Teaching & research assistants
We hire graduate students for paid positions as teaching assistants (TAs) and research assistants (RAs). These opportunities offer a chance to fund your studies, build professional networks and gain critical job experience in your field.
Research assistants
Faculty members with external research grants often hire graduate students as RAs. Details of these appointments (salary, hours, etc.) are worked out between the student and the faculty member. RAs engage in diverse activities, from lab work to fieldwork, contributing to projects and gaining hands-on experience.
Contact faculty members directly to find out about possible openings, or reach out to our research manager, Alina Fisher.
Teaching assistants
Every year, we hire TAs to help support undergraduate education, offering our graduates the chance to develop valuable teaching skills. TAs are covered by a collective agreement between CUPE Local 4163 Component 1 and UVic.
Calls for applications are normally sent out to current grads 2-3 months before the term starts. Most fall term positions will be confirmed before the start of classes in September. Some assignments may be made as late as the second week of classes. Spring term positions are finalized in early January.
A small number of positions are available for summer session. These are finalized in April.
- hold weekly office hours to help students with problems
- prepare exams and assignments
- grade assignments
- help supervise mid-terms and final exams
- record grades
- help the instructor with other course-related tasks, such as preparation of course materials or student communications
TAs may also run weekly tutorials, depending on the course. If you apply for a position including tutorial sections, you should be comfortable teaching in front of small groups of 15-25 students.
Appointment decisions are based on the guidelines of the CUPE 4163 Agreement, Article 13.02.
Applicants should possess an undergraduate degree in a field related to environmental studies or environmental science. Familiarity with the subject matter of the course is an asset.
Skills using Zoom, Kaltura and Brightspace, although not required, are considered an asset.
Other criteria considered include the career and/or pedagogical value a particular position will provide to the graduate student, the student’s preferences and other sources of graduate student financial support being received.
TAs at UVic are unionized, and we follow the appointment guidelines in the CUPE 4163 Agreement, (Article 13.02). To be eligible, students must be registered full-time and be on campus for the term of the TA appointment.
Selection decisions include:
- qualifications and ability of the candidate (s) based on academic merit and related experience
- the career and/or pedagogical value that the position will provide the student
- the student's preferences (as listed on the application form)
- other sources of graduate student financial support being received
All TAs must have a solid background in the related subject (unless specified otherwise). A good command of spoken and written English is essential.
Priority in hiring goes first to graduate students registered in the School of Environmental Studies, following our appointment priority policy.
Appointment priority policy
- Priority level 1: graduate students previously appointed to bargaining unit positions as incoming students, and who will be in their 2nd year of a master's program or the 2nd - 4th year of a PhD program
- Priority level 2: master's and PhD students in their 1st year
- Priority level 3: PhD year 2, 3, 4, or 5
- Priority level 4: other graduate students (in other years, not previously appointed, or from other departments)
- Priority level 5: undergraduates
- Priority level 6: others/non-students