Graduate Teaching Assistants

Written by Morgan James

A graduate teaching assistant (GTA) is a PhD student who takes on paid teaching responsibilities for university courses. GTAs hold tutorials and seminars, provide feedback to students and complete admin for the department, among other tasks. Pay varies between universities, but will typically be at least £20,780 per year. GTAs are typically worth it, both in terms of money and work experience. GTAs can be hard to get, but a strong academic record will help.

Some folks say, “Those who can’t do, teach.” I disagree on a personal level, but even putting that aside, graduate teaching assistants (GTAs) break that sentiment in half. You have to be studying a postgrad to be eligible (usually a PhD), so that sounds like doing to me. On top of that, teaching is what helps you with the doing, considering it provides you with funding and work experience. Consider that sentence tossed in the bin where it belongs alongside [insert thing you hate here].

So, with that out of the way, how about I talk you through what a GTA involves? I’ll go over the basics, your responsibilities, pay, whether they’re worth going for, and how to apply/find one.

Also, despite the naming similarity, your GTA probably won’t have much crossover with Grand Theft Auto. If it does, you might want to check you’ve applied to your university and not a criminal syndicate (happens to the best of us).

What is a graduate teaching assistant?

A graduate teaching assistant (GTA) is a postgraduate student (usually one studying a PhD) who takes on paid teaching responsibilities for undergraduate university courses. They’re often awarded as part of a PhD scholarship programme, and they usually come with a living cost stipend, a tuition fee waiver and a salary.

Sounds good, right? In which case, you won’t be surprised to learn that these positions can be pretty competitive. I’ll be dropping some application tips further in, so don’t worry about that for now.

What are the responsibilities of a graduate teaching assistant?

Universities have yet to form a hive mind (despite my politely-worded letters), so the specifics can vary a lot. You’ll typically work between 180 and 240 hours a year, completing tasks such as:

Holding tutorials and seminars
Supervising practical work (particularly in the laboratory and on field trips)
Providing feedback, marking and assessment to student
Taking part in professional development activities
Supporting the department with administrative duties
Giving pastoral support to students who need it

You’ll usually be teaching undergrads, but you’ll sometimes be involved with Masters students, too (e.g., for lab supervision).

Teaching during a PhD

Our guide to teaching as a PhD student has more detail on what to expect from this, with tutoring tips and more.

How much do graduate teaching assistants get paid?

You can usually expect to earn the equivalent of a Research Council stipend per year. In 2025-26, this was at least £20,780 per year (tax-free).

Still, you should know by now that few things at universities are ‘usual’. Rates can vary depending on the kind of work you’re engaged in (developing new teaching materials is usually paid above general admin, for example). Sometimes pay is hourly instead of yearly, in which case it’s typically between £15 and £30 an hour.

Want a real world example? Imperial College London’s Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering (quite the mouthful) has three tiers of pay: £19.63 for tier one (the lowest), £24.02 for tier two, and £31.93 for tier three. Feel free to check out their page for what each one entails.

Finally, while it’s not ‘pay’, exactly, you’ll also receive a living costs stipend and a tuition fee waiver. The latter will usually be at the domestic rate, so if you’re an international student, you may have to make the difference yourself. We call this Exhibit C for ‘international students getting the short end of the stick’.

Is being a graduate teaching assistant worth it?

Typically, yeah! Putting aside that money can be exchanged for goods and services (including a copy of Grand Theft Auto), there are a number of benefits to working as a GTA:

Develops your teaching skills (very handy if you want to work in academia).
Improves your own knowledge and subject-related skills (you have to know something pretty well to teach it, after all).
Provides work experience (even handier for working in academia, but not just for that).
Improves your soft skills (public speaking, time management, etc.).
Gives back to the community (those undergrads need your help!).

Of course, you’ve got to balance those benefits against your time. PhDs are a lot of work, and GTA responsibilities aren’t exactly a cakewalk, either. You do get paid time off, but still, it’s a commitment.

Student voices: My First Teaching Experience

PhD student Charlotte Boyd wrote for us about how her first teaching session went as a GTA.

How can I apply to be a graduate teaching assistant?

Well, first you’ll need to be accepted onto a PhD programme or project. Once you’ve done that (congrats, by the way), you can apply to any GTAs on offer. These are usually circulated by email to all PhD students in the department, but you might also see them listed on internal university job boards. Some universities also explicitly mention GTAs on this very website, so feel free to have a look at what’s on offer.

Other than that, it’s a lot like applying for a job. You’ll need a good undergrad or Masters degree in a relevant subject as a baseline (you’re probably fine on that front), and ideally a few extras to make your application stand out. Existing teaching experience is a leg up (though not necessary), but other extra-curricular academic activities are also a popular inclusion in your application.

For your CV and cover letter, don’t just copy paste what you used for your PhD proper. Have a good read through the spec, then tailor a new set of docs that show you’re the ideal candidate. Just make sure you can back it up—if you’re invited for an interview (here’s hoping!), you’ll need to give evidence on any claims you’ve made in your CV.

Speaking of the interview, it’s the usual job application stuff—you have to try your best to not seem like you’re just in it for the money (even though that’s a job’s primary purpose). Instead, tie it into your future career aspirations if you can. At least you don’t have to pretend you care about a company’s mission statement (those things can go in the bin, too).

Can international PhD students apply for a graduate teaching assistantship?

Yes, full-time international students can apply for GTA roles. Just make sure you don’t exceed 20 hours of work a week (the current student visa maximum). There’ll also typically be English language requirements, though they aren’t always the same ones required for your PhD. Watch out for that.

Tips from the author

#1 Watch out for hours maximums

Aside from hour requirements from visas, sometimes departments or universities set a maximum number of hours you can work alongside a PhD. You’re unlikely to trip over these as a GTA unless you’re really going for it, but still, I’d recommend keeping an eye on it.

#2 Keep wary of burnout

Burnout is a real danger when completing a PhD, and additional responsibilities from your GTA could make it worse. I’d recommend reading the blog I linked if you’d like some advice managing it.

#3 Be picky when choosing the position (if you can)

The money is nice, of course, but ideally you want to pick a GTA position that gives you more opportunities for growth. If a GTA is part of your careers plan, you should also keep in mind what will make you look good in the eyes of future employers.

Frequently asked questions

What’s the difference between a graduate teaching assistantship and a graduate research assistantship?

In the former you teach, and in the latter you assist in research tasks (it’s in the name). Both are typically only applied for once you’ve already been accepted for a PhD, and both can be used to help with costs/provide work experience. Which you go for will depend on availability/your future career aspirations.

How are ‘working hours’ calculated?

Working hours will include preparing for lectures and training, not just teaching itself.

How much annual leave/paid time off will I get?

This will be detailed in your GTA contract, so make sure to give it a good read. Don’t read it just for that reason, of course (you don’t want to get pranked by responsibilities you weren’t expecting, do you?).

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Last Updated: 07 March 2025

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