UMN Graduate Student Job Guidance
Need Help Finding a Graduate Assistant Position?
Most graduate assistantships are not posted publicly or competitively by departments but instead reserved for students within the department’s specific programs. To find out more about the availability for graduate assistantships in your program, we recommend contacting your department or program of interest.
Search for publicly posted positions at Search UMN Jobs
Where else can I look for graduate assistantships?
Only a small portion of graduate assistantships are posted publicly and open for application. To find more opportunities, you can:
- Check departmental newsletters, job boards, emails, etc., for internally posted positions.
- Network within departments and with current and former professors.
Check with the Graduate School Fellowship Office for other funding and award options.
Eligibility Details
Graduate students must meet registration requirements for their graduate assistantship outlined below. See the policy criteria for details on when advanced classification applies.
Student Status | Registration Requirement |
|---|---|
Graduate students in the process of completing required coursework and thesis credits | At least 6 credits per semester |
Advanced classification graduate students (graduate students who have completed coursework and required thesis credits but still in process on research or writing requirements) | One credit per semester |
Graduate Assistant Benefits
As a Graduate Assistant, you will have access to a number of benefits.
Medical & Dental
The Graduate Assistant Health Plan provides medical and dental coverage to eligible graduate assistants working 195 hours during the official semester payroll dates.
Contact
Office of Student Health Benefits
Boynton Health Service
612-624-0627 or [email protected]
Time Off
Paid Personal Leave
Graduate Assistants may request up to three days of paid personal leave.
Informal Sick Leave
Graduate assistants can get up to two weeks of paid informal sick leave for you or your dependent child.
If you are absent repeatedly, your department may ask for a doctor's certification that you are unable to work.
Other Leaves
Graduate assistants may be eligible for parental, family, or personal medical leave, depending on your appointment. See the links below for more information on policies.
- Family and Medical Leave Act Policy
- Parental Leave for Academic Employees
- Paid Medical Leave for Faculty and Academic Professional and Administrative Employees
- Employee Absences for Religious Holidays Military, Court Appearance, or Civic Duty Leaves
- Earned Sick and Safe Time
Note: Graduate assistants do not receive paid vacation.
Tuition Benefits
To be eligible to receive tuition benefits, you must have a graduate assistant appointment that provides these tuition benefits (see below) and must work at least 98 hours during the semester payroll dates.
Tuition benefits are prorated based on the hours you work and the dates of your appointment. If you begin work after the semester start date or you work less than 98 hours that semester, your tuition benefits will be reduced or removed as appropriate.
Tuition benefits only cover tuition and do not cover lab fees, student service fees, health insurance, or other charges on your bill. You are responsible for paying expenses not covered by tuition benefits. For questions on other items on your bill, please email One Stop Student Services.
Maximum Tuition Benefits
Maximum tuition benefits for the academic year are based on a 50% appointment during the official semester payroll dates. Appointments at less than 50% will be prorated according to the percentage.
| Job Code | Classification | Type | Maximum Tuition Benefit per Semester |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9511 | Teaching assistant | Master's candidate | $10,640 for 2025-2026 academic year |
| 9515 | Graduate instructor | Master's candidate | $10,640 for 2025-2026 academic year |
| 9521 | Research assistant | Master's candidate | $10,640 for 2025-2026 academic year |
| 9526 | Graduate research project assistant | Master's candidate | $10,640 for 2025-2026 academic year |
| 9531 | Administrative fellow | Master's candidate | $10,640 for 2025-2026 academic year |
| 9549 | Veterinary resident (Graduate Program) | Master's candidate | $10,640 for 2025-2026 academic year |
| 9553 | Dental fellow | Master's candidate | $10,640 for 2025-2026 academic year |
| 9559 | Medical fellow | Master's candidate | $10,640 for 2025-2026 academic year |
| 9532 | Administrative fellow | Advanced master's or PhD candidate | $1,800 for 2025-2026 academic year |
| 9533 | Administrative fellow | Advanced master's or PhD candidate | $1,800 for 2025-2026 academic year |
| 9517 | Graduate instructor | Advanced master's or PhD candidate | $1,800 for 2025-2026 academic year |
| 9528 | Research assistant | Advanced master's or PhD candidate | $1,800 for 2025-2026 academic year |
| 9529 | Research assistant | Advanced master's or PhD candidate | $1,800 for 2025-2026 academic year |
| 9527 | Research project assistant | Advanced master's or PhD candidate | $1,800 for 2025-2026 academic year |
| 9518 | Teaching assistant | Advanced master's or PhD candidate | $1,800 for 2025-2026 academic year |
| 9519 | Teaching assistant | Advanced master's or PhD candidate | $1,800 for 2025-2026 academic year |
| 9538 | Legal project assistant with benefits (Law School only) | Advanced master's or PhD candidate | $24,264 for 2025-2026 academic year (fall and spring) |
Estimating Tuition Benefits
Graduate assistants can receive the maximum tuition benefits (equal to the cost of graduate school tuition) if they have a 50% graduate assistant appointment that starts and follows the official semester payroll dates.
To calculate the percentage of tuition benefits you should receive, multiply your graduate assistant appointment percentage, based on your job classification (see table above), by two.
| Appointment Percentage | Multiply | Maximum Tuition Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| 50% | x 2 | 100% |
| 25% | x 2 | 50% |
| 12.50% | x 2 | 25% |
Resident Tuition Rate Reduction
Current Graduate Assistants
Graduate assistants can receive a non-resident waiver during semesters in which they work at least 195 hours.
Your immediate family (spouse, children, or legal ward living in the household) can also get the resident tuition rate reduction, with the appropriate documentation. Email the Graduate Assistant Employment Office with these requests.
Receiving a resident tuition rate reduction doesn't change your residency status. For more information on residency and reciprocity, visit the Admissions website.
Former Graduate Assistants
Former graduate assistants can also request resident tuition rate reductions for up to four semesters, based on the number of graduate assistant appointments. You are eligible if you have completed two semesters of a graduate assistantship at 195 semester hours.
Your immediate family (spouse, children, or legal ward living in the household) can also get the resident tuition rate reduction with the appropriate documentation.
The resident tuition rate reduction must be used within three years of the last qualifying semester. You can ask for a retroactive resident rate reduction up to one academic year from the current semester. Email the Graduate Assistant Employment Office with these requests.
Related Resources
Related Policies
Administrative Policy: Graduate Assistant Employment
Graduate Programs
University of Minnesota Graduate School
Questions on Tuition Bill
Conflict Resolution
Contact
If you have any questions about open positions or the application process, email the OHR Graduate Assistant Office at [email protected] or call 612-624-7070.
Questions about tuition or student fees?
The OHR Graduate Assistant Office can help you with questions regarding whether or not your tuition benefits have been applied to your account correctly.
If you have a question on billing or fees after you confirm your tuition benefits, please contact One Stop Student Services. The OHR Graduate Assistant Office does not have access to your billing, only to your tuition benefit allocation.