30 USA Graduate Assistantships for International Students
Have you been looking for graduate opportunities to study in the USA?
Issue is, scholarship is a very popular option for international students. As in, tens of thousands apply to only hundreds of scholarships every year. So it follows that your chances of competing and winning a full scholarship to study in the USA are quite slim, even more so if you have plans to work while / after schooling.
So then, why restrict your options applying only for scholarships? Apart from scholarships, universities, polytechnics and colleges offer international students ”graduate assistantships” What a graduate assistantship, I hear?
I would’ve simply listed out top Graduate Assistantship opportunities to plan and / or apply for but you see, while you might know something and then think it is general knowledge, plenty of learners do not know what you know. Infact, the lack of information is so overwhelming that in my experience evaluating scholarship applications, many do not know what or why they have applied. Imagine walking into a blindfolded room. Shocking, right?
So education begins from the ground level up. In future articles, we will tackle how to apply successfully for a graduate assistantship, cold calling a professor, writing a great SOP etc (Other strategies are listed in this interview).
For this article though, we define Graduate assistantship and list some of them from the United States (US) that you should apply for.
What then is a Graduate Assistantship?
A Graduate Assistantship is walking the talk. A GA enables you to get your education fully-funded in exchange for a professional contribution to your major. So while your tuition is fully paid off, sometimes along with your housing and maintenance, it comes with working in your faculty. Like having a job while studying, only that for a GA, it usually entails academic/administrative work not bartending or housekeeping. GA advances your development more than a scholarship.
In the US of A, Graduate Assistantships are of 3 types:
- A Graduate Assistant (GA): Although a Graduate Assistant works with and assists students on a daily basis. they are not required to teach the students. The GA primarily works in administrative capacity with a member of the faculty or school coach, yet the work of the graduate assistant should not be to do filing and clerical duty. Keyword is “should not”. It’ll however depend on the faculty’s pressing needs at the time
- A Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA): The GTA is required to teach undergraduate students and mentor them. In some cases, the GTA is assigned to masters and doctoral candidates in rare circumstances where exceptional expertise or experience is shown. The teaching assignment is an opportunity to gain depth of knowledge within the academic discipline.
- A Graduate Research Assistant (GRA): The GRA is employed in conjunction with the research of a faculty member in a capacity that enhances the student’s career and educational development. For the GRA, the research project may ideally result in a professional paper, thesis, or dissertation. Duties vary depending on the type of research project and may include laboratory experiments, library searches, data entry, preparation of reports, and other relevant assignments.
All graduate assistantships are professional positions that allow you to build the skills that employers are looking for. For master’s students applying to doctoral programs, an assistantship demonstrates that you are well-prepared to contribute to the department. Indeed, for many research fields, not having an assistantship during your master’s could count against you when applying to PhD programs.
How to Apply for a Graduate Assistantship (GA)?
GAs are typically awarded by a specific Graduate Course or Department or College. So you would most likely not be aware of a call for applications if you do not contact the department or college.
You would most likely not be aware of a GA call for applications if you do not contact the department or college.
Let’s point you in the direction of 30 schools in the USA that open their graduate assistantships to African / international students.
FAQs
What are the eligibility criteria for international students to apply for graduate assistantships in the USA?
International students typically need to be enrolled in a graduate program at the university offering the assistantship. They must maintain a good academic standing, often demonstrated by a minimum GPA requirement. Additionally, students may need to show proficiency in English, usually through tests like TOEFL or IELTS, and have relevant skills or experience for the specific assistantship role they are applying for.
What types of graduate assistantships are available for international students in the USA?
There are generally three types of graduate assistantships: teaching assistantships (TAs), research assistantships (RAs), and administrative assistantships (AAs). TAs assist professors with teaching-related duties, such as grading, conducting tutorials, and sometimes lecturing. RAs work on research projects under the supervision of faculty members, contributing to experiments, data analysis, and publications. AAs typically handle administrative tasks within academic departments or university offices.
How can international students find and apply for graduate assistantships in the USA?
International students can find graduate assistantship opportunities through their university’s graduate school or department websites, academic advisors, and career services. Applications usually involve submitting a resume or CV, a cover letter, academic transcripts, and letters of recommendation. Some positions might also require an interview or additional documentation such as research proposals for RAs.
What benefits do graduate assistantships offer to international students in the USA?
Graduate assistantships provide financial benefits such as tuition waivers, stipends, and sometimes health insurance. They also offer valuable work experience, allowing students to gain practical skills in teaching, research, or administration. This experience can enhance their resumes and provide professional networking opportunities within their academic fields, potentially leading to future job opportunities.
So what do you say? Wanna apply to some GA positions? Let’s get cracking!
Also Read: 11 Cheapest Universities in Latvia for International Students
