THE GRAD¹ú²úÂ×ÀíTE SCHOOL

Graduate assistantships

Graduate Assistantships are available for some full-time graduate students. The assistantships may cover all or part of tuition and may provide stipends in return for specified hours of work, usually 20 hours per week.

What GAs do at Akron

The term graduate assistant applies to students under contract supported by University funds or external funds administered through the University. Graduate assistants work for the University, typically in teaching or research positions. Graduate assistants have varied duties that may include full teaching responsibility for lower-level courses, conducting discussion sessions, supervising laboratories, assisting faculty with research or assisting departments in various ways.

How to apply

Full-time graduate students interested in obtaining an assistantship must apply.

New students may indicate on their application for admission that they would like to be considered for an assistantship.

Current students must contact their academic departments for application information.

Each department may have different requirements for their assistantship applicants, so every student should contact his or her academic department to learn what other requirements exist. All assistantships (and any fellowships) are awarded through the individual departments.

Eligibility

Only students fully admitted to a master’s or doctoral degree-seeking program are eligible for graduate assistantships. Students admitted as non-degree seeking or to a certificate program may not hold an assistantship.

English Proficiency Requirement for Non-Native English Speaking Teaching Assistants

The University of Akron Graduate School expects that newly appointed Teaching Assistants (TAs) receive appropriate training, supervision and support.

Non-native speakers of English who wish to be considered for teaching assistantships must provide evidence of spoken English language proficiency. For more information about the English proficiency requirement for non-native English speaking teaching assistants, please contact your program of study office or the Graduate School.

Minimum Score Requirements for Teaching Assistantship Consideration*

The following chart provides minimum score requirements for Non-Native English Speakers applying for Teaching Assistantship consideration:

English Proficiency Test   Minimum score required for Non-Native English Speaking Teaching Assistants
TOEFL iBT speaking sub-section score: 23
IELTS speaking sub-section score: 7

*Please note: TOEFL iBT and IELTS scores must be less than two years old in order to be valid. In addition, individual academic programs may require a higher score; contact your proposed program of study office or the Graduate School for the minimum TOEFL iBT or IELTS requirement.


Related: