Grad Student Employment

Graduate and professional students have a variety of options for employment at Texas A&M University. Whether you go through your department or college or other University offices or units for assistantships or Jobs for Aggies, our Student Employment Office, for employment in a wage position, Texas A&M is here to help you support your education.

A graduate assistantship (GA) is a part-time, paid position generally working in a research, teaching, or administrative support role related to your field of study. Graduate assistantships cover tuition and fees, offer benefits and eligibility for non-resident tuition waivers, and carry a stipend. They are generally offered by academic departments, along with an offer of admission, on the basis of scholastic accomplishment, academic promise and competence.

WORKING AS A GRADUATE ASSISTANT

Graduate Assistantships are best suited for doctoral- or master’s-degree-seeking students who are open to gaining experience through research, teaching or administrative work. If you are employed on an assistantship, you’ll be required to work twenty hours per week on average while completing your degree, so you should consider how you can balance your time between studying and fulfilling GA responsibilities.

Benefits of an assistantship

An assistantship also gives you the opportunity to develop your skills that are transferable to your professional career after graduation. And it helps fund your education!

While eligibility requirements, benefits and employment regulations vary between positions, most non-resident doctoral and some non-resident master’s students may also qualify to pay tuition at the in-state rate.

The Grad Student Health Plan, HMO with low out-of-pocket costs, is exclusively available to benefit-eligible title codes, including all Graduate Assistant positions and eligible dependents of students employed in the aforementioned titles. Eligibility for the university's employee group insurance benefits depends on the job title, the length of employment period, and scheduled weekly hours.

TYPES OF ASSISTANTSHIPS

There are four types of graduate assistantships available through the academic departments, colleges, Texas A&M University System (TAMUS) agencies and administrative offices.

Teaching (GAT)

With a Graduate Assistant Teaching (GAT) position, you have the opportunity to administer or assist instructional assignments and interact directly with students. Depending on the needs of your advisor, you might offer classroom and laboratory instruction, assist a faculty instructor in teaching sessions, tutor or hold office hours. You’ll also be responsible for grading some student work.

Research (GAR)

Graduate Assistant Researchers (GARs) are hired by a research supervisor or Principal Investigator (PI), usually a faculty member, to assist on a research project. The research you perform will likely be related to your research focus, dissertation, or thesis. Research may or may not be externally-funded. This position is ideal for you if you excel at research; collecting, coding and analyzing data; and writing materials for review or presentation.

Lecturer (GAL)

Some doctoral students in the final years of their program are qualified to serve as instructors of undergraduate courses under the department head or supervisor of instructors. As a Graduate Assistant Lecturer (GAL), you will deliver classroom instruction; create, administer and evaluate assignments and examinations; and hold office hours for your students.

Non-teaching Activities (GANT)

Graduate Assistant Non-Teaching (GANT) is the most fluid GA position. GANT responsibilities do not involve instructional assignments or support of teaching or academic programs, and are not primarily assisting with research. GANT responsibilities vary greatly and may include, but are not limited to the following non-teaching/non-curricular duties: performance of varied programmatic duties in non-academic units, assisting with administrative duties in a variety of settings, and conducting activities that do not generally fit within GAT or GAR job responsibilities.

See more detailed information on graduate assistant position responsibilities and benefits on our Graduate Assistant Position Employment Comparison page. 

GETTING AN ASSISTANTSHIP

Assistantships are available through the academic department, college, agency or administrative office with which you are associated. Your department may offer you an assistantship at the time you are admitted.

If you are not offered an assistantship as part of your admissions package, the Student Employment Office also posts assistantship opportunities via Jobs for Aggies.

The best option is to reach out to your graduate advisor or faculty for help in identifying and applying for the assistantship that best fits your qualifications and interests. Your advisor or faculty should be your first point of contact for assistantship inquiries within or outside of your department. Often, faculty members work with other departments to fill particular needs or positions they cannot find in their own department.

Student Employment refers to wage positions to help fund your education and cover your living expenses while you pursue your degree. Students seeking part-time job opportunities on campus and in the Bryan/College Station area may search the Jobs for Aggies database on the Student Employment Office website. If you are not currently enrolled in classes at Texas A&M, use the “Guest” login to access Jobs for Aggies and view information on available positions. Students may also seek employment by visiting offices, departments, and other organizations of their choice.

While the Student Employment Office can help connect you with jobs, students are responsible for interview arrangements, salary agreements, and working hours. On-campus student employees are hired for an average of 10-20 hours per week, are paid bi-weekly and are not eligible for fringe benefits such as holiday, vacation, or sick pay.

An internship is an interest or major-related work experience with a learning component. It often provides you with the opportunity to explore your career interests or establish your qualifications for your ideal post-graduation job.

What are the benefits of an internship?

Some internships offer compensation in the form of wages, grant, stipends, scholarships or academic credit. Whether or not you receive a financial benefit, an internship provides invaluable personal and career development and unlocks future opportunities.

With an internship, you’ll develop your professional skills and abilities, expand your network and gain credentials that set you apart from other applicants as you eventually search for full- time employment. You will learn how to network, write cover letters and a resume, and interview effectively. Most importantly, internships are a chance to experience the professional world help you decide if you are interested in or compatible with a certain discipline or career field.

Getting an Internship

Internship opportunities are available through the department with which you are associated or through various companies and organizations state and worldwide. Your advisor and other professors in your department can help you identify and prepare for the internship that best fits your skills and career objectives.

All on and off-campus internship opportunities are found on HireAggies through the Texas A&M Career Center. You can also find internships by attending the numerous Career Fairs held by the Career Center.