College of Engineering

Graduate Assistantships

Graduate assistantships are typically awarded by academic programs and are employment-based. They require work in a teaching or research role and include a stipend, tuition remission, and health insurance. As Oregon State is a leading teaching and research institution, it follows that the work of our graduate assistants is essential to fulfilling the university’s mission. All GRA and GTA positions are allocated or recommended for funding by a school's graduate committee. Decisions on GRA and GTA positions are separate from admissions decisions.

• General Graduate Assistantship Information

Graduate Research Assistantships (GRA)

Graduate research assistants are hired to assist with research conducted in the college on externally funded research grants.

• GRAs are typically required to assist faculty in performing the research required as part of the grant. Work can include reviewing literature, collecting and analyzing data, setting up and running experiments, and writing reports.
• GRA positions are offered when needed to support research grants.
• Students receiving a GRA are chosen by the faculty member overseeing the grant.
• Indicate your interest on the OSU Application for Graduate Admission. This step ensures that you will automatically be placed on the assistantship request list upon admission to graduate school.
• Applicants interested in working as a GRA should contact a faculty member serving as principal investigator on a grant as early in the application process as possible.

Graduate Teaching Assistantships (GTA)

Graduate teaching assistants are hired by a school to support faculty with specified courses.

• GTAs are typically required to assist faculty in the classroom, oversee course lab sessions, grade assignments, and support other responsibilities associated with classes.
• International students must have an Internet-based TOEFL (iBT) score of 22 or higher for their speaking sub-score to be qualified for GTA appointments.
• Indicate your interest on the OSU Application for Graduate Admission. This step ensures that you will automatically be placed on the assistantship request list upon admission to graduate school.

Fellowships, Scholarships and Awards

Graduate fellowships are similar to graduate assistantships in that they provide a stipend and sometimes tuition remission and a research allowance. The primary difference is that fellows are not employees and do not have to provide service for the fellowship. Fellowships vary in value and duration and are often awarded at a specific stage in the educational continuum. Students can also be eligible for university scholarships, continuing students may qualify for scholarships that are administered by their school, and many private organizations also offer scholarship opportunities. Most university awards are based on a combination of academic merit and financial need.

• Graduate Fellowship Overview
• Graduate School Fellowships and Scholarships
• Graduate School Awards
• Scholarships for International Students

External Funding Sources

Beyond Oregon State, there are numerous funding sources for graduate students in engineering:

• Federal sources
  • Sallie Mae
  • Federal Student Aid
  • Science.gov
  • NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program
• Foundations and private organizations
• Professional societies