Graduate Assistantships (GAT)

  

Graduate Assistantships (GAT)

Funding for graduate students is provided in the form of teaching assistantships, research scholarships and graduate trust appointments from faculty members' research grants. Minimum annual stipends currently amount to $23, 800 (2011-2012 stipend).

  

 Teaching 

These awards carry stipends of $7957.29 for a four-month period during the fall and winter terms in a calendar year. Responsibilities include assisting in laboratories, tutorials, undergraduate seminars, etc., for an average of 12 hours per week over a four-month period. Terms and conditions of the awards are outlined in the Assistantship Schedule of the Faculty of Graduate Studies. GAT's are assigned by the department and no application is required.

Students who hold major scholarships are given a half-unit of GAT for the Fall and Winter term. These awards are valued at $3825.62 for a four month period.

Trust

These awards, paid by individual faculty members from their research funds, may be available during any one or more of the three support periods in a calendar year, but most commonly during the period of May to August.  They may vary in value, the minimum being $7900 per term.  No teaching is required.  After 28 months and 52 months in the MSc and PhD programs respectively, students may be paid from a supervisors trust account.  This type of arrangement is decided between the student and the supervisor and no application is required.

While the Department can make no absolute commitment beyond the first year, continuing financial assistance to the appropriate maximum extent possible throughout the program is assured, subject to University-wide fiscal restraints, provided the student's progress in program is satisfactory.