Graduate International Connection Program

Finding a TA Position (STEM)

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Written by Jiyoung An

When we first receive the admission letter, the first part that will catch our eyes is probably about funding. As such, the most burdening part of the international student is tuition and living expenses. This post will introduce you to how to find TA Position.

First, If you want to apply TA, you must check if you can satisfy the Academy requirements and English requirements below.

  1. Academic Requirements
    • Registration as a full-time student (12 units) 
    • Minimum GPA of 3.1 for Teaching Assistants & Teaching Associates
    • Minimum GPA of 3.0 for Readers & Tutors
    • Satisfactory academic progress towards degree objective
      • A letter grade of C, S, or above in all courses completed in the last three quarters
      • No more than two (2) Incomplete grades (except where stricter school policies apply) in the last three quarters
  2. English Proficiency Requirements
    • To be assigned a Teaching Assistant for the upcoming quarter you must have passed one of the English proficiency exams. The only exemptions to this exam are given to students who have:
      • U.S. citizenship
      • Completed a four-year high school degree in the U.S.
      • Citizenship in a country where English is either the primary or dominant language, as approved by UCI Graduate Council.  See the list of approved countries here. 
    • The oral English proficiency requirement also applies to international students who:
      • Are permanent residents or hold other non-citizen status and are residing in the U.S.
      • Have completed their undergraduate education (not high school) in the United States
      • Have attended “American” schools abroad.
      • Students can fulfill this requirement by passing one of the following exams:
        • TOEFL iBT : 26 or above in speaking portion
        • IELTS : 8 or above in speaking portion
        • Spoken Proficiency English Assessment Kit (SPEAK): 50
        • Test of Oral English Proficiency (TOEP): 5 

Note that SPEAK and TOEP are administered at UCI

Details on this English proficiency requirement can be found at https://grad.uci.edu/funding/employment/english-proficiency-teaching.php

If you meet the academy and English requirements, you are ready to apply! 

  1. Teaching Assistantship
    • When you first receive the admission offer letter, it says what kind of scholarship you will receive. Scholarships are largely divided into Research Assistantship (RA) and Teaching Assistantship (TA). If you have a Research Assistant, it’s a scholarship from your advisor, and you don’t have to do TA as long as RA is guaranteed. TA receives scholarships on condition that you work for the course, manage students, and do grading. If your fellowship includes TA or Reader service for the upcoming quarter, you must submit an application. If you haven’t passed an English proficiency test yet and have a TAship, you are going to be assigned as a Reader. But please note that there is a deadline for passing this proficiency exam.
    • At the beginning of the quarter, you will receive an email from the department’s faculty assistant, having a title such as “Fall 2020 TA Application.” In the email, they are going to give you an available application link. Log-in with your UCInetID and complete your steps. You will be asked to write your skills and teaching experience. You can also set your preferred courses but note that there is no guarantee. It is a good idea to ask senior students. You can check the schedule of classes in here: https://www.reg.uci.edu/perl/WebSoc   
    • Finally, activate your application. They will assign you to the appropriate course according to your experience and skills and will let you know when they assign you.
  2. Email notification
    • Occasionally, at the beginning of the quarter, when your department needs more Teaching Assistants in a specific course, they will email you to fill the remaining TA positions. It is the best opportunity to apply for a TA position when you don’t have a TAship. Many people are waiting for this opportunity, so please check your email frequently during that period. You will submit a resume and apply. 
  3. Ask the professor
    In most cases, professors can choose the TAs they want. I’ve seen some cases personally. At first, they did not have Teaching Assistantship or Readership but later got a TA position by the professor. If you’re looking for a TA opportunity, you can ask the professor. There is nothing to lose.
  4. Useful Link

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