Teaching & Research Assistants
We hire graduate students for paid employment as teaching and research assistants.
Research Assistants (RAs)
Faculty members with external research grants often hire graduate students as RAs. Details of these appointments (salary, hours, etc.) are worked out between the student and the faculty member.
Contact faculty members to find out about possible openings.
Teaching Assistants (TAs)
We have TA positions each year for academic assistants and lab instructors. TAs are covered by a collective agreement between CUPE Local 4163 Component 1 and UVic.
We post a list of openings about 3 months before the start of each term. Applications are due 4 weeks before the start of classes.
Most fall term positions will be confirmed before the start of classes in September. Some assignments may be made as late as the second week of classes. Spring term positions are finalized in early January.
A small number of positions are available for summer session. These are posted in early February and finalized in April.
Frequently asked questions
Under the supervision of the course instructor, you may be asked to:
- Hold weekly office hours to help students with problems
- Prepare exams and assignments
- Grade assignments
- Help supervise mid-terms and final exams
- Record grades
- Help the instructor with other course-related tasks, such as preparation of course materials
Lab instructors also run computer or non-computer labs or tutorials, depending on the course. If you apply for a position as a lab instructor, you should be comfortable teaching in front of small groups of students (20-35).
TAs at UVic are unionized, and we follow the appointment guidelines in the CUPE 4163 Agreement (Article 13.02). To be eligible, students must be registered full-time and be on campus for the term of the TA appointment.
Selection decisions include:
- Qualifications and ability of the candidate (s) based on academic merit and related experience
- The career and/or pedagogical value that the position will provide the student
- The student's preferences (as listed on the application form)
- Other sources of graduate student financial support being received
All TAs must have a solid background in the related subject (unless specified otherwise). A good command of spoken and written English is essential.
Priority in hiring goes first to graduate students registered in the Department of Economics, following our appointment priority policy.
Appointment priority policy
Employment will first be offered to graduate students in the Department of Economics, including any graduate students with outstanding TA funding offers included in an offer of admission.
Priority level 1: Masters Year 1 and Ph.D. Year 1. Ph.D. Years 2 and 3 (where previously appointed to a bargaining unit position)
Priority level 2: Where previously appointed to a bargaining unit position, Masters Year 2 and Ph.D. Year 4 or 5
Priority level 3: Other graduate students (in other years, not previously appointed, or from other departments)
Priority level 4: Undergraduates
Priority level 5: Others/non-students
140 hours per term is normally the maximum number of hours that will be assigned to each TA. The actual number of hours worked per week varies by course and term.
There are very few TA hours available in the summer term so TAs can expect to receive significantly smaller offers than the fall and spring terms. TAs should consider this in their financial plans.
TA applications can be found by looking at the Current Postings section of our website. Please email completed TA applications to econao@uvic.ca
Current postings
TEACHING ASSISTANT (TA) POSTING
(CUPE 4163 Specialist Instructional Laboratory Instructors & Academic Assistants)
WINTER SESSION – Spring Term 2025 01
| Positions Available: | Academic Assistants and Laboratory Instructors. See list below for anticipated positions. |
|---|---|
| Appointment Dates: | January 1 - April 30, 2025 |
| Rate of Pay: | $31.80 per hour, plus 4% vacation pay |
| Hours: | Hours per position are based on course enrollment and will be finalized at the beginning of the term. |
DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:
TAs must be available on campus during daytime hours to fulfill duties, as needed, for the duration of the term.
Duties may include some or all of the following:
- holding scheduled office hours to assist students with problems
- preparing exams and assignments
- grading course assignments and exams
- keeping accurate records of grades
- invigilating mid-terms and final exams
- teaching in-class computer labs or conducting tutorial sessions
SELECTION CRITERIA:
Appointment procedures are based on the guidelines of the CUPE 4163 Agreement, TA Appendix Article 13.02.
Selection criteria for all positions will include the qualifications and ability of the candidate(s) based on academic merit and related experience, the career and/or pedagogical value that the experience in a particular position will provide the student, the student’s preferences, and other sources of graduate student financial support being received.
All applications will be considered, however, priority will first be given to graduate students registered in the Department of Economics, in accordance with the department’s Appointment Priority Policy, including any graduate students with conditional offers of employment included in an offer of admission.
All TAs must have a solid background in the related subject (unless specified otherwise). Excellent command of spoken and written English is essential.
APPLICATION INFORMATION FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS:
Complete the TA Application Form and return it by 4:30pm, Friday, November 22, 2024 to Charlene Toews, Administrative Officer, Department of Economics via email: econao@uvic.ca
INFORMATION FOR UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS APPLYING FOR ECON 103 AND ECON 104:
Complete the ECON 103/104 application form and email it to econta@uvic.ca by 4:30pm, Friday, November 22, 2024.
NOTE: Actual number of positions and total hours for each position are subject to funding availability and/or course enrollment or cancellation.
POSITIONS ANTICIPATED IN SECOND TERM (JAN-APR) 2025:
| Course | Position | Hours per Position |
|---|---|---|
|
ECON 103 |
Lab Instructor Duties may include: lab instruction, TA meetings, marking, invigilation, and Help Centre hours | 70-140 |
| ECON 104 Principles of Macroeconomics |
Lab Instructor Duties may include: lab instruction, TA meetings, marking, invigilation, and Help Centre hours | 70-140 |
|
ECON 203 Intermediate Microeconomics I |
Lab Instructor TAs will perform a number of supporting tasks, including marking tests and helping to facilitate the weekly tutorial sessions. | 70-140 |
| ECON 204 Intermediate Macroeconomics |
Academic Assistant | 70-140 |
| ECON 205 Managerial Economics |
Academic Assistant | 105 |
| ECON 225 Writing for Economists |
Academic Assistant TAs for this course should be good writers with experience teaching and marking English composition. A background in teaching students who have English as an additional language is an asset. | 105 |
| ECON 245 Descriptive Statistics and Probability |
Lab Instructor TAs will run computer labs and should be familiar with EViews and R. | 70-140 |
| ECON 246 Statistical Inference |
Lab Instructor TAs will run computer labs and should be familiar with EViews and R. | 70-140 |
| ECON 305 Money and Banking |
Academic Assistant | 105 |
| ECON 306 International Economics |
Academic Assistant | 70 |
|
ECON 308 Economics and the Law |
Academic Assistant | 70 |
| ECON 313 Intermediate Microeconomics II |
Academic Assistant | 70-140 |
| ECON 318 Health Economics |
Academic Assistant | 70 |
| ECON 320 Economic Development |
Academic Assistant | 105 |
|
ECON 325 Public Economics |
Academic Assistant | 105 |
|
ECON 327 Economic History of North America |
Academic Assistant | 105 |
|
ECON 345 Applied Econometrics |
Lab Instructor TAs must have completed a course in applied econometrics and have experience working in R Studio and Stata. |
70-140 |
|
ECON 346 Applied Econometrics II |
Lab Instructor TAs must have completed a course in applied econometrics and have experience working in R Studio and Stata. |
70-140 |
| ECON 351 Mathematical Economics II |
Academic Assistant Preference will be given to a student with a strong background in microeconomic theory and mathematics. |
70 |
| ECON 366 Econometrics: Part II |
Lab Instructor TA runs weekly computer labs. Eviews, Stata and R-Studio are used. Preference will be given to a student who has successfully completed ECON 545 or equivalent. |
70 |
|
ECON 370 Labour Economics I |
Academic Assistant | 70 |
|
ECON 381/ES 312 Environmental Economics |
Academic Assistant | 105 |
|
ECON 405A International Trade Theory |
Academic Assistant |
70 |
|
ECON 413 Economics of Firm Strategy |
Academic Assistant | 70 |
|
ECON 423/526 Economics of Firm Strategy |
Academic Assistant | 35 |
|
ECON 435 Financial Economics |
Academic Assistant |
70 |
|
ECON 454 Theory: Corporate Finance |
Academic Assistant | 70 |
|
ECON 457/549 Computational Economics |
Lab Instructor Python (with the Jupyter interface) is used |
140 |
|
ECON 501 Macroeconomic Analysis |
Tutorial/Lab Instructor TA must have completed ECON 500 and 501 and have a strong work ethic. |
70 |
The University is committed to upholding the values of equity, diversity, and inclusion in our living, learning and work environments. In pursuit of our values, we seek members who will work respectfully and constructively with differences and across levels of power. We actively encourage applications from members of groups experiencing barriers to equity.
Resources
Economics 2024/25 Lead Teaching Assistant : Erick Diaz