Assistantships
Graduate student assistantships and their accompanying tuition waivers provide graduate students with financial resources that help defray the expenses associated with completing their graduate degrees. Students who hold assistantships experience educational and professional benefits. The responsibilities and benefits of assistantships vary, but in general, students gain further instruction in techniques in their fields; hone their research skills; acquire pedagogical experience necessary for an academic career; develop professional skills, including leadership, interpersonal effectiveness, and performance evaluation; and have collegial collaboration with advisors that result in joint publications.
Students may hold teaching, research, graduate or pre-professional graduate assistantships. Descriptions of the duties related to each type of assistantship can be found at www.ahr.illinois.edu/grads/definitions.html. Teaching assistants and graduate assistants are represented by the Graduate Employee Organization (GEO).
Federal Work Study Assistantships
Some assistantship funding is available for graduate students who can pass the financial need test for the Federal Work Study program. In order to be considered for an assistantship funded by federal work study, it is required that applicants complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form by mid-March.
Policy for Graduate Assistantships
Assistantship Percentages and Waivers
Benefits-Academic Human Resources
2011 Graduate Assistant Employee Orientation
Looking for an assistantship?
The Assistantship Clearinghouse contains a listing of current assistantship opportunities on campus.
