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Graduate Studies

Assistantship FAQs

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For all students

Assistantships are available at both the master's and doctoral levels. Availability varies by department.

This awarding of asistantships is department- and position-specific. Graduate Teaching Assistantships and Graduate Instructor Assistantships require international students to complete an English proficiency certification process before applying. Talk with your hiring department about position availability and how/when to apply.

Graduate assistantship positions range from teaching to research to professional roles. Graduate assistantship positions may be connected to your initial acceptance or continued work in a program. Reach out to program and faculty advisors to learn more.

A variety of graduate assistantships are available at UMKC. Some graduate assistantships support student services and administrative offices on campus and are posted on Handshake. These graduate assistants are hired through an application and interview process. For available assistantships outside your primary academic unit, visit Handshake to create a profile and apply when positions are available.

For positions within your academic unit, please feel free to talk with your advisors throughout the year about the best time to apply for your intended position. Handshake will have many of the upcoming available positions in student services and administrative departments posted by February 1st for the Fall semester positions. Student services and administrative departments that have positions open for the Spring will likely post them in December. Positions in student services and administrative offices offered during the Summer are also typically posted by February 1.

If an academic department is offering a position, please contact the department directly. Many graduate assistantships will also be available through Handshake.  The required materials may vary but generally include a cover letter and resume.  

The Handshake job postings will include: 

  • Description of Department 
  • Contract Period 
  • Eligibility Requirements 
  • Compensation Information 
  • Position Information (hours, modality, work dates, break information) 
  • Role Responsibilities 
  • Qualifications Required 
  • Hiring Timeline 

In the case of positions advertised through the Handshake platform, each job posting will include contact information for the hiring manager. Applicants are asked to refrain from contacting the hiring manager for updates on their application status, as hiring managers will follow the timelines outlined in the posting and will reach out directly to candidates. If applicants have questions about the position requirements or responsibilities, they are welcome to contact the hiring manager for clarification. If a candidate has not received communication by the stated hiring deadline, it is appropriate to follow up at that time. 

Additional Etiquette Guidelines and Tips: 

  • Carefully review the full position description before reaching out with questions. 
  • Use professional language and a clear subject line when emailing hiring managers. 
  • Address hiring managers by their correct title and name. 
  • Allow adequate time for a response before sending follow-up messages. 
  • Ensure that all application materials are complete and submitted by the posted deadline. 
  • Keep all communication respectful and professional, even if not selected for the position. 

Monthly payments of the stipend will be issued on the last business day of each month throughout the appointment period to the bank account provided at hire.

Tuition remission refers to the process by which the university covers or repays all or a portion of tuition costs as part of assistantship benefits. This support is typically contingent on maintaining enrollment in an approved graduate program, meeting academic and employment expectations, and completing required coursework successfully. Tuition remission helps offset the cost of graduate education while a graduate assistant is contributing to the institution through assigned teaching, research, or administrative responsibilities. 

Graduate assistantships typically cover up to 3 credit hours of tuition per semester for a .25 FTE appointment and up to 6 credit hours of tuition for a .50 FTE appointment per semester, but some departments may provide more. The tuition remission covers only the resident or non-resident graduate tuition for the specified hours, and does not cover Student Life Fees, Graduate Program Fees, and International Student Fees. Information about Student Life Fees, Graduate Program Fees, and International Student Fees is found at https://www.umkc.edu/cashiers/tuition-fees/fees.html.  

Graduate assistants must be degree-seeking students. Generally, full-time enrollment is required. You should enroll in your graduate classes by either July 1 (fall start date) or January 1 (spring start date). Tuition remission cannot be applied to your student account unless you are enrolled in classes for the semester. Tuition remission applied after financial aid applies may initiate a refund request for the current semester or reduction of financial aid for the following semester.

Students who drop classes at any time, or who otherwise fail to meet assistantship requirements set by the College/School/Division offering the assistantship, will be required to refund their tuition remission for that semester. Tuition remission will not exceed the actual cost of tuition. No adjustments will be made for courses added after official census. 

Yes, stipends are taxable income, including for international students.

At UMKC, full-time enrollment status is determined by the Graduate Full-Time and Half-Time Policy.

For questions regarding your enrollment status, please contact your academic advisor.

For an exception to full-time status please see the Full-Time Status Petition form for domestic students. International students should contact isao@umkc.edu.

Working conditions, including schedule requirements, work location, and university break requirements vary by graduate assistantship. Applicants should check the job posting for this information. Reach out to the hiring manager if more clarification is needed.

Graduate assistantships are competitive. In 2025-2026, there were approximately 380 Graduate Professional Assistants, Graduate Research Assistants, Graduate Teaching Assistants, and Graduate Instructor Assistants at UMKC.

Yes! Graduate students are eligible to apply for UMKC and private scholarships. Domestic students can also find non-assistantship, paid positions on- or off- campus through Handshake (Note that international students are mostly restricted to on-campus positions). Individual programs or outside organizations may also have opportunities to apply for grants specific to travel, research, or other academic purposes.

Please email the School of Graduate Studies at umkcsgs@umkc.edu with additional questions, and a staff member will direct you to the correct resource.

No, reappointment will be based on performance, available funding, and good academic standing.

Domestic students in graduate assistantships are capped at .50 FTE (20 hours per week) across all jobs in the UM System. If you or your program wants to offer more, there is a petition for approval on the SGS website you will need to complete and submit for review.

International students are capped at .50 FTE (20 hours per week) across all jobs in the UM System and are not eligible for a waiver for higher FTE.

International student specifics

Funding amounts depend on the department and position. Contact the hiring department for more information.

International students seeking Graduate Instructor Assistantships and Graduate Teaching Assistantships should contact the School of Graduate Studies regarding the English Proficiency Certification process. Graduate Professional Assistantships and Graduate Research Assistantships do NOT require the certification.

Yes. Contact the International Student Affairs Office if you have questions about how many hours you can work between multiple positions.

Tuition waiver questions should be directed toward the hiring department.

Stipend questions can be directed to Human Resources.

You should retain a copy of your contract when you sign it, to keep for your records.