Graduate Program

Assistantships

Graduate assistantship opportunities in the Zimmerman School are highly competitive because they include a stipend, partial tuition waiver, and health benefits. Assistantships are awarded to applicants with high academic performance.

Assistantships are awarded to begin in the fall semester. Assistantships are a privilege and responsibility, not a right. Graduate Assistants (GAs) should approach their responsibilities with the same professionalism demanded in any employment situation.

Retaining an assistantship depends on availability of funding, performance evaluations as a graduate assistant, and at least a 3.0 GPA in all graduate courses.

In order to qualify for a graduate assistantship, students must be fully admitted to the Zimmerman School and registered as a full-time student (nine credits per semester). International applicants for graduate teaching assistantships must achieve a minimum score of 26 on the spoken portion of the Test of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-based Test (TOEFL iBT) or 160 on the spoken portion of the Test of English for International Communication (TOEIC) to qualify for consideration. The Office of Graduate Studies will consider these scores valid for up to 5 years after administration, so long as the student has dated supporting/official documentation. Please read the International Teaching Assistant Handbook for more information.

To apply for a graduate assistantship, complete the following by February 15 at 11:59 p.m. ET.

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Stipends

  • First-year graduate assistants are generally awarded a .25 FTE (10 hours/week) assistantship.
  • With satisfactory progress, second-year graduate assistants might have their appointments increased to .50 FTE (20 hours/week).
  • Stipend amounts are reassessed annually.

Tuition Waivers

  • The graduate assistant tuition waiver covers the cost of tuition for in-state, out-of-state, or international students, but does not cover student fees, which are about 20% of total costs.
  • Graduate assistants have a 9-week grace period after the beginning of each semester to pay student fees.
  • Complete details on cost of attendance are available through the USF Office of Admissions.

Health Insurance

Graduate assistants are eligible for a subsidy for USF-sponsored health insurance. More details can be found on the Student Health Services website.