Graduate Assistantship in the USA: TA, RA and GA Explained

A US graduate assistantship is a paid campus job, as a teaching assistant (TA), research assistant (RA) or graduate assistant (GA), that often comes with a full or partial tuition waiver and a stipend. For F-1 students it counts as on-campus employment, so it is limited to 20 hours a week while school is in session under 8 CFR 214.2(f)(9)(i). You usually apply through your department, often in the same application as admission, and you should never assume one is guaranteed until you have it in writing.

Last checked: 20 October 2026.

Graduate assistantship key facts

TA, RA and GA: what each one does

• Teaching assistant (TA). You help teach undergraduate courses: running lab or discussion sections, grading, holding office hours. Some universities check spoken English for TAs, sometimes with their own test. Check your department’s rules.
• Research assistant (RA). You work on a professor’s research project, usually paid from that professor’s grant. RA posts are common in PhD programmes and in research-heavy STEM master’s programmes.
• Graduate assistant (GA). A broad label for other campus roles: in a department office, library, international student office, or residence life. Duties and pay vary widely.

Names differ between universities. Some say “graduate student instructor” or “graduate assistant – teaching”. What matters is the offer letter: hours per week, stipend, tuition coverage, and dates.

Tuition waivers and stipends: a real example

There is no national standard. Each university sets its own package, and it can change each year. As one example only, West Virginia University’s graduate education office publishes these graduate assistantship benefits:

Notice the fine print, because most universities have something similar. WVU says college tuition and university fees remain the student’s responsibility unless the hiring unit or college covers them, and summer waivers are not offered by all programmes. So even a “full waiver” can leave you paying fees, insurance gaps or summer costs.

When you compare offers, ask each school for the same five answers in writing:

1. How many hours a week, and for which semesters?
2. What exact stipend, paid how often?
3. Is tuition fully or partly waived, and which fees are not covered?
4. Is health insurance included?
5. Is it renewable, and on what conditions (grades, performance, funding)?

The F-1 20-hour rule (8 CFR 214.2(f)(9))

An assistantship is on-campus employment, so the F-1 on-campus rules apply. According to the regulation text published on ICE’s SEVP governing regulations page, employment under 8 CFR 214.2(f)(9)(i) must not exceed 20 hours a week while school is in session. You may work full-time on campus when school is not in session or during the annual vacation. Study in the States says the same: up to 20 hours a week in session, full-time during vacations and breaks.

The 20 hours is a total, not per job. If you hold a 20-hour assistantship, you generally cannot add another on-campus job during term. A 10-hour assistantship plus a 10-hour library job is within the limit. Working more than allowed is unauthorised employment and can end your F-1 status. Our guide to maintaining F-1 status and our on-campus jobs guide cover this further.

The regulation also says work under a scholarship, fellowship or assistantship is deemed part of the academic programme for a student otherwise taking a full course of study. You still must stay enrolled full-time as your school defines it.

How to apply for a graduate assistantship

1. Read the department’s funding page before you apply. Many departments consider all applicants for TA posts automatically; others need a separate form or a tick box in the application.
2. Apply by the priority funding deadline. Funding deadlines are often earlier than the final admission deadline.
3. For RA posts, contact professors. Read their recent papers, then send a short, specific email showing how your skills fit their project. Attach a CV.
4. Make your SOP and CV show teaching or research. Tutoring, lab work, a final-year project, or teaching at a Nepali college all count. See our SOP guide.
5. Check English requirements for TAs. Some universities set a higher speaking score or their own spoken English test for teaching roles.
6. After you arrive, keep looking. GA posts in campus offices are sometimes advertised after the semester starts on the university jobs board.

Are assistantship stipends taxed?

Yes, usually. IRS Publication 970 says the part of a graduate tuition reduction that represents payment for teaching or research must be included in income, even if all degree candidates must do that work. A tuition reduction for a graduate student who teaches or does research for the institution can otherwise be tax-free. Stipends paid for work are wages.

The good news: the IRS says F-1 students who are nonresident aliens are generally exempt from Social Security and Medicare taxes on authorised on-campus work. You still file a US tax return each year. See our F-1 student taxes guide.

For students applying from Nepal

• Funding on your I-20. If the assistantship is offered before your I-20 is issued, the school may list it as a funding source, which lowers the amount your family must show. Ask the international office.
• Bring the letter to your visa interview. A signed assistantship offer is strong evidence of funding. Add it to your documents checklist.
• Do not count an RA promise as money. “We may have funding” in an email is not an offer. Show full funds from family or a loan until you hold a signed appointment letter. See financial documents for the F-1.
• Budget for the first month. Stipends are usually paid after work starts, so you will need money for rent and deposits on arrival.

Common mistakes

• Taking a second campus job on top of a 20-hour assistantship during term.
• Assuming “tuition waiver” means “free”. Fees and insurance may still be charged.
• Forgetting the assistantship can end if your grades drop or the grant runs out.
• Starting off-campus work because “it’s only a few hours”. Off-campus work needs separate authorisation such as CPT. See CPT vs OPT.

Frequently asked questions

Can an F-1 student work more than 20 hours a week on an assistantship?
Not while school is in session. On-campus employment, including assistantships, is capped at 20 hours a week during term. Full-time on-campus work is allowed during official breaks.

Do master’s students get TA or RA positions in the USA?
Some do, but it depends on the university and department. PhD students are more often funded. Check each department’s funding page and ask directly.

Does a graduate assistantship cover full tuition?
Sometimes. Some universities waive full tuition for 20-hour appointments and part of it for 10-hour ones. Many still charge certain fees. Read your offer letter.

Is a graduate assistant stipend taxable for international students?
Generally yes, as wages for income tax. F-1 nonresident students are usually exempt from Social Security and Medicare tax on authorised on-campus work.

Can I get an assistantship after I arrive in the US?
Yes, some GA and TA posts open after the semester starts. But do not rely on that for your visa funding.

Related guides

• Return to Nepal After Study Abroad: Equivalence and Licences
• GRE or GMAT Requirement for US Master's: Fees, Test-Optional
• US University Selection: How Nepali Students Shortlist Schools
• SOP Writing Guide for Nepali Students: Format, Tips, AI Rules
• How to Explain a Study Gap for a Student Visa (Nepal Guide)

Sources

• SEVP governing regulations, including 8 CFR 214.2(f)(9) – ICE
• Full course of study and employment comparison chart – Study in the States (DHS)
• Graduate assistantship benefits – West Virginia University (example)
• Publication 970, Tax Benefits for Education – IRS
• Foreign student liability for Social Security and Medicare taxes – IRS

Last checked: 20 October 2026. University figures are examples only and change each year. This is general information, not legal or financial advice.