Graduate Assistantships for Master's and Ph.D. students

Graduate and Doctoral students may receive an assistantship, which includes a tuition waiver and a monthly stipend, in return for work in teaching, research, or other duties. Every student in good standing is eligible to apply for a Graduate Assistantship. You may apply for any assistantship in any department at ISU, but you will likely have the greatest chance for success by applying for a mathematics assistantship. In the semester when you hold a Graduate Assistantship you receive the following:

You’ll also earn important practical experience and can create lifelong professional bonds with faculty members and industry professionals.

Applications for Graduate Assistantships begin at ISU Jobs website. Mathematics GA opportunities will be under the Mathematics department. Information about closing dates for these positions are listed on this website. The application for GA positions open in January for Fall semesters and August for Spring semesters. There may be more GA positions open throughout different times of the year and we ask that you check regularly. Ph.D students will apply for the "Doctoral Graduate Teaching Assistant" and master’s students will apply for the "Master’s Graduate Teaching Assistant."

In order to apply for a position, you will have to create an application account through Human Resources at Illinois State University. This is all located on the same website. Materials that you will need when applying are your resume, cover letter, reference list, and letters of recommendations. No standard recommendation form is used, but letters should address academic ability and ability to communicate mathematics.

If you are an international student the rules/laws for your visa status may place limits on your employment eligibility. Students are responsible for knowing and following all applicable visa status rules/laws. If you are not certain whether your visa status allows you to accept an assistantship or additional work hours, contact the Office of International Studies and Programs immediately for clarification at (309) 438-5276. The University cannot grant exceptions to visa status rules/laws.

Please find information on student health insurance through ISU here.

• a tuition waiver covering 100% of tuition during a semester of appointment
• a stipend during the Fall and Spring semesters of approximately
• For Master's Students:
  • fixed amount of $1300 per month for .50FTE assistantship (20 hours per week for 9 months)
  • fixed amount of $650 per month for .25FTE assistantship (10 hours per week for 9 months)
• For Ph.D. Students:
  • starting at $1480 per month for a 9 months
• partial coverage under the University's health plan
• (if your assistantship is for a fall or spring semester) a tuition waiver for up to 12 credit hours for the summer after the semester in which you hold an assistantship.
• key access to a office, math student lounge, and Stevenson Hall
• a shared office with a desk for each GA and one desktop computer
• access to office materials from the mathematics storage room
• access to free printing in math student lounge up to 500 sheets per semester