getting a teaching assistant job
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what is a TA?
Teaching Assistantships (TAs) are positions that allow students to assist in teaching courses or performing course-related activities, such as lecturing, facilitating discussions, and evaluation of student work.
how can you get a TA?
OISE-ARRANGED TAs
You may be offered a TA as part of your graduate funding or you may be able to apply for a TA at OISE.
Unfortunately there are not a lot of TA positions at OISE, which is a structural problem.
These are three common TA positions at OISE:
MathPlus (Master of Teaching program, ideal for someone whose research focuses on Math or STEM)
Educational Research 2 (Master of Teaching program, ideal for someone who is comfortable with research methods, and previous student experience)
OISE Student Success Centre (OSSC) (A resource centre open to all OISE students)
TAships at OISE are highly competitive to get. Here are some stories of how people got those TA positions.
student experiences
Lindsay, what are some tips for getting the Research 2 TA position?
try to find out what instructors are teaching that course
try to connect with some of those instructors
reach out to them and see if they are looking for TAs at the moment
NON-OISE-ARRANGED TAs
If you can't get a TA at OISE, you can search for one at UofT or other universities and colleges.
UofT Specific
You can find all currently advertised TA positions at the three campuses here:
This centralized website is useful, but requires you to know either the right key words or course codes for your search to be fruitful.
You might like to identify specific departments where you’re best suited to apply for TA positions and locate the website section of these departments where available TA positions are regularly posted.
tips for applying
There are no exact posting dates for TAs across UofT or at other institutions, but you can expect TA positions to be advertised several weeks before each term begins (Fall, Winter, Summer).
Because each faculty and department at the university might have a slightly different timeline for posting available positions, you might like to ...
Identify the specific departments where you’re best suited to apply for TA positions,
Locate the website of each department and the section where they post available TA positions,
Bookmark them
Check that page regularly
Advertising periods for certain TA positions (especially the so-called last-minute Emergency Postings) may be extremely short, so make sure you check the websites frequently enough, particularly as the start of each session approaches.
When applying for TA positions, you might like to ask yourself the following questions and take into account the following considerations ...
Does the TA position broadly align with the area of my expertise as a scholar in the future?
Have I held this TA position before?
Should I apply to a variety of TA positions (so that I will have been a TA in a variety of courses)?
student experiences
Ivan, how did you get a TA outside of OISE?
In my experience, the biggest hurdle you’re facing in getting a TA-ship is getting your foot in the door. At the U of T, many departments prefer to hire people who have worked in the department before. When you first start looking for TA positions, cast your net as widely as you can. In other words, don’t limit yourself exclusively to courses that you would love to teach or feel that you’re the most qualified for. If your advisor/supervisor also holds an appointment at a department outside of CTL, it’s not a bad idea to ask for their help; they may often know about opportunities that would be suitable for you.
Maddy, how did you get a TA outside of OISE?
I got my first TA position at Ryerson/X University last year and began TAing in Winter 2021. Because I am very interested in disability studies, I decided to check out various disability studies programs in Ontario and/or Toronto-based universities. I saw that X University had a posting for a course called Disability, Sexuality, and Desire. I decided to apply, met the professor and began TAing. I loved it! Following this course-specific TA position, I worked as a TA during the Fall 2021 semester, helping with a wide variety of disability studies courses and supporting students through various enrichment activities. I really loved the experience. I would suggest, as Ivan put very well, to cast your net as wide as possible, apply for positions outside of OISE and even outside of U of T if something peaks your interest. Also, never forget that the application process itself is very valuable. Even if you don't receive a position, keep applying and don't get discouraged!
Lindsay, how did you get a TA outside of OISE?
I totally agree with Ivan that one of the biggest hurdles is getting your foot in the door. I got my first TA at New College doing a Community Engaged Learning course. I had applied to many TAs at New College, the Sexual Diversity Studies, and Women & Gender Studies department because they offered courses related to my research topic and I didn't see any TA positions at OISE/CTL during my first few years. Despite applying to many TA jobs in my first few years of the program, I had no luck. I soon realized what Ivan said: that many departments prefer to hire people who are either part of their department or have worked with them previously. Sometimes people post jobs with particular people in mind. In other words, sometimes your experience is less important than who you know. Networking really helped me get my foot in the door because it was through a friend and previous prof that I worked with that my name came up when they were looking for a new TA. My advice is to not get too discouraged if you are not hired for a role and to invest time in building genuine connections with faculty members. It can take time if you are new to OISE, but just keep at it!
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