Money
Assistantship
Also called TA, RA, Teaching Assistantship, Research Assistantship
What is an assistantship?
An assistantship is paid academic work attached to a graduate place, usually teaching or research, and it commonly carries a stipend plus a full or partial tuition waiver. It is the main funding route for PhD applicants in the US, and it is awarded by the department rather than a central scholarship office, which is why naming faculty in a statement of purpose matters there.
Reviewed
Who needs an assistantship?
Funded master's and PhD applicants, particularly to the US.
Common mistakes
- Applying after the funding deadline, which is often earlier than the admission deadline
- Treating it as a scholarship application rather than a departmental one