What is the difference between a teaching and a research assistantship if I want PhD funding abroad?
A teaching assistantship pays you for helping professors with classes, tutorials and grading, while a research assistantship pays you for working on research projects with a professor or group. Both usually give a regular stipend and sometimes tuition support, with set teaching or research hours.
In a teaching assistantship you support professors in classes, tutorials and grading, while in a research assistantship you work on research projects with a professor or group. Both are common PhD funding routes in countries such as the USA and Canada.
Teaching vs Research Assistantship
| Feature | Teaching assistantship | Research assistantship |
|---|---|---|
| Main work | Classes, tutorials, grading and other teaching tasks | Research projects with a professor or group |
| Payment | Usually a regular stipend | Usually a regular stipend |
| Tuition support | Possible for some | Possible for some |
| Work requirement | Set teaching hours | Set research hours |
What to Check
- Ask how many hours per week the role needs.
- Confirm whether tuition support is included along with the stipend.
- Check how long the funding lasts before you accept.
My Advice
Choose based on your goals. If you want a research career, a research assistantship that matches your supervisor's project is often a good fit, while a teaching assistantship builds classroom experience. Always ask each department for the exact terms before you accept an offer.
Looking for a specific course in Canada?
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