Research Assistantships

Many academic units offer research assistantships to outstanding graduate students who are employed in the following titles:

  • Graduate Student Researcher (GSR)

           An academically qualified and registered graduate student, enrolled full-time, who performs research related to his or her degree program in an academic  department or research unit under the direction of a faculty member or authorized Principal Investigator. The Graduate Student Researcher may or may not collaborate in the publication of said research.

  • Graduate Student Assistant Researcher (GSAR)

           An academically qualified and registered graduate student, enrolled full-time, who performs research under the supervision of a Principal Investigator on a research project which is not related to the student’s degree program.

Appointments are for a maximum of half-time service (20 hours/week); require registration as a full-time student (12 units); and require students to meet academic requirements for satisfactory progress. The duration and extent of these appointments vary by academic unit.

Assistantship offers are made to students directly by their academic unit. Please contact your department for further information.

Academic Requirements

  • A minimum GPA of 3.0
  • Satisfactory academic progress towards degree objective
  • A letter grade of C, S, or above in all courses completed
  • No more than 2 Incomplete grades

GSR and GSAR Appointment Benefits

  • Payment of Fees/Tuition (Remission)

Campus policy regarding GSR/GSAR fee and tuition remission applies to all students employed in the GSR/GSAR series with an appointment of at least 25% time for the entire quarter. Each eligible student’s total assessed fees/tuition (and nonresident supplemental tuition, if the student does not qualify for California residency status), must be paid as a condition of their GSR/GSAR appointment. Charges are to be debited directly to applicable extramural awards or other funding source(s) paying the student’s salary when the student registers each quarter.

Please refer to Registrar's site for the Schedule of Fees/Tuition for AY 2012-2013.