Have you been looking for USA graduate opportunities to study in the USA?
Also see: 20 Graduate Assistantships in the Middle East for International Students
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Also see: Proven Steps to Get a Graduate Assistantship in the USA
AND
List of US Universities Accepting 2.2 & HND from International Students (with Proof)
The thing is, the USA graduate scholarship is a very popular option for international students. As in, tens of thousands apply to only a handful of scholarships every year. So it follows that your chances of competing and winning a full scholarship to study in the USA are very slim, even more so if you have plans to work while/after schooling.
So then, why restrict your options to applying only for scholarships when universities, polytechnics and colleges offer international students “graduate assistantships”? What’s a graduate assistantship, you ask?
It will be easier to simply list out the top USA Graduate Assistantship opportunities to plan or apply for but you see, while you might know something and then think it is general knowledge, plenty of learners do not know what you know. The lack of information is so overwhelming that, in my experience evaluating scholarship applications, many do not know what or why they have applied. Imagine walking into a room blindfolded.
Shocking, right?
So education begins from the ground level up. In future articles, we will tackle how to apply successfully for a graduate assistantship, cold calling a professor, writing a great SOP, etc. (other strategies are listed in this interview).
For this article, though, we define graduate assistantships and list some of them from the United States (US) that you may apply for.
Table of Contents
What then is a Graduate Assistantship?
A graduate assistantship is walking the talk. A GA enables you to get your education fully funded in exchange for a professional contribution to your major. So while your tuition is fully paid off, sometimes along with your housing and maintenance, it comes with working in your faculty. Like having a job while studying, only that for a GA, it usually entails academic/administrative work, not bartending or housekeeping. GA advances your development more than a scholarship.
In the US of A, graduate assistantships are of 3 types:
#1. A Graduate Assistant (GA):
A graduate assistant works with and assists students daily. They are not required to teach the students. The GA primarily works in an administrative capacity with a member of the faculty or the school coach, yet the work of the graduate assistant should not be to do filing and clerical duties. The keyword is “should not.” It’ll, however, depend on the faculty’s pressing needs at the time.
#2. A Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA):
The GTA teaches undergraduate students and mentors them. In some cases, the GTA is assigned to master’s and doctoral candidates in rare circumstances where exceptional expertise or experience is shown. The teaching assignment is an opportunity to obtain depth of knowledge within the academic discipline.Â
#3. A Graduate Research Assistant (GRA):
The GRA is employed to aid the research of a faculty member in a capacity that enhances the student’s career and educational development. For the GRA, the research project typically results in a professional paper, thesis, or dissertation. Duties vary depending on the type of research project. It may include laboratory experiments, library searches, data entry, preparation of reports, and other relevant assignments.
All graduate assistantships are professional positions that allow you to build the skills employers seek. For master’s students applying to doctoral programs, an assistantship demonstrates that you are well-prepared to contribute to the department. Indeed, for many research fields, not having an assistantship during your master’s could count against you when applying to PhD programs.
If you need to speed up the process or ensure your graduate school application is written by a professional, you can use an essay writing service online, like SmartWritingService. Their professional writers offer affordable assistantships with various assignments, including admission essays. Don’t go with the flow—take control, get writing help, and secure your academic future.
How do Apply for a Graduate Assistantship (GA)?
GAs are typically awarded by a specific graduate Course or college. So you would most likely not be aware of a call for applications if you did not contact the department or college.
You would most likely not be aware of a GA call for applications if you did not contact the department or college.
Let’s point you in the direction of 30 USA graduate schools that open their assistantships to African/international students
So what say you? Wanna apply to some GA positions? Let’s get cracking!
Also see: 20 Graduate Assistantships in the Middle East for International Students
2025/2026 additions:
| 31 | University of Memphis | Graduate Assistantships for International Students |
| 32 | University of Tampa, Florida | University of Tampa, Florida Graduate Assistantships |
| 33 | Michigan State University | MSU Graduate assistantships for International Students |
| 34 | Northern Illinois University | Graduate Assistantship For International Students (Fully Funded) |
| 35 | University of North Carolina, Charlotte | Graduate Assistantship at University of North Carolina, Charlotte |
| 36 | Duke University | Medical Assistantship at Duke University |
| 37 | University of South Alabama | Graduate Assistantship at University of South Alabama |
| 38 | Montclair State University | Graduate Assistantship at Montclair State University |
| 39 | University of Toledo | Graduate Assistantship at University of Toledo |
| 40 | University of Northern Colorado | Graduate Assistantship at University of Northern Colorado |
