If you're a postgraduate student in the UK, you’ve probably heard about teaching assistant roles-maybe even been offered one. But what does it actually mean to be a graduate teaching assistant? How much do you get paid? How many hours will it take? And is it worth it when you’re already juggling research, deadlines, and sleepless nights?
What Exactly Is a Graduate Teaching Assistant?
A graduate teaching assistant (GTA) is a postgraduate student-usually a Master’s or PhD candidate-who helps teach undergraduate courses. You’re not the main lecturer. You’re the person running tutorials, marking assignments, holding office hours, and sometimes leading lab sessions. It’s not a side job. It’s part of your training as an academic.
In the UK, most universities offer these roles to international and domestic students alike. You’re typically hired by the department you’re studying in, or sometimes by a related department that needs extra hands. The role is designed to give you teaching experience, which matters if you’re aiming for an academic career. But even if you’re not planning to become a professor, having teaching experience on your CV opens doors in education, corporate training, and even tech companies that value communication skills.
Typical Duties of a Graduate Teaching Assistant
What you actually do depends on the course, the department, and the professor you’re working with. But here’s what most GTAs end up doing:
- Running weekly tutorials or seminars-this is the most common task. You lead small groups of 10-20 students through problem sets, discussions, or case studies.
- Marking assignments and exams-you’ll grade essays, lab reports, or problem sheets. Some departments use standardized rubrics; others expect you to make judgment calls.
- Holding office hours-students come to you with questions about course material. You’re their go-to person outside of lectures.
- Preparing teaching materials-creating handouts, slides, or practice questions. Some departments provide templates; others expect you to build from scratch.
- Assisting with labs or fieldwork-especially in sciences, you might help set up equipment, supervise experiments, or write safety briefings.
- Attending staff meetings-you’ll sit in on planning sessions with the lead lecturer and other TAs.
Some GTAs get assigned to large first-year modules, which means hundreds of students and a mountain of marking. Others work on small, advanced seminars where the focus is on deep discussion. The workload varies wildly.
How Much Do Graduate Teaching Assistants Get Paid in the UK?
Pay isn’t the same across universities. It depends on your institution, your level of study, and whether you’re domestic or international. But here’s what most GTAs earn in 2026:
- £18-£25 per hour for hourly-paid roles (most common)
- £1,200-£2,500 per academic year for fixed-term contracts
- £20-£30 per hour for PhD students in elite universities like Oxford, Cambridge, or LSE
Most universities pay by the hour. You log your hours, and you get paid for them. Some departments cap your hours at 10-15 per week during term time to protect your studies. Others let you take on more if you’re willing.
For example, a typical Master’s student at a mid-tier university might work 8 hours a week: 2 hours leading a tutorial, 3 hours marking, 2 hours preparing, and 1 hour in office hours. At £20/hour, that’s £160 a week. Over a 30-week term, that’s £4,800. But many students don’t max out their hours-they’re too busy with research or exams.
PhD students often get paid more because they’re expected to take on more responsibility. Some are even assigned to lead entire modules. In those cases, they might earn a salary equivalent to £1,800-£2,500 per term.
Important note: International students on a Student Visa are allowed to work up to 20 hours per week during term time. Most GTA roles stay under that limit, but always check your visa conditions. Exceeding it can risk your immigration status.
How Much Time Does It Actually Take?
Here’s the thing: the advertised hours are often misleading.
Many departments say, “You’ll work 10 hours per week.” But that’s just the official count. The real time commitment? Often 15-20 hours. Why? Because marking essays takes longer than you think. Preparing for a tutorial you’ve never run before? That’s a 3-hour job. A student emails you at 11 PM asking for help with a deadline? You answer.
One PhD student at the University of Edinburgh told me: “I was told I’d do 12 hours a week. In reality, I spent 18. I missed two weekends because I had to grade 120 essays. I cried in the library. But I also learned how to manage my time better.”
Here’s a realistic breakdown of time spent on common tasks:
- Tutorial prep: 2-4 hours per session (if it’s new)
- Tutorial delivery: 1-2 hours per session
- Marking one essay (1,500 words): 15-30 minutes
- Marking a lab report (5 pages): 10-20 minutes
- Office hours: 1 hour per week (but often more if students show up)
- Meeting with lead lecturer: 1 hour per month
If you’re marking 40 essays a term, that’s 10-20 hours just on grading. Add prep and tutorials, and you’re easily at 18 hours. That’s half a part-time job.
Is It Worth It?
Let’s be honest: you’re not doing this for the money. You’re doing it because it builds your profile.
Pros:
- Teaching experience-you learn how to explain complex ideas simply. This skill is rare and valuable.
- Networking-you build relationships with faculty. These people write your references.
- Confidence boost-standing in front of undergraduates and holding your own? That changes how you see yourself.
- Financial support-even £500 a month helps with rent, groceries, or textbooks.
- Academic credibility-if you apply for postdocs or lecturer jobs later, having taught is a requirement.
Cons:
- Time drain-it eats into research time. If your thesis is falling behind, this might not be the right move.
- Emotional labor-some students are demanding, ungrateful, or rude. You’re not paid to be a therapist.
- Inconsistent workload-some weeks you’re buried in marking. Others you’re barely busy. It’s unpredictable.
- Not always recognized-some departments treat TAs as cheap labor. You might not get training, feedback, or support.
One Master’s student in Manchester summed it up: “I took the role because I needed the money. I stayed because I discovered I loved teaching. I didn’t know I could do it until I tried.”
How to Get a Graduate Teaching Assistant Role
It’s not always easy to land one. Here’s how to increase your chances:
- Check your department’s website-most universities list GTA openings under “Postgraduate Opportunities” or “Teaching Assistant Vacancies.”
- Ask your supervisor-they often know when a role is coming up before it’s advertised.
- Apply early-positions fill fast, especially for popular courses.
- Highlight relevant experience-even tutoring high school students or leading a student society counts.
- Attend the TA induction-if you get offered a role, show up. It’s your first chance to learn how to survive it.
Some universities have formal applications: CV, personal statement, references. Others just ask you to email the course coordinator. Be polite, clear, and specific about why you want the role.
What If You’re Not Into Teaching?
That’s okay. Not everyone is cut out for it. And that’s fine.
If you’re not interested in teaching, don’t feel pressured to take a GTA role. There are other ways to fund your studies: research assistantships, internships, part-time jobs in libraries or admin offices. Some departments even offer stipends without teaching duties.
But here’s the thing: even if you hate teaching, try it once. You might surprise yourself. Teaching forces you to understand your own subject at a deeper level. It’s not just about helping others-it’s about solidifying your own knowledge.
Final Thoughts
Being a graduate teaching assistant in the UK isn’t glamorous. It’s messy, exhausting, and sometimes thankless. But it’s also one of the most valuable experiences you can have as a postgraduate student.
You’ll learn how to communicate, manage time, handle pressure, and lead. You’ll earn money. You’ll build relationships. And if you ever decide to step into a classroom-whether in academia, corporate training, or beyond-you’ll be ready.
It’s not for everyone. But for those who stick with it, it changes everything.
How many hours can international students work as a graduate teaching assistant in the UK?
International students on a Student Visa are allowed to work up to 20 hours per week during term time. Most graduate teaching assistant roles are designed to stay within this limit, typically ranging from 8 to 15 hours per week. However, you must check your specific visa conditions, as some visas have different restrictions. Exceeding the 20-hour limit can result in serious consequences, including visa cancellation.
Do graduate teaching assistants get paid during university holidays?
No, most graduate teaching assistants in the UK are paid only for hours worked during term time. If your contract is hourly, you won’t be paid during Christmas, Easter, or summer breaks unless you’re specifically hired for summer teaching or marking. Some PhD students on fixed-term contracts may receive a stipend spread evenly across the year, but this is less common and should be clearly stated in your offer letter.
Can you be a graduate teaching assistant without being enrolled in a postgraduate program?
No. Graduate teaching assistant roles are specifically for students currently enrolled in a postgraduate program-either a Master’s or PhD. These positions are tied to your student status and are often funded through your department’s teaching budget. If you’re not enrolled, you’d need to apply for a standard teaching or administrative job, which would be paid differently and not count toward your academic training.
Is teaching experience as a GTA required for PhD applications in the UK?
No, teaching experience is not required to apply for a PhD in the UK. However, having taught as a GTA can significantly strengthen your application, especially if you’re applying for funded PhD positions or planning to pursue an academic career. Many PhD programs value teaching skills because future researchers often end up training undergraduates. Even if it’s not required, it’s a strong asset.
What’s the difference between a graduate teaching assistant and a research assistant?
A graduate teaching assistant (GTA) helps teach undergraduate courses-running tutorials, marking work, leading labs. A research assistant (RA) helps with academic research-collecting data, running experiments, analyzing results, or writing papers. GTAs are paid through teaching budgets; RAs are funded through research grants. Both are valuable, but they serve different purposes: GTAs build teaching skills, RAs build research skills. Some students do both, but it’s rare and extremely demanding.