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{Home > Graduate : Assistantships & Aid}

Assistantships & Aid

Graduate instructorships, teaching assistantships, research assistantships, fellowships, and loans provide the most common form of support for graduate students. Students must be admitted and in good academic standing to hold these positions, and also must be registered for at least six credits a semester to maintain their status.

Graduate Instructorships (GI) & Teaching Assistantships (TA)

Graduate Instructors teach sections of the Department of Writing Studies' undergraduate courses. Typically, GIs teach required courses in first-year writing and technical communication, although other teaching opportunities are available. The department has a limited number of Teaching Assistantships, which involve assisting a faculty member by evaluating student papers, meeting with students, and other duties.

Research Assistantships and Administrative Fellowships

Writing Studies has a few research assistantships, usually funded through grants that faculty secure. In this case, the individual faculty member hires the assistant. There are a limited number of research assistantships and administrative fellowships available for graduate students in Writing Studies. Students may apply for graduate assistantships in other University departments if they meet the qualifications. The Graduate Assistant Employment Services posts openings from all University departments.

Center for Writing Job Opportunities

As an interdisciplinary center devoted to the practice, teaching, and study of writing, the Center for Writing encourages Writing Studies graduate students to apply for TA positions in its Student Writing Support program, as well as RA positions with the Writing-Enriched Curriculum project.  Openings are typically announced in February for the following academic year on the Center’s website.

Additionally, Writing Studies graduate students may be interested in working with a faculty or academic staff member on an Interdisciplinary Studies of Writing research grant, which could provide summer RA funding.

Graduate students enrolled in the Center’s Literacy and Rhetorical Studies minor are eligible for the travel grants and dissertation fellowships associated with that program.

Writing Studies Industrial Affiliates Program Fellowships

Every spring our students may apply for $2,000 fellowships offered by the department's Industrial Affiliates Program (IAP).  These are sponsored by companies that partner with us on a number of initiatives.  The fellowships support research on site at the affiliates' workplace.  For more information see the IAP website.

Graduate School Fellowships

The Graduate School offers "mid-career" fellowships, such as the Stout-Wallace, and Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship, for students in their thesis-writing year. These are awarded through a university-wide competition to students who are nominated by the department. In addition to these, the Graduate School offers tuition scholarships to second-year students and modest support for research. For information about scholarships and fellowships offered through the Graduate School, contact the Graduate School Fellowship Office.

Other Useful Sites

Funding your graduate studies: assistantships, fellowships and loans
U of M Job Center
One Stop Student Services