Montclair State University

Student Toolbox

General Assistantship Information for Masters Degree Students

The Graduate School offers approximately 200 assistantships for first-time master's degree seeking graduate students who are interested in an opportunity to gain an academic experience that directly complements the student's degree program curriculum. All assistantships are diverse in nature and encompass a wide variety of responsibilities and duties while allowing students to also achieve their academic goals. Assistantships will offer opportunities to work with faculty on research, assist faculty with instructional support, and/or be related to the student's clinical or field work.

Assistantships are NOT available to students:

  • Seeking any type of certificate or certification only,
  • Who are teaching or completing their in-service supervised training as an M.A.T. student,
  • Maintaining a non-degree status, or
  • With a conditional admission/matriculation to The Graduate School
Term of the Assistantship: One full academic year, beginning September 1 and ending June 30

Graduate assistants must:
  • Be fully matriculated in a master's degree program at MSU
  • Be a full-time student, maintaining a minimum of nine (9) credits per semester, and a maximum of twelve (12) credits per semester
  • Maintain at least a 3.00 GPA during each semester of the assistantship
  • Fulfill twenty hours per week

Graduate assistants receive a tuition and University-wide fee remission for up to 24 graduate credits per academic year. Fees that are specific to courses or to individual students are not included in the remission (e.g. Art studio fees, supplies, parking and/or Health Insurance, etc.). Graduate assistants also receive a stipend for the full 10 month appointment. The value of the stipend payment and tuition remission are taxable.

How Students Apply
A separate application for a graduate assistantship does not exist. Students should be sure to mark the appropriate area on the graduate admission application if interested in a graduate assistantship.

Graduate Assistantships will be considered as part of the admission process to a graduate masters degree program. Most of our graduate degree programs have rolling admission, so the earlier a student completes the application for admission, the greater chance the student has to be considered for open graduate assistantship positions.

GA Appointment Process Overview

Recommendation for Graduate Assistantship Appointment
Academic departments send their recommendation of a student for graduate assistantship appointment to The Graduate School.  The Graduate School verifies a student's eligibility to be appointed to an assistantship. The official offer of appointment will be sent via regular mail to the student from the Graduate School. No appointment is official or finalized unless it is approved by the Graduate School.  A verbal offer of an assistantship from a department other than the Graduate School does not constitute an official appointment to an assistantship.

* Students should not begin work until they have signed and accepted the offer and terms of the assistantship with The Graduate School.  Payroll papers (I-9 Eligibility of Employment and W-4 tax forms) must be completed at The Graduate School before beginning the graduate assistantship position.