Assistantship (Masters students) and Associateship (Doctoral students) positions are awarded through contracts for the Academic Year (AY = fall and spring) or a specific Semester (fall or spring) and must be renewed annually.
Refer to the terms of the original Letter of Offer or your major's degree program handbook. The current Academic Year (major semester) salaries and the summer hourly student wages are provided in this document:
Individual faculty members and research scientists affiliated with the department provide these opportunities; the department administration does not have employment opportunities to support student stipends/salaries. The official Letter of Offer outlines the terms and the period covered by the award, Academic Year or specific Semester.
If you want to be hired (new hire or re-hire) as a Graduate Assistant in Teaching or Research, you must apply annually. Positions are not automatically renewed.
To be eligible, you must be in Good Academic Standing and making satisfactory academic progress, i.e., official forms up-to-date and making good progress in course work and research effort (if applicable). See your current faculty advisor or supervisor regarding new or continued funding requests.
All positions are part-time hires indicated by the percentage Full-Time Equivalent (FTE*) of a standard 40-hour work week. Students are not permitted to work full-time during the Academic Year (fall and spring semesters). Students may be hired more than part-time during summer (non-Academic Year) if the grant provides summer employment. Students are not required to work on official university holidays or during official recesses.
In most (but not all) cases, students hired at 0.25 FTE (quarter-time) or 0.33 FTE (third-time) positions receive the following:
- Salary-stipend (see here for current AY salaries-hourly summer wage rates)
- Full individual student health insurance coverage for the period of hire (full 12 months if hired fall and spring)
- Tuition scholarship covering 50% of the resident tuition fee
- Non-Arizona Residents: The Graduate College also provides a full waiver of the non-resident tuition fee
- Not covered: Mandatory Miscellaneous Fees, Special Course Fees, and similar Bursar fees
- Refer to the Notice of Appointment contract for full details
- Sponsored Students: Some Sponsors provide partial or full coverage of resident and non-resident fees. Sponsor payments are always applied first before any university or departmental award.
In most (but not all) cases, students hired at 0.50 FTE (half-time) positions receive the following:
- Salary-stipend (see here for current AY salaries-hourly summer wage rates)
- Full individual student health insurance coverage for the period of hire (12 months if hired fall and spring)
- Tuition scholarship covering 100% of the resident tuition fee
- Non-Arizona Residents: The Graduate College also provides a full waiver of the non-resident tuition fee
- Not covered: Mandatory Miscellaneous Fees, Special Course Fees, and similar Bursar fees
- Refer to the Notice of Appointment contract document for full hiring details
- Sponsored Students: Some Sponsors provide partial or full coverage of resident and non-resident fees. Sponsor payments are always applied first before any university or departmental award.
*FTE = Percentage hire based on a Full Time Equivalent salary. The Full Time Equivalent salary may vary depending on degree program (MS vs. PHD), duties (teaching or research), or length of time in program (new vs. continuing, exam status: Pre- vs. Post-Comprehensive Exam, or students nearing degree completion).