Find Graduate Assistantships
A graduate assistantship is a paid position offered to graduate students that provides financial support in exchange for part-time work at the university. These roles can be connected to a student’s field of study, or they may be based in other campus divisions that support university operations such as Student Affairs, Athletics, Student Success, and more.
Visit the Graduate School’s website to find general information including eligibility, compensation & benefits, employment timelines, and more.
Teaching Assistantships (TA) assist faculty in delivering courses by leading discussion or lab sessions, grading assignments and exams, and providing support to students through office hours. They gain practical experience in teaching, course management, and academic communication.
Research Assistantships (RA) work with faculty on research projects, helping to collect and analyze data, conduct experiments, review literature, and contribute to publications or reports. This role provides hands-on experience in research methods, problem-solving, and scholarly work.
Graduate Assistantships (GA) support university departments or offices with administrative and programmatic tasks, such as coordinating events, managing records, and assisting with student services. They develop professional skills in organization, communication, and project management while contributing to the campus community.
There are several ways to find graduate student positions:
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Job Boards: Use the UARK job boards to discover current openings.
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Academic Departments
Contact your program coordinator for information about discipline-specific assistantships. They can tell you about available positions, application timelines, and any additional requirements. -
Faculty & Research Labs
Professors often manage research labs and may have positions supporting their projects. Students can use their departmental directory to contact faculty members to learn about available opportunities and gain guidance on the application process. -
Email Listservs / Newsletters
Many graduate programs share assistantship openings through email listservs or newsletters. Ask your program how you can subscribe to these communications to receive updates.
The application process for Graduate Assistantships varies by position. When exploring opportunities, please review the position-specific instructions so you know which application process to follow. Some assistantships are built directly into the graduate school application, while others are posted as separate job openings in platforms such as Workday.
Students are encouraged to use campus resources to strengthen their application materials.
Resume, Cover Letter, and Interview Support – Book an appointment with a career coach.
Personal Statement Support – Book an appointment at the Writing Center.
Assistantship opportunities can open at any time throughout the year, so students are encouraged to check regularly for newly posted positions. However, openings are common during the following timeframes:
- Fall Start Date: Most assistantship applications open December–April.
- Spring Start Date: Most assistantship applications open September–November.
Students must be regularly admitted into the graduate school and accepted into a graduate degree or certificate program before they can accept a graduate assistantship. Because hiring timelines sometimes move faster than admission decisions, students are encouraged to apply for assistantships even if their admission is still in progress. Hiring departments and the Graduate School will coordinate to confirm eligibility before any offer is finalized.