Graduate Teaching Assistantship (GTA)

Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTAs) make an important contribution to the quality of undergraduate education at Western University. GTAs inspire, encourage, and guide students who embark on a learning journey in hundreds of programs in our 11 Faculties across campus. 

A GTA may:

  • proctor exams
  • conduct field trips
  • work with students in lectures and tutorials
  • prepare materials or set-up required displays or apparatus for classes, tutorials and laboratories
  • grade essays, assignments, laboratory reports, tutorials and term tests
  • answer students' questions through meetings or office hours

A GTA acts as a resource and a mentor to students as they grapple with theories in all disciplines. A GTA works directly with students as they try to decide how they will use their new knowledge after they graduate.

One term - 10 hour/week GTAship
(Sept. 1, 2020 – Aug. 31, 2021)		 One term - 10 hour/week GTAship
(Sept. 1, 2021 – Aug. 31, 2022)
 One term - 10 hour/week GTAship
(Sept. 1, 2022– Aug. 31, 2023)
Base Compensation 140 hours @ $46.29/hr = $6,480.60 140 hours @ $46.75/hr = $6,545.00 140 hours @ $47.22/hr = $6,610.80
Vacation Pay Term rate x 4% = $259.22 Term rate x 4% = $261.80 Term rate x 4% = $264.43
Term Rate inclusive of vacation pay $6,739.82 $6,806.80 $6,875.23
Monthly Rate inclusive of vacation pay $1,684.96 $1,701.70 $1,718.81

Employment of registered graduate students as graduate teaching assistants is governed by the provisions of The Collective Agreement between The University of Western Ontario and the Public Service Alliance of Canada.

Current GTA Opportunities

  • Only full-time registered graduate students are eligible to hold a GTA appointment at Western University.
  • These postings are in compliance with Article 13.06 of the collective agreement.
  • For a student who is external to the hiring Faculty they may require their thesis supervisor's approval before accepting the GTA position.
  • Full-time graduate students may hold only 10 hours per week in GTAships, from any source, in any term.

TA Postings

TA postings will appear here when available.

GTA Training Programs

TATP - Teaching Assistant Training Program

The Teaching Assistant Training Program is a hands-on, two-and-a-half- day session taught by current Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTAs) and designed for new GTAs embarking on their teaching careers. Learn about fair grading practices, diversity in the classroom, lecturing, and giving students feedback on written work. Choose from concurrent sessions designed to meet your specific discipline-related teaching needs. Get real-time, hands-on teaching experience in our unique micro-teaching sessions, where you can try out your teaching skills and techniques with a small group of your peers and receive helpful, constructive feedback. At the end of the session, you’ll receive a certificate as evidence of your commitment to the development of your knowledge and skill as a teacher.

For more information: http://www.uwo.ca/tsc/graduate_student_programs/tatp.html

Additional Details

Definition The employment contract between a registered full-time graduate student and the Employer for assisting in supervised teaching-related duties listed as per the collective agreement
Compensation Rate Defined by collective agreement
Employment Deductions and Benefit Changes Regular deductions - Tax, CPP, EI etc., 13%
CRA Tax Treatment Regular income, 100% taxable, reported on T4 tax receipt
Posting Required? No Posting Required
System Paid Through HR Payroll system, Online Appointment Process
Job Code; When Paid X0200; Monthly or weekly
Employment Contract Requirements for International Students www.servicecanada.gc.ca/eng/sin/employers/contract.shtml

Other Links