Working at UCLA

Graduate programs at UCLA offer employment opportunities to graduate students including teaching and research assistantships.  Additional work resources are available here, such as special readers, departmental scholars, postdocs, and internships.

Teaching Assistantships (TAs / TA’ships)

A Teaching Assistantship (TA) is a meaningful way for graduate students to obtain teaching experience. Teaching assistants are selected on the basis of scholarship and promise as teachers. Duties may include teaching, holding office hours, preparing course materials and grading under the tutelage and supervision of regular faculty members who are responsible for curriculum and instruction in the University.

If you are interested in a TAship, first confirm that you meet TA eligibility criteria, then identify departments you may want to work for. Contact them regarding TA openings. Here you can find: TA contacts per-program. You can also sign up to receive announcements on open Teaching Assistantship Positions.

Interest-free loans are available for qualified TAs as a way to receive checks early. Apply through the Advanced Loan Authorization Form for TAs.

Applicants whose first language is not English: please see how to qualify for a TA appointment on the Test of Oral Proficiency for UCLA Graduate Students.

Research Assistants (RAs)

Research assistants are appointed to the title Graduate Student Researcher (GSR) and are selected on the basis of scholastic achievement and promise as creative scholars. GSRs assist faculty with scholarly research under the direction and supervision of a faculty member.

Departmental Scholars

Departmental scholars, distinguished undergraduate students recognized by departments, are eligible for apprentice teaching appointments in lower-division courses with departmental endorsement and Graduate Division approval after the qualified pool of graduate students is exhausted. scholarly research under the direction and supervision of a faculty member.

If you are interested in a TAship, first confirm that you meet TA eligibility criteria.

Readers & Special Readers

Readers/Special Readers assist faculty members with the reading and grading of students’ papers and exams, under the guidance and direction of faculty members. Readers must have taken and received at least a B in the course for which they are hired while Special Readers must have taken and received at least a B+ in the course for which they are reading. Readers are appointed for undergraduate numbered courses (1-199) while Special Readers are hired for upper division undergraduate or graduate level courses (100 and above).

Readerships are positions appointed by each graduate program. View PDF on this page for programs that provide Readership opportunities.

Tutors

The primary duty of a Tutor is individual or small group review instruction related to, but not required in, specific courses. The duty is performed under the supervision of faculty “instructors of record” or designated staff members who are vested with the sole and final responsibility for course content, work assignments, performance evaluations and grading in the assigned course and its related tutoring.

Tutors must contact the program they’re interested in for open positions.

Eligibility Criteria for TAs, RAs, Readers & Tutors (Academic Apprentice Personnel)

TAs and RAs are considered Academic Apprentice Personnel (AAP). This term applies to registered graduate students who have fulfilled the University’s established criteria for appointment (no more than 50% time) to teaching or research assistantships and for which they are compensated at rates approved annually by the Regents of the University of California. The University of California considers Academic Apprentice Personnel primarily as students being professionally trained, and graduate student status takes precedence over University employment.

Graduate students who hold AAP appointments must meet criteria including the following:

  • Registered/enrollment in at least 12 units continuously for the term(s) of appointment.
  • Minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA at the time of hire.
  • Supervised by a UCLA faculty member.

Eligibility Criteria for Departmental Scholars Approved as TAs (Academic Apprentice Personnel)

Departmental Scholars students who want to be appointed as a Teaching Assistant must meet criteria including the following:

  • Cannot exceed 25% appointment in any term
  • Must have a 3.5 GPA
  • Must have completed 12 quarters at UCLA if entered as a freshman or 6 quarters if entered as a transfer
  • Must have completed 8 upper division courses toward the undergraduate major
  • Must be enrolled in at least 12 units
  • Must enroll in the same 375 and 495 TA training and pedagogy courses that are required of graduate students in their respective departments

Please see the Academic Apprentice Personnel Manual for further details.

Fee Remissions (Fee Offsets) for TAs, RAs, Readers & Tutors (Academic Apprentice Personnel)

Graduate students holding Academic Apprentice Personnel (AAP) titles may qualify for Fee Remissions.

Fee remissions for Academic Apprentice Personnel (AAP) cover approximately 95% in-state fee/tuition assessments in the form of Employer-paid benefits applied to the appointee’s quarterly/semester fee assessment. Fee remissions cover the following assessment categories:

  • Health Insurance (100%).
  • Tuition (100%).
  • Student Services Fee (100%).
  • Qualified GSRs in appointments of at least 45% time for an entire academic quarter may also be eligible to receive nonresident tuition remission covered at 100%.

To qualify for fee remissions, a graduate student must meet the following eligibility criteria:

  • Serve in AAP titles for at least 25% time (10 hours weekly) in a term.
  • Meet minimum requirements for AAP Eligibility, above.

More AAP Employment Resources

Graduate Work-Study at UCLA

Federal work-study grants are available to “financially need eligible” graduate students to complete part-time paid internships, community service, research projects, or other endeavors closely related to their academic degree program.

Postdocs

Once you’ve acquired your doctoral degree, you may apply to do postdoctoral research on campus. A postdoctoral scholar conducts research under the general oversight of a UCLA faculty mentor in preparation for a career position in academe, industry, government or the non-profit sector. Postdoctoral work provides essential training in many disciplines for individuals pursuing academic careers and may include opportunities to enhance teaching and other professional skills.

Learn about UCLA’s postdoctoral scholar opportunities and resources at the Graduate Division’s Postdoctoral Scholar Services.

Internships

Internships offer opportunities to gain “real-world” experience—a chance to apply theory to practice—in specific areas. They are available on campus and off for current UCLA students. Some offer course credit.

The UCLA Career Center’s Internship & International team is a good place to start looking for internships, as is the UCLA International Education Office if you’re looking for an experience abroad. Other places are your home program/department and other programs/departments on campus.

Open Staff Administration Positions

UCLA’s Campus Human Resources office announces staff positions daily, as does UCLA’s Health Careers office.

Open Faculty Positions

The Academic Personnel Office at UCLA offers information about academic employment opportunities, professional development, and faculty retirement benefits.