Graduate Teaching Assistants
Below, you will find information about and instructions on how to apply for a graduate TA position in the Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering. Please read carefully.
Eligibility
Applicants must meet all UW eligibility requirements for a Graduate Teaching Assistant position. CSE Ph.D. students should also review the Allen School’s Funding Policies and Procedures.
Availability: TAs are expected to be on campus from the first day of the quarter through the completion of finals grading. Contact the instructor as soon as possible about any time you need off. If you anticipate a significant absence, contact the TA Coordinator before applying to discuss your options and/or whether a TA position is practical.
Please note that in some quarters, final exams may take place several days after the end of the TA appointment period. In those cases, per the UW/UAW contract (section 35.7), it is understood that TAs will complete grading for exams and papers submitted during that time, as well as any other related duties as assigned.
Who Can Apply
Grad TA applicants fall into one of three categories. Please read the information specific to your applicant type.
CSE PhD students
If you haven’t done so already, please talk with your advisor as soon as possible about your funding situation and whether you will need a TA position in the upcoming quarter. Any CSE PhD graduate student who will not have a full RA appointment or other funding should submit a TA application (excluding summer quarter when TA positions are not guaranteed).
If you might need a TA position (e.g. you’re still trying to secure an RA position), you should still fill out a TA application which can be withdrawn anytime before the application withdrawal deadline. If your situation is unsettled and/or you need additional time, please contact the TA Coordinator.
For non-CSE grads who are advised by Allen School faculty, TA positions will be considered on a case-by-case basis however these students should first look to their own department for funding options.
Two appointment types are available:
- Full-time (20 hrs/week): The most common type. Select this when a TA will be your sole source of funding for the quarter.
- Half-time / Grad RA/TA (10 hrs/week): Only for students who already have another funding source (RA, fellowship, etc.) and wish to fulfill a TA requirement or take a partial role.
Students who can accept either appointment type may indicate this flexibility in the application.
CSE BS/MS students
CSE BS/MS students at the graduate level are welcome to apply for TA positions (be sure to select the “Grad TA” option if you will have grad student status for the quarter in which you are applying to be a TA). Historically, many BS/MS students who applied for TA assignments have been successful in receiving them. However, TA funding has never been guaranteed, and budgetary constraints may affect the number of positions available.
BS/MS students are limited to three quarters of graduate-level TA funding. After this limit, they are deprioritized in the TA application and assignment process and will only be considered for positions under exceptional circumstances—such as filling an unexpected vacancy or meeting a specific course need.
Non-CSE graduate students
While graduate students from other departments can apply for quarterly CSE TA appointments, they will be given lower priority due to funding commitments made to CSE grad students and the anticipated large number of CSE applicants. We expect the number of TA positions given to non-CSE graduate students to be extremely limited and only offered when a CSE student is unavailable.
Application and Course Assignment Process
There are three stages:
- You apply. Submit the application form and rank your course preferences.
- Instructors review. Instructors rank applicants using a selection rubric (see Hiring Criteria below).
- The coordinator assigns. The CSE TA Coordinator finalizes assignments based on instructor rankings and applicant preferences, with the goal of meeting the needs of all our courses, while giving as many applicants and instructors their top choices as possible.
How to Apply
- Go to the Graduate Teaching Assistants application website and sign in with your UW NetID
- You should now see a page with your “TA Candidate Dashboard”. Click the “Apply” button which will take you to the application page.
- In the Basic information section, you should see your name displayed; “TA type” refers to your student status (not the level of course you wish to be a TA for). All graduate student applicants should select one of the grad TA options–most commonly the “Grad TA” selection. Only select the “Grad RA/TA” option if you have another source of funding (RA, grant, fellowship, etc.) to supplement this TA assignment giving you a “full” (~20 hours/week) grad appointment.
- In the Personal statement section, optionally describe why you want to TA and any relevant experience. This is especially useful if you are a non-CSE student or a first-time applicant. You should also use this space to include additional information about your course preferences/rankings or any prior arrangements you have made with a course instructor regarding an assignment.
- In the Course category preferences section, indicate your general preferences across course areas.
- In the Individual course preferences section, rank courses from 5 (most preferred) to 1 (least preferred). If a schedule conflict prevents you from attending all lectures or the weekly staff meeting, check the Schedule conflict checkbox in the first column.
- Click Submit.
Roles & Responsibilities
Classification: Graduate Teaching Assistants lead quiz, discussion, or laboratory sections, serve as a class assistant, or provide supervised teaching. Specific duties are assigned by the course instructor and may include:
(Specific duties and responsibilities will be confirmed by the course instructor.)
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Pay and Benefits
Graduate TAs are paid monthly. Appointment level — TA, TA1, or TA2 — is based on academic progress. Salaries below are for a full appointment; most positions are full or half-time (paired with a half-time RA).
| Appointment level | Monthly salary | Eligible students |
|---|---|---|
| TA | $3,635 | Master’s students |
| TA1 | $3,855 | Ph.D. students, pre-generals exam |
| TA2 | $4,000 | Ph.D. students, post-generals exam |
Full appointments (20 hrs/week) include a tuition waiver and health insurance through the Graduate Appointee Insurance Program (GAIP). Your offer letter will confirm employment length, salary, and benefits eligibility.
Summer supplement: The UAW/UW contract requires a 20% salary supplement for summer quarter TAs, effective during the summer instructional payroll period (June 16 – Aug 15). This applies to TAs appointed for less than three months in summer and does not apply to RAs or other ASE appointments.
All positions are covered by the UAW/UW Academic Student Employee union contract, which governs appointments, salary, job definitions, and leave time.
General Information
- All Ph.D. students are required to TA at least two quarters during their academic career.
- CSE students are prioritized, but any graduate student from any department may apply.
- All students intending to TA — including those with a confirmed instructor arrangement — must submit an application.
- Not all listed courses will have a TA assigned; enrollment levels determine actual need each quarter.
- Quiz sections for most CSE 100- and 300-level courses are not listed in the application due to volume. See the quarterly time schedule for a full listing.
- CSE 12x/14x courses (introductory programming) are staffed primarily by undergrads. Grad students with a strong interest in CS education may contact the TA Coordinator to discuss potential opportunities.
- A weekly TA training seminar runs Thursdays, 4:30–5:20 PM each quarter for newly selected TAs. Strongly recommended even for returning TAs.
- Visit the funding options page for more on appointment types and funding policies.
Hiring Criteria
TA appointments and course assignments are based on the following criteria:
- Academic performance and progress.
- A rubric-evaluated selection process considering prior TA experience and performance, success as a student in the course, undergraduate coursework, and other relevant work or volunteer experience.
This position is governed by a negotiated labor contract with UAW. The University of Washington is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, citizenship, sex, pregnancy, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, disability, or veteran status, consistent with UW Executive Order No. 81.
To request disability accommodation in the application process, contact the Disability Services Office at 206-543-6450 or dso@uw.edu.
Statement of Nondiscrimination
The University of Washington prohibits discrimination, harassment, and sexual misconduct in any education program or activity it operates. Individuals may report concerns, make complaints, or direct inquiries to the Civil Rights Compliance Office. Read the full nondiscrimination statement.
FERPA Acknowledgment: TA Information Release
By applying for a TA position with the Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering, you acknowledge that if hired, certain information from your education record under FERPA will be published in various online locations. This may be visible to CSE instructors and staff, the broader university community, and in some cases the general public. Published information may include your name, school email address, photo, course assignment(s), and graduate/undergraduate status. Online locations may include time schedules, course websites, instructional dashboards, and other course-related resources.
You have the right to: (1) inquire about the release of this information; (2) request a specific exception; (3) withhold consent to release any information identifying you as a TA; and (4) revoke this consent in writing to the CSE Course Coordinator/TA Advisor — with the understanding that revocation does not affect information already published prior to receipt of your written notice.