University at Buffalo (UB)
Assistantships give you the opportunity to apply your skills and knowledge while providing financial support. There are two types of assistantships at UB.
Teaching assistants (TA) help instructors with their courses.
Research assistants (RA) help faculty conduct their research.
Teaching assistantship appointments are typically made by individual departments, usually on an annual basis. You will be paid a biweekly stipend and will be employed by the State of New York.
New hire paperwork packet should be completed as soon as possible. Once completed, you will meet with your department to verify your documentation. Your first paycheck is contingent on the timely submission of your new hire paperwork packet.
Fully funded PhD students receive an assistantship upon admission. Funding packages include tuition, fee waiver and a stipend of at least $23,000 for 10-month appointments and $29,900 for 12-month appointments. The university will centrally fund select fees on a recurring basis for assistantship appointments only.
Fully funded PhD students receive a fee scholarship through the PhD Excellence Initiative. Covered fees include the comprehensive fee, academic excellence and success fee, student activity fee, and the international student fee, where applicable.
The comprehensive fee is a consolidation of campus required fees that support several university services. Fees included are Athletic Fee, Campus Life, Career Services, College Fee, Health Fee, Technology Fee, Transcript Fee, Transportation Fee, and Recreation Fee.
Enrollment in the UB student plans is automatic when the credit hour threshold is met. Action must be taken to waive your Student Health Insurance by 9/29/2023 if you wish to receive health benefits from another source.
Your employment-related benefits are negotiated by New York state and your bargaining unit, GSEU (Graduate Student Employee Union). These are your benefits if both these are true: your affiliation to UB is with the state and your negotiating unit is 28.
Research assistant awards are provided by departments and/or faculty members holding research grants or contracts.
New hire paperwork packet should be completed as soon as possible. Once completed, you will meet with your department to verify your documentation. Your first paycheck is contingent on the timely submission of your new hire paperwork packet. The Research Foundation (RF) payroll calendar is below. RF pay days are the Friday of the last day of the biweekly pay period.
Fully funded PhD students receive an assistantship upon admission. Funding packages include tuition, fee waiver and a stipend of at least $23,000 for 10-month appointments and $29,900 for 12-month appointments. The university will centrally fund select fees on a recurring basis for assistantship appointments only.
Fully funded PhD students receive a fee scholarship through the PhD Excellence Initiative. Covered fees include the comprehensive fee, academic excellence and success fee, student activity fee, and the international student fee, where applicable.
The comprehensive fee is a consolidation of campus required fees that support several university services. Fees included are Athletic Fee, Campus Life, Career Services, College Fee, Health Fee, Technology Fee, Transcript Fee, Transportation Fee, and Recreation Fee.
Enrollment in the UB student plans is automatic when the credit hour threshold is met. Action must be taken to waive your Student Health Insurance by 9/29/2023 if you wish to receive health benefits from another source.
Enrollment is voluntary – Employees must take action within 45 days of your date of hire to enroll. More information can be found at the following link.
Please contact your department’s Academic or Graduate Coordinator for more information regarding your assistantship.