School of
Graduate Studies

MA/MSc Financial Assistance Package

• is offered to all eligible MA/MSc graduate students;
• is provided by those who engage graduate students in university teaching and research programs;
• reflects the importance of the services graduate students provide.

The School of Graduate Studies recommends a Financial Assistance Package in the amount of $17,000 per year for 2 years. The $17,000 is comprised of:

• $7,000 per year is provided as a Graduate Teaching Assistantship in return for which the student provides services in support of teaching;
• $3,000 per year is provided as an Entrance Award by the University of Lethbridge;
• Where possible, the remaining $7,000 (or more) is provided by the student's supervisor in the form of a Research Assistantship from research grants;
• Where possible, if a supervisor cannot provide financial support, efforts will be made to provide alternative funding possibly through additional funding in the appropriate Faculty or School. See Advantage Award as one possible option;
• The Dean of Graduate Studies announces the award at the time of admission of the student

Eligibility

• The University will guarantee the Graduate Assistantship amount for up to two years of full time study for students admitted unconditionally to the program
• Students receiving externally funded scholarships for academic merit (such as those provided by NSERC, SSHRC, or iCORE) also receive the Graduate Assistantship from the University, but do not receive funding from the supervisor except by special arrangement

Continuation of Funding

• Continuation of the award is contingent upon the satisfactory performance of the student, and the fulfillment of the award criteria
• Each semester, the School of Graduate Studies reviews each student’s performance based on the supervisor’s report, and the Dean of Graduate Studies confirms the award based on a successful review

International Students

• Additionally, international students in the M.A./M.Sc. program receive an International Research Award of $2,000 in their first year

Teaching

• In return for the Graduate Assistantship, graduate students are expected to provide 120 hours per year of service in support of teaching
• The appropriate Dean assigns the Graduate Teaching Assistantship duties in consultation with the supervisor(s) and Department Chair where appropriate.
• Duties may consist of 
  • Laboratory Teaching
  • Leading of tutorials
  • Marking
  • Developing new courses and teaching laboratory experiments
  • Other teaching-related duties (e.g., leading discussion groups)
• Note: CAETL offers and Orientation to Teaching for Graduate Students

Research

• When a graduate student is paid from a supervisor’s grant, the supervisor assigns the duties that the student must perform in return
• Supervisor must provide the Dean of School of Graduate Studies with the Research Assistant contract for the student’s file; standard forms are available from the School of Graduate Studies or Research Services
• See Research & Innovation Services for Funding Administration 
• Download Trust Account Form.pdf