Teaching Assistantships

Although the precise duties will vary depending on the course for which an offer/appointment is made, in general TAs can expect to perform the following duties:

• Laboratory Assistance – providing instruction, guidance, and supervision for laboratory experiments, maintaining a safe and professional laboratory, assisting students with troubleshooting equipment, ensuring laboratory equipment and supplies are used appropriately and put away at the end of each session, marking of laboratory reports.
• Tutorial Assistance – assisting in or leading tutorial sessions, marking of assignments, preparing written solutions, reviewing of assignments with undergraduates.
• Marking – marking of assignments.
• Invigilation of Exams (Mandatory) – is required. All TAs must be available for the full exam period of the term in which they are hired as a TA. TAs may be assigned to invigilate course(s) other those for which they TA.
• APSC TA Training (Mandatory) – New TAs and returning TAs must participate in the APSC TA training program and safety orientation. More information on training will be provided with your offer letter.

Important Information About the Application Process

In order to be eligible to work as a TA, you must be available to attend the mandatory APSC TA training, as well as the appropriate lab orientations, before the start of term.

TA offers will be sent out around early July and will continue until all positions are filled (which can extend into the start of the academic year). You must respond to TA offers in a prompt manner. Failure to accept an offer within Ten working days of receiving the offer via email will be seen as a decline on your behalf, and will result in the position being offered to the next most qualified candidate.

TA positions in our department are employment opportunities, and we expect applicants to act professionally and treat it as such. Withdrawing from a TA position after you have previously formally accepted the post is not an acceptable practice.

Application Requirements

• Must be registered in a MASc, MEng, or PhD program.
• Students and recent graduates of the University shall be eligible for appointment as a Teaching Assistant. Recent graduates are those who have completed their degree requirements within eight (8) months of the term they are being hired
• Cannot be on leave during their graduate program.
• Must hold an active study permit and SIN for the entirety of their TA appointment at the time of their application. If your study permit is set to expire during the course of the term, please inform Student Services when you apply.
• Mastery of the course academic material and subject matter.
• Ability to help students learn actively, and explain course content in a clear and logical manner.
• Have an understanding of and will agree to comply with WorkSafe BC, UBC and Departmental Safety Regulations.
• Possess excellent oral and written English communication skills.
• Must be available to complete the mandatory APSC TA training, as well as the appropriate site-specific lab orientations, before the start of term. Please see training dates listed in the above section.
• It is expected that TA commitments are shared with your supervisor to ensure they are aware of any other commitments to the University.
• Please follow the naming conventions required for the CV and cover letter upload.

All candidates wishing to be considered for a Teaching Assistant position will need to submit one application. Applicants may select up to 6 courses they wish to TA. Although we appreciate the interest of all applicants, only the successful candidates will be contacted with further details.

Before applying, please ensure that you have completed any course planning needed with your supervisor.

Review the courses that have Teaching Assistantships available below. To apply to a TA position, you can find the application portal at the bottom of of this page.

Estimated number of Teaching Assistant positions and hours (subject to change).

MTRL Courses

MTRL 201 ~ T2 ~ 64 hrs ~ 1 TA
MTRL 250 ~ T1 ~ 64 hrs ~ 1 TA
MTRL 251 ~ T2 ~ 32 hrs ~ 1 TA             MTRL 251 ~ T2 ~ 96 hrs ~ 1 TA
MTRL 263 ~ T2 ~ 64 hrs ~ 1 TA
MTRL 264 ~ T2 ~ 96 hrs ~ 1 TA
MTRL 280 ~ T2 ~ 84 hrs ~ 3 TAs
MTRL 320 ~ T1 ~ 64 hrs ~ 1 TA
MTRL 340 ~ T2 ~ 64 hrs ~ 3 TAs
MTRL 358 ~ T1 ~ 64 hrs ~ 1 TA
MTRL 359 ~ T1 ~ 64 hrs ~ 4 TAs
MTRL 361 ~ T1 ~ 64 hrs ~ 2 TAs
MTRL 363 ~ T1 ~ 64 hrs ~ 1 TA
MTRL 365 ~ T2 ~ 64 hrs ~ 1 TA
MTRL 378 ~ T2 ~ 128 hrs ~ 1 TA
MTRL 381 ~ T2 ~ 64 hrs ~ 2 TA
MTRL 382 ~ T2 ~ 64 hrs ~ 1 TA            MTRL 382 ~ T2 ~ 96 hrs ~ 2 TAs
MTRL 394 ~ T2 ~ 96 hrs ~ 1 TA
MTRL 451 ~ T1 ~ 64 hrs ~ 2 TAs
MTRL 455 ~ T1 ~ 128 hrs ~ 1 TA
MTRL 456 ~ T2 ~ 64 hrs ~ 1 TA
MTRL 458 ~ T2 ~ 32 hrs ~ 1 TA
MTRL 460 ~ T1 ~ 64 hrs ~ 1 TA
MTRL 471 ~ T2 ~ 64 hrs ~ 2 TAs
MTRL 472 ~ T1 ~ 96 hrs ~ 1 TA
MTRL 475 ~ T2 ~ 64 hrs ~ 1 TA
MTRL 478 ~ T2 ~ 32 hrs ~ 1 TA
MTRL 485 ~ T1 ~ 64 hrs ~ 1 TA
MTRL 486 ~ T1 ~ 64 hrs ~ 1 TA
MTRL 494 ~ T2 ~ 64 hrs ~ 1 TA
MTRL 495 ~ T2 ~ 64 hrs ~ 1 TA
MTRL 496 ~ T2 ~ 32 hrs ~ 1 TA
MTRL 497 ~ T1 ~ 64 hrs ~ 1 TA

APSC Courses

APSC 278 ~ T1 ~ 64 hrs ~ 3 TAs             APSC 278 ~ T1 ~ 32 hrs ~ 1 TA
APSC 278 ~ T2 ~ 64 hrs ~ 3 TAs
APSC 279 ~ T1 ~ 64 hrs ~ 3 TAs
APSC 279 ~ T2 ~ 64 hrs ~ 3 TAs             APSC 279 ~ T2 ~ 32 hrs ~ 2 TAs

MECH Courses

MECH 221 ~ T1 ~ 32 hrs ~ 4 TAs            MECH 221 ~ T2 ~ 32 hrs ~ 4 TAs

MANU Courses

MANU 201 ~ T1 ~ 64 hrs ~ 1 TA
MANU 230 ~ T1 ~ 64 hrs ~ 2 TAs            MANU 230 ~ T2 ~ 64 hrs ~ 2 TAs
MANU 261 ~ T1 ~ 64 hrs ~ 2 TAs
MANU 270 ~ T2 ~ 48 hrs ~ 1 TA
MANU 330 ~ T1 ~ 48 hrs ~ 1 TA              MANU 330 ~ T2 ~ 48 hrs ~ 1 TA
MANU 370 ~ T1 ~ 48 hrs ~ 1 TA
MANU 378 ~ T2 ~ 84 hrs ~ 1 TA
MANU 380 ~ T1 ~ 48 hrs ~ 1 TA
MANU 430 ~ T1 ~ 64 hrs ~ 1 TA              MANU 430 ~ T2 ~ 64 hrs ~ 2 TAs
MANU 480 ~ T1 ~ 64 hrs ~ 1 TA              MANU 480 ~ T1 ~ 32 hrs ~ 1 TA
MANU 481 ~ T2 ~ 64 hrs ~ 1 TA              MANU 481 ~ T2 ~ 32 hrs ~ 1 TA

IGEN Courses

IGEN 201 ~ T2 ~ 64 hrs ~ 1 TA

The following courses have specific instructions, descriptions, or requirements for their TAs, please read each carefully.

Additional information will be added in due course. Please keep an eye on this section for updates.

Senior Teaching Assistant

The STA needs to oversee the administrative duties for both APSC 278/279 courses (student communications, system set-up, etc.). Please note that the STA positions are different from and unrelated to the TA positions above. We are hiring for the following STA positions:

APSC 278 – 36 Hour STA x 1

APSC 279 – 36 Hour STA x 1

Hours and rates are established by contract between UBC and the TA Union (CUPE 2278). The majority of appointments are 2-4 hours per week = 32-64 hours per term, however, actual appointments may vary. Exam invigilation is included in the appointment.

If you have any questions regarding the application process, please email Material Student Human Resources at student-hr@mtrl.ubc.ca

For questions regarding specific TA duties for a particular course, please contact the course instructor directly.

Be advised that Teaching Assistants at The University of British Columbia (UBC) are represented by the Canadian Union Of Public Employees Local 2278 (CUPE2278) and that a Collective Agreement between UBC and CUPE2278 is in effect. All TAs are required to join the Union as a condition of employment. The collective agreement applies to all TA contracts, and selection of TAs will be done in accordance with the requirements of the Union.

UBC hires on the basis of merit and is committed to employment equity. We encourage all qualified applicants to apply.

Please note that you should NOT consider Teaching Assistantships as a source for guaranteed income. The Department is not in a position to consider financial need in the process of TA appointments.