduate program should inform you whether or not they can offer you an assistantship.
Visit K-State's Career Center site and explore Handshake for graduate assistantships (GA) and other employment opportunities
Read the Graduate Student Newsletter, distributed by email to all graduate students every two weeks. If the Graduate School is informed about assistantship opportunities, we will promote them in the newsletter.
Assistantships are typically appointed at 0.5 FTE (i.e., an average commitment of 20 hours per week), but appointments for lesser fractions may be made. Appointments are usually nine or 12 months at a time. Continuation of appointments is subject to availability of funds, meeting performance expectations, and maintaining good academic standing.
When offered an assistantship, the employing unit should provide you with an offer letter that clearly states your appointment type (GTA, GRA, GA, or combination), the FTE, duration (e.g., nine or twelve month), stipend amount, and other benefits (e.g., tuition remission or support). If these or other terms of the appointment are not provided or are not clear, ask for clarification.
Type
Stipend
(paycheck)
Waiver of non-resident tuition charges¹
Tuition remission ²
Eligible for GTA/GRA/GA health insurance ³
Paid parental leave ³
GTA
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
GRA
Yes
Yes
No, but might receive other form of tuition support
Yes
Yes
GA
Yes
Yes
No, but might receive other form of tuition support
Yes
Yes
¹ Must be on at least a 0.4 FTE appointment ² Tuition remission means the university pays for the student’s tuition (student is responsible for paying fees). A maximum of 10 credit hours is covered if on a 0.5 FTE appointment. ³ Must be on a 0.5 FTE appointment
K-State's Career Center provides information about part-time work, both on and off campus. Explore job opportunities through Handshake, the Career Center's recruiting and career services platform for K-State students, alumni and employers.