Frequently Asked Questions about the GRA
What is a graduate research assistantship (GRA)?
GRAs provide full-time students with an opportunity to work with a faculty member on research projects, gaining valuable experience in their chosen field. In exchange, they receive a tuition waiver and a financial stipend for the semester(s) in which they receive an assistantship.
What is expected of a GRA?
The stipend that is awarded is based on the number of hours of work that the student is expected to provide for their assigned faculty member. An assistantship requires a minimum work commitment of 8 hours per week.
What are the financial benefits of receiving an assistantship?
Masters level GRAs receive a tuition waiver and a stipend ($1,000-5,000). PhD GRAs also receive a tuition waiver and the stipend amounts vary by residency and program standing. GRAs are still required to pay all mandatory fees, such as student activity, athletics, recreation, technology and health fees.
What are my chances of receiving an assistantship?
Assistantships are awarded competitively based on the applicant pool and their qualifications. A variety of factors are considered when evaluating an applicant's qualifications: research or professional experience, academic record, and the correlation between the applicant's specific experience and the particular assistantship positions that are available. Once selected, students normally retain the award through the duration of their degree, subject to performance. Assistantships are limited and only awarded to a small percentage of the applicant pool.
Because of the limited number of assistantships available in the Andrew Young School, we give priority to students within our own programs. If you are a student in another graduate program at Georgia State University, it is unlikely that you will be selected, unless there is a very unique fit between your skills and the available assistantship.
What are the requirements to qualify for an assistantship, if selected?
In order to qualify for a GRA, students must be enrolled for a minimum of nine credit hours during the fall or spring semesters or six credit hours during the summer term. Graduate research assistants cannot serve as a student assistant or in any other employment category in another department or college except as a research assistant.