Graduate Assistantships (GA)

The 2025-2026 academic year, approximate 9-month graduate assistant salary is $11,200: 20 hours per week per semester. When funds are available, students who receive an assistantship of at least two-thirds (14 hours per week) of the maximum award for the academic year or semester will qualify for fringe benefits (such as health, dental and life insurance). Regular incidental fees charged by the University are paid by the student.

When funds are available, non-residents receiving at least a two-thirds award will also qualify for a remission of the non-resident portion of tuition costs for the corresponding time-period. Graduate assistants who receive non-resident fee remissions for the spring semester may also have the out-of-state portion of their tuition waived for the following summer session.

This manual will include answers to most of your questions about graduate assistantships.  Whether you are applying or a department seeking to hire.  This manual will guide you on our processes.

Click here to view manual

Contact gradschl@uww.edu, if you have any questions.

You must submit a new Graduate Assistant Application for each academic year for which you are seeking employment.

To apply applicants must:

• Start or complete an online graduate application to a degree program at UW-Whitewater.
• Click the graduate assistantship form.
• Upload a goal statement indicating why you are pursuing a graduate degree in the discipline stated on the application. Include comments on past education or professional achievements or future career goals.
• Upload your current resume.
• New Graduate Assistants only: Upload a supervisor/faculty reference letter along with their name and email address. Students who have not previously been awarded a graduate assistantship must have a letter of reference available before they can submit their application. If you do not have a reference letter and have started your application, you can save your answers provided on the form and return to it later. Be sure to select "Save for Later" and complete your application before the deadline.
• Complete the graduate assistant form to initiate the request process.

Please note that a Graduate Assistant application can only be submitted by students who have started an online graduate application or have been accepted into a degree program

Completed applications should be received by 4:30 pm on February 15, 2026, to receive full consideration for the 2026-2027 academic year. Early applications are encouraged as all available positions may be filled by March 15. Individuals applying after the deadline will be accepted and encouraged to contact the graduate program coordinator to which they are applying.

Recipients will be notified in writing and issued a contract letter approximately six to eight weeks after the application deadline.

Individuals applying after the deadline will be accepted, and are encouraged to contact the coordinator of the graduate program to which they are applying.

The School of Graduate Studies is authorized by the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System to award graduate assistantships to selected full-time graduate students. Such awards, fringe benefits and nonresident fee remissions are conditional upon legislative appropriation of the funds for these programs.

Employment as a Graduate Assistant is contingent upon the successful outcome of a criminal background check. A pending criminal charge or conviction will not necessarily disqualify an applicant. In compliance with the Wisconsin Fair Employment Act, the University does not discriminate based on arrest or conviction record.

If a department has an allocated graduate assistantship position open and is interested in your application, they will contact you.

Completed applications will remain in a pool of eligible assistantships until the end of the academic year, or until a position has been accepted by the applicant.

All terms and conditions above are subject to change without notice. Final decisions as to the awarding of assistantships are made by authorized officials of the University.

Graduate Students awarded Graduate Assistantships are expected to maintain “good standing” status during the period of their award and remain registered for at least nine (9), but no more than twelve (12) graduate credits to maintain eligibility.

Students failing to maintain “good status” in any semester, or falling below full-time enrolled status, must submit an appeal to be considered for an exemption.  Exceptions are only considered for one semester and cannot be renewed.

A student should follow this procedure:

• Request for a specific exception to graduate assistantship eligibility is presented by the student in writing to the School of Graduate Studies. This request should provide clearly stated reasons that may justify an exception including detailed plans for raising the student’s cumulative graduate grade point average in the upcoming semester or the rationale for maintaining the graduate assistantship work commitment while dropping below full-time enrollment in the students’ program of study.
• Students should solicit a letter of support from the coordinator of the graduate program (or academic department) to verify that the student’s plan to return to “good standing” is reasonable and can be accomplished in a semester, or that continuing as a graduate assistant will not compromise the student’s academic performance. The coordinator of the graduate program will forward the student’s request and the program’s recommendation to the School of Graduate Studies.
• The School of Graduate Studies will review appeals.  Students will be notified of the decision by the dean of Graduate Studies within one week. All decisions are final.
• Students are expected to submit an appeal as soon as they are aware of a change in their eligibility for their graduate assistantship.