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. Application deadlines typically fall 4 weeks before the start of classes.
Fall TA offers are sent out in the last half of August or early September. Spring TA offers are sent out before the winter break in December although some might be sent out in early January.
A small number of positions are available for summer session. These are posted in early February with offers going out in late 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
Employment will first be offered to graduate students in the Department of Economics, including any graduate students with outstanding TA funding offers included in an offer of admission.
Priority level 1: Masters Year 1 and Ph.D. Year 1. Ph.D. Years 2 and 3 (where previously appointed to a bargaining unit position)
Priority level 2: Where previously appointed to a bargaining unit position, Masters Year 2 and Ph.D. 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
140 hours per term is typically the maximum number of hours that will be assigned to TAs who fall under Priority Level 1 of the Appointment Priority Policy. Students in a lower priority level may receive less than 140 hours. The actual number of hours worked per week varies by course and term.
There are very few TA hours available in the summer term so TAs can expect to receive significantly smaller offers than the fall and spring terms. TAs should consider this in their financial plans.
TA applications can be found by looking at the Current Postings section of our website. Please email completed TA applications to ctoews@uvic.ca
Current postings
Teaching Assistant Vacancies
(CUPE 4163 Specialist Instructional Laboratory Instructors & Academic Assistants)
WINTER SESSION – Fall Term 2026 09
Positions Available: Academic Assistants and Laboratory Instructors. See list below for anticipated positions.
Appointment Dates: September 1 – December 31, 2026
Rate of Pay: $31.80/hr regular TA wage + $2.92/hr academic income supplement = $34.72/hr + 4% vacation pay
Hours: Hours per position are based on course enrollment and will be finalized at the beginning of the term.
TA Job Description - Department of Economics
DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:
TAs must have flexibility to be available on campus during daytime hours to fulfill duties, as needed, for the duration of the appointment.
Duties may include some or all of the following:
- holding weekly office hours to assist students with problems
- preparing exams and assignments
- grading course assignments and exams
- keeping accurate records of grades
- invigilating mid-terms and final exams
- teaching in-class computer labs or conducting tutorial sessions
Appointment decisions are based on the guidelines of the CUPE 4163 Agreement, Article 13.02.
Selection criteria for all positions will include the qualifications and ability of the candidate(s) based on academic merit and related experience, the career and/or pedagogical value that the experience in a particular position will provide the student, the student’s preferences, and other sources of graduate student financial support being received.
All applications will be considered, however, priority will first be given to graduate students registered in the Department of Economics, in accordance with the department’s Appointment Priority Policy, including any graduate students with conditional offers of employment included in an offer of admission.
All TAs must have a solid background in the related subject (unless specified otherwise). Excellent command of spoken and written English is essential.
APPLICATION INFORMATION:
Complete the TA Application Form and return it by 4:30pm, Friday, Aug 14, 2026 to
Charlene Toews, Administrative Officer, Department of Economics via email: ctoews@uvic.ca
NOTE: Actual number of positions and total hours for each position are subject to funding availability and/or course enrollment or cancellation.
POSITIONS ANTICIPATED IN FALL TERM (SEPT-DEC) 2026:
| Course | Position | # of Positions Available |
|---|---|---|
|
ECON 103 Principles of Microeconomics |
Lab Instructor Duties may include: lab instruction, TA meetings, marking, invigilation, and Help Centre hours Labs take place: Tues, Wed and Thu between 1:30 and 5:30 pm |
16-21 |
|
ECON 104 Principles of Macroeconomics |
Lab Instructor Duties may include: lab instruction, TA meetings, marking, invigilation, and Help Centre hours Labs take place: Tues and Wed between 12:30-4:30 pm |
5-7 |
|
ECON 180 Introduction to Principles of Microeconomics and Financial Project Evaluation |
Academic Assistant | 4-6 |
| ECON 203
Intermediate Microeconomics I |
Lab Instructor TAs will perform a number of supporting tasks, including marking tests and helping to facilitate the weekly tutorial sessions. Labs take place: Tues 2:30-5:30 pm |
3-4 |
| ECON 204
Intermediate Macroeconomics |
Academic Assistant | 2 |
| ECON 205
Managerial Economics |
Academic Assistant | 1 |
| ECON 225
Writing for Economists |
Academic Assistant TAs for this course should be good writers with experience teaching and marking English composition. A background teaching students who have English as an additional language is an asset. |
1-2 |
| ECON 245
Descriptive Statistics and Probability |
Lab Instructor TAs will run computer labs and should be familiar with R. Labs take place: Tues 12:30-3:30 |
2-3 |
| ECON 246
Statistical Inference |
Lab Instructor TAs will run computer labs and should be familiar with R. Labs take place: Mon 3:30-5:30 |
2 |
| ECON 305
Money and Banking |
Academic Assistant | 1 |
| ECON 306
International Economics |
Academic Assistant | 1 |
| ECON 313
Intermediate Microeconomics II |
Academic Assistant | 1 |
| ECON 318
Health Economics |
Academic Assistant |
1 |
| ECON 325
Public Economics |
Academic Assistant |
1 |
| ECON 327
Economic History of North America |
Academic Assistant |
1 |
| ECON 329
Development and Economics |
Academic Assistant |
1 |
| ECON 336
Topics in History of Economic Thought |
Academic Assistant |
1 |
| ECON 339
Economics and the Family |
Academic Assistant |
1 |
| ECON 345
Applied Econometrics |
Lab Instructor TAs must have completed a course in applied econometrics and have experience working in R Studio and Stata.Labs take place: Tue and Wed 4:30-5:30, Wed 3:30-5:30 pm |
2-3 |
| ECON 346
Applied Econometrics II |
Lab Instructor TAs must have completed a course in applied econometrics and have experience working in R Studio and Stata.Labs take place: Tues 3:30-5:30; Wed 2:30-3:30 pm |
2-3 |
| ECON 350
Mathematical Economics I |
Lab Instructor Preference will be given to a student with a strong background in microeconomic theory and mathematics. Experience in Matlab and Maple is required.Labs take place: Mon 3:30-5:30 pm |
1-2 |
| ECON 365
Econometrics: Part I |
Lab Instructor Preference will be given to a student who has successfully completed ECON 545. Experience in R Studio is required.Labs take place: Tues 2:30-4:30 pm |
1-2 |
| ECON 370
Labour Economics I |
Academic Assistant |
1 |
|
ECON 381/ES 312 Environmental Economics |
Academic Assistant |
1 |
|
ECON 382 Natural Resource Economics I |
Academic Assistant |
1 |
|
ECON 405A International Trade Theory |
Academic Assistant |
1 |
|
ECON 405B International Monetary Theory |
Academic Assistant |
1 |
|
ECON 423/526 Economics and Indigenous Nations |
Academic Assistant |
1 |
|
ECON 435 Financial Economics |
Academic Assistant |
1 |
|
ECON 457/549 Computational Economics |
Lab Instructor Lab takes place: Tues 3:30-4:30 |
1 |
|
ECON 468 Financial Econometrics |
Academic Assistant |
1 |
|
ECON 500 Microeconomic Analysis |
Tutorial Instructor Tutorial takes place: Wed 10:30-11:30 |
1 |
|
ECON 545 Econometric Analysis |
Lab Instructor TA must have successfully completed a graduate level econometrics course. Experience in R and Stata is required.Lab takes place: Wed 9:30-19:30 |
1 |
The University is committed to upholding the values of equity, diversity, and inclusion in our living, learning and work environments. In pursuit of our values, we seek members who will work respectfully and constructively with differences and across levels of power. We actively encourage applications from members of groups experiencing barriers to equity.
Lead TA Position 2026-27
Lead TA responsibilities, requirements and application instructions HERE
Position Title: Lead Teaching AssistantDepartment: Economics
Reports to: Senior Academic Coordinator
Appointment Dates: August 17, 2026 – April 30, 2027
Rate of Pay: $31.80/hr + $2.92 Academic Income Supplement = $34.72/hr + 4% vacation pay
NOTE: CUPE 4163 is currently negotiating a new contract which may result in wage increases. Hourly rates will be adjusted as needed once the new collective agreement has been ratified.
Hours: 140 hours total
Application Deadline: July 6, 2026
Key Responsibilities:
- Support Teaching Assistants (TAs) and the instructors of ECON 103 and ECON 104 in the Department of Economics. (5 hours)
- Offer at least eight (8) hours of professional development workshops throughout the academic year for Econ TAs in consultation with the Senior Academic Coordinator. These workshops should be scheduled at such times as to meet the needs of the TAs to maximize their ability to attend. (8 hours delivery, plus two hours prep for each workshop (24 hours). The workshops will be recorded and uploaded to Brightspace on a regular basis.
- Provide draft workshop outlines to the Senior Academic Coordinator at least two weeks before the workshop (1.5 hours)
- Meet with Senior Academic Coordinator in August for planning sessions and then monthly thereafter to share all the updates via email and virtual or in-person meetings. (4.5 hours)
- Conduct teaching observations of new TAs in the department and provide written and face-to-face feedback to each Provide teaching observations and feedback for experienced TAs when requested. (30 hours)
- Conduct scheduled and/or by-appointment one-on-one consultations with TAs, as requested or needed. (10 hours)
- Share relevant resources with TAs and offer opportunities for them to learn about a wide range of teaching and learning topics, as well as to share items of interest from the department or post common solutions to frequently asked teaching questions. (Included in hours holding workshops)
- Support introductory Econ courses with TA management, TA scheduling, leading TA meetings, and organizing exams, taking on administrative tasks such as booking additional rooms for midterm exams (maximum of 50 hours, so roughly 25 hours to support ECON103 and 104 in 202609 and 25 hours to support ECON103 and 104 in 202701). Invigilate the final exam for both ECON 103 and ECON 104 and meet the instructors and the TAs before the midterm and the final exam.(10 hours)
- Undertake administrative duties related to the role, scheduling workshops, updating TA Brightspace page, writing reports, etc. (included in hours holding workshops).(5 hours)
Resources
Economics 2025/26 Lead Teaching Assistant : Mohammadmahdi (Jalal) Masoumijalal