Teaching & research assistants
We hire graduate students for paid employment as teaching and research assistants.
Research assistants (RAs)
Faculty members with external research grants often hire graduate students as RAs. Details of these appointments (salary, hours, etc.) are worked out between the student and the faculty member.
Contact faculty members to find out about possible openings.
Teaching assistants (TAs)
We have TA positions each year for academic assistants and lab instructors. TAs are covered by a collective agreement between CUPE Local 4163 Component 1 and UVic.
We post a list of openings about 3 months before the start of each term. Applications are due 4 weeks before the start of classes.
Most fall term positions will be confirmed before the start of classes in September. Some assignments may be made as late as the second week of classes. Spring term positions are finalized in early January.
A small number of positions are available for summer session. These are posted in early February and finalized in April.
Frequently asked questions
Under the supervision of the course instructor, you may be asked to:
- 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
Lab instructors also run computer or non-computer labs or tutorials, depending on the course. If you apply for a position as a lab instructor, you should be comfortable teaching in front of small groups of students (20-35).
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 Economics, following our appointment priority policy.
Appointment priority policy
Priority level 1: master’s year 1 and PhD year 1, PhD years 2 and 3 (where previously appointed to a bargaining unit position).
Priority level 2: where previously appointed to a bargaining unit position, master’s year 2 and PhD year 4 or 5 .
Priority level 3: other graduate students (in other years, not previously appointed, or from other departments).
Priority level 4: undergraduates.
Priority level 5: others/non-students.
Completed TA applications can be emailed to econao@uvic.ca or mailed to:
Administrative office
Department of Economics (BEC 360)
University of Victoria
PO Box 1700 STN CSC
Victoria BC V8W 2Y2
Current postings
The postings for Summer 2024 are closed.
Postings for Fall 2024 will be available in mid-June.
Resources
Economics 2023/24 teaching assistant consultant: Fengyi Zheng