Teaching & research assistants
Graduate positions
Graduate students in English may be supported through teaching assistantships (MA and PhD) and sessional lecturer positions (PhD).
The department offers a one-year teaching assistantship and three terms of sessional teaching for all incoming PhD students. Incoming MA students will be considered for teaching assistantships depending on availability and student interest. The graduate secretary will solicit expressions of interest from MA students accepted to the program in April, and final decisions are normally made around the beginning of May.
Teaching assistants (TAs)
TAs work for a supervising instructor who designs the course and mentors their teaching development. TAships vary depending on the supervising instructor but usually entail marking and some opportunities for classroom teaching.
Research Assistants (RAs)
Faculty with external research grants often hire graduate students as research assistants. Details of these appointments (salary, hours, etc.) are worked out between the student and the faculty member.
PhD sessional Lecturers
Since PhD students frequently seek teaching appointments at colleges and universities upon completion of their degrees, the program offers them the opportunity to teach as instructors of record. PhD students are eligible for sessional teaching when they have completed a one-year TAship and their candidacy portfolio. PhD sessional lecturers are normally assigned to AWR courses; some opportunities for upper-level teaching may become available for advanced students.
PhD students who hold SSHRC awards normally do not teach during the tenure of their award.
Frequently asked questions
- hold weekly office hours to help students with problems
- prepare exams and assignments
- grade assignments
- help supervise mid-terms and final exams
- record grades
- help the instructor with other course-related tasks, such as preparation of course materials or student communications
Appointment decisions are based on the guidelines of the CUPE 4163 Agreement, Article 13.02.
Applicants should possess an undergraduate degree in English or a related field. Familiarity with the subject matter of the course is an asset.
Skills using Zoom, Kaltura and Brightspace, although not required, are considered an asset.
Other criteria considered include the career and/or pedagogical value a particular position will provide to the graduate student, the student’s preferences and other sources of graduate student financial support being received.
TAs at UVic are unionized, and we follow the appointment guidelines in the CUPE 4163 Agreement, (Article 13.02). To be eligible, students must be registered full-time and be on campus for the term of the TA appointment.
Selection decisions include:
- qualifications and ability of the candidate (s) based on academic merit and related experience
- the career and/or pedagogical value that the position will provide the student
- the student's preferences (as listed on the application form)
- other sources of graduate student financial support being received
All TAs must have a solid background in the related subject (unless specified otherwise). A good command of spoken and written English is essential.
Priority in hiring goes first to graduate students registered in the Department of English, following our appointment priority policy.
Appointment priority policy
- Priority level 1: graduate students previously appointed to bargaining unit positions as incoming students, and who will be in their second year of a master's program or the second to fourth year of a PhD program
- Priority level 2: master's and PhD students in their first year
- Priority level 3: PhD year 2, 3, 4, or 5
- Priority level 4: other graduate students (in other years, not previously appointed, or from other departments)
- Priority level 5: undergraduates
- Priority level 6: others/non-students
Current postings
There are no employment opportunities at this time. Check this space for future postings.