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The University of Texas at Austin
The Cockrell School of Engineering

Funding and Student Employment

All eligible admitted students are automatically considered for departmental financial support through fellowships, research assistantships and teaching assistantships. There are other sources of financial aid available through the university. However, all applicants should be prepared to finance the entire period of proposed study from personal funds.

TA/GRA Benefits

Non-resident students who receive GRA/TA appointments qualify for in-state tuition during the terms for which they are registered and employed. Students must make a formal Resident Tuition Request each semester of employment. All TA appointments qualify for health insurance (medical and dental) and tuition payment/reimbursement commensurate with the percent-time of the appointment. International student employees with a 20-hour a week appointment qualify for a waiver of the Student Health Insurance. The waiver must be obtained before the 12th class day of each long semester, or the 4th class day of the summer session.
Eligible students may request health insurance waivers here: Resident Tuition Request.
Tuition Waiver Request may be claimed online here: Tuition Waiver Request.

Teaching Assistant (TA)

The department receives a limited amount of funding for TAs. Courses that have high enrollment or are time-intensive have historically been allocated TA funding. If funds are available, other courses are considered for TA allocation. All eligible students are automatically considered for TA positions.

Eligibility for TA Appointment

The student must be admitted to a UT graduate program without conditions. For any student-title appointment in Fall or Spring semesters, regardless of hours-per-week appointed, the student must be registered for at least nine (9) semester hours during the long session semesters of employment and three (3) semester hours in any summer term when employed. The student must also have a minimum of 3.0 GPA, with no more than two incomplete grades or one incomplete grade and one permanent incomplete on record.

To qualify for a TA appointment with student contact, most international students must pass and complete the Oral English Assessment and attend the ITA Orientation prior to appointment. The cost is $80, which is covered by the department only for ME & ORIE offer students. If a student fails the assessment, or passes it conditionally, the student must bear the cost of taking it again, either later in the semester or the following semester. The Graduate Coordinator must first register the student for the assessment, at which point the student must schedule the date/time:

ITA Information and Assessment Scheduling

If the TA appointment does not involve student contact, the ITA assessment/orientation is not required. A non-student contact appointment must be specifically approved in writing by the faculty supervisor, and the rate of pay is lower.

Terms of Employment for GRA/TAs do not necessarily coincide with the first and last day of a semester. The department typically offers only nine-week and whole session courses in the summer.

TA Responsibilities

TAs may lead discussion, review, and laboratory sections; hold practice and drill sessions, and other similar activities; and evaluate student performance and assign grades on projects/papers. All duties performed by TAs shall be under the supervision and direction of the faculty instructor of record for the course.

Graduate Research Assistant (GRA)

Eligibility for GRA Appointment

The Student must be currently enrolled as a student, be in good academic standing and be making satisfactory progress toward an advanced degree. A GRA is expected to remain registered in courses that count toward the graduate degree for at least nine (9) semester hours during the long session semesters of employment and three (3) semester hours in any summer term when employed.

GRA Responsibilities

The principal duty of a research assistant is to contribute under supervision to a program of departmental or interdepartmental research. The appointment is made with the understanding that the required services will contribute to the professional training of the student. While graduate research assistants are committed to performing assigned services, their work is usually suitable for and may be used as part of their report, thesis or dissertation research to the extent approved by the faculty supervisor.

Research assistants shall engage in research as assistants to members of the faculty or administration of the university. Appointment to one of these positions is usually made only in the student's own department or in another unit of the university where the research is related to the student's field of study. Appropriate service for an advanced research assistant may include the carrying out of independent research under the guidance of a faculty member.