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Graduate Teaching Assistant Scheme

Devised by the Doctoral and Researcher College, our Graduate Teaching Assistant scheme is a programme designed to support and develop the next generation of highly talented University Lecturers from within our Postgraduate Research Student community.   

GTAs are postgraduate research students whose primary status is that of a full-time university student, and who are, in conjunction with their registration as a student, appointed with a formal contract of employment from the University for their teaching responsibilities with an associated salary.  GTAs will be appointed based on their skills and capability for undertaking postgraduate research study first with potential to develop as a teacher.

New GTA posts are requested through the annual Sustainable Planning Process.  If approved, Schools will then need to submit an SRF to initiate the appointment process.

How these posts operate

  • GTA roles are offered as a separate contract to PhD students’ studentships, and opportunities should be available to a broad range of candidates wherever possible.
  • The GTA element is additional to a studentship.
  • GTAs are appointed at Grade 6.
  • Options are available for the FTE and duration of GTA contracts to allow some flexibility within Schools.
  • Appointments should normally be for the duration of the PhD candidate’s enrolment, with a maximum of 4 years.
  • A GTA must not work for more than 20 hours in any given week.