Student Resources

Teaching Assistants (TA)

The duties of a TA include assisting faculty members in grading homework, quizzes, classroom and laboratory instruction, preparing apparatus or material for demonstrations, and conducting tutorials and discussion sections. Duties may also include tasks such as ordering supplies for design studio projects, preparation of class readers, contacting outside reviewers, reserving special lecture and jury spaces, securing audio visual equipment, etc. There is a mandatory TA training for all TAs at the beginning of every term.

A full-time (100%) TA requires approximately 20 hours of work per week at the master's level. Half-time TAs (10 hours per week) are also available, with 8-10 hours of work per week. Note that these positions are salaried and not hourly jobs, so the number of hours quoted may vary from week to week. The MIT Graduate Admissions website has the Current Rates for Master's and PhD Stipends.

TA salaries are set by the Department, in conjunction with Institute guidelines, and are paid at the middle and the end of each month. The Institute is obliged to withhold Federal and Massachusetts State income taxes, and the appropriate forms must be filed before payment can be made.

Instructors have the opportunity to pre-select their TAs before the start of the term. A list of filled and open TA positions is available in the Handbook column of the main menu under "Student Employment" (https://architecture.mit.edu/department-student-employment). You must be using a computer that is either on campus or on the MIT Virtual Private Network (https://ist.mit.edu/vpn) to log in and view this page. Students interested in any open position can apply using the "Apply" button. An email will be sent to the job supervisor automatically. When the supervisor selects an applicant, the job will be listed as "Hire Pending" until Headquarters processes the appointment. When the appointment is finalized, the hired student will appear on the job listing.

First preference is given to students enrolled in graduate programs in the Department of Architecture. If no Architecture graduate student is available or qualified for the position, next preference will be given to undergraduate students enrolled as majors in the Department.
Note: Some graduate students are admitted on a TA/tuition package, which carries a TA salary plus a tuition component. These TA assignments are made by the discipline group directors and communicated directly to Architecture Headquarters; therefore, these students do not need to apply through the online TA application system. These students' names will appear attached to their jobs on the Student Employment page alongside the open positions. All other guidelines, such as the 20 hour per week work requirement, taxability of salary, completion of forms, maximum funding guidelines, etc., are applicable.

TA Policies and Procedures

Research Assistants (RA)

The principal duty of an RA is to contribute, under supervision, to a program of departmental or interdepartmental research. RAs are compensated on the basis of the time devoted to the research activities. RAs offer students the chance to participate as junior colleagues of the faculty in ongoing research; this experience frequently influences the choice of thesis topic.

RAs are compensated on the basis of the time devoted to research; the appointment typically carries a tuition component in addition to the salary. A 100% graduate RA appointment includes payment of full tuition and a salary of $13,495/term for master's degree candidates or $14,773/term for Ph.D. candidates. A 100% RA appointment carries an expectation of 20 hours of work per week. Partial RAs are also possible with a corresponding reduction in workload and financial remuneration. Note that these positions are salaried and not hourly jobs, so the number of hours required may vary slightly from week to week.

A list of filled and open RA positions is available in the Handbook column of the main menu under "Student Employment" (https://architecture.mit.edu/department-student-employment). You must be using a computer that is either on campus or on the MIT Virtual Private Network (https://ist.mit.edu/vpn) to log in and view this page. Students interested in any open position can apply using the "Apply" button. An email will be sent to the job supervisor automatically. When the supervisor selects an applicant, the job will be listed as "Hire Pending" until Headquarters processes the appointment. When the appointment is finalized, the hired student will appear on the job listing.

RAs are paid directly through a sponsored research project and, in general, are scarce in Architecture; however, they can materialize at any time during the year. Occasionally, faculty members will advertise the availability of these positions by posting on the online job application system, but they will generally contact students directly whose interests and skills are appropriate to the particular research project.

RA salaries are set by the Department, in conjunction with Institute guidelines, and are paid at the end of each month. The Institute is obliged to withhold Federal and Massachusetts State income taxes, and the appropriate forms must be filed before payment can be made.

Hourly Positions

The Department also offers employment in a number of hourly positions which pay $18/hr. These positions can be short-term or a full semester in length and include such positions as audio visual assistants, shop monitors, Registration Day and Orientation aides, tour guides, lecture series support, etc.

Students with hourly positions are paid on a weekly basis, upon the submission of electronic time cards. Students are required to print out copies of their time sheets, have their supervisor sign, and turn them in to Architecture Headquarters (7-337).

A list of filled and open Hourly positions is available in the Handbook column of the main menu under "Student Employment" (https://architecture.mit.edu/department-student-employment). You must be using a computer that is either on campus or on the MIT Virtual Private Network (https://ist.mit.edu/vpn) to log in and view this page. Students interested in any open position can apply using the "Apply" button. An email will be sent to the job supervisor automatically. When the supervisor selects an applicant, the job will be listed as "Hire Pending" until Headquarters processes the appointment. When the appointment is finalized, the hired student will appear on the job listing.

Employment Outside the Department

On-campus and some off-campus job listings are posted at the Student Services Center, Room 11-120 or online at the Student Financial Services Office. On-campus jobs are available in technical and non-technical fields within academic departments, laboratories, and administrative offices.

MIT limits the total amount of financial support a student may receive from/through MIT. All graduate students are limited to a maximum of a full stipend and full tuition per term. When the receipt of a Research Assistantship or an internal or external fellowship would push a student over the funding limit, the Research Assistantship or fellowship supplants the departmental award for that term. The student does not forfeit eligibility for financial support in other terms for which aid has been promised.

All master's degree students are limited to a maximum of 20 hours of work per week, a stipend of $13,495 in any combination of TA/RA salaries/fellowship stipends, and full tuition, per semester. (These guidelines apply to Ph.D. candidates but the stipend limit is $14,773/term.)

It is possible to carry more than one type of appointment (for instance a partial RA and partial TA), combine two partial appointments of the same type (for instance, two half-time TAs), or even combine a partial TA or RA with an hourly position, providing the combination does not exceed the guidelines stated above.
One exception to the 20 hour work week limitation can be made for students who are United States citizens, and then only with the permission of the faculty TA/RA supervisor and the department's Administrative Officer. Such students may be eligible to work on campus up to 10 additional hours per week on the hourly payroll on an occasional basis throughout the term. Under no circumstances, however, will the Payroll Office issue payment for additional work beyond this ten hour per week limit.

Regulations for international students are stricter, due to U.S. immigration laws. International students are not authorized to work more than 20 hours per week in any combination of types of employment during the academic year. Summer (June 1 through August 31) and Independent Activities Period (IAP) (January 1 – 31) are not considered a period of regular enrollment for immigration purposes; thus, during these times, international students may work on campus in addition to their full-time RA or TA (up to 40 hours total per week) but only with the permission of the RA/TA faculty supervisor.

Students are advised to confirm eligibility requirements before accepting more than one position. International students should also contact MIT's International Students Office (web.mit.edu/iso) for more information on determining how/if visa status and the Department of Homeland Security regulations affect employment eligibility.

Graduate students may hold a maximum of one full-time appointment during term. A full-time appointment is defined as the equivalent of 20 hours per week. Normally, this takes the form of one full-time TA or RA appointment. Students may combine partial appointments provided the combined hours do not exceed 20 per week. Students are advised to check with the Department of Architecture to confirm eligibility requirements before accepting more than one position.

Graduate students who hold full-time Research or Teaching Assistantships or who receive full support on a fellowship are not usually eligible for additional employment. A U.S. citizen or Permanent Resident who applies for work in addition to their full-time RA or TA appointment may be permitted additional compensated employment at MIT up to a maximum of 10 hours per week. This is a rare occurrence, however, and requires prior permission from the faculty TA/RA supervisor and the department's Administrative Officer.

Regulations for international students are stricter, due to U.S. immigration laws. International students must be full-time registered students; their work cannot exceed 20 hours per week when school is in session; and those who hold full-time Research or Teaching Assistantships are not allowed to take any other employment on or off campus.

Note that the summer and IAP terms are not considered a period of regular enrollment for immigration purposes; thus, from June through August and in January only, international students may work on campus in addition to their full-time RA or TA positions. However, they may do so only if they are registered for the term and have the permission of the RA/TA faculty supervisor.

International students should contact MIT's International Students Office (ISO) for more information on determining how/if visa status and US Department of Homeland Security regulations affect employment eligibility.

All students who work on campus must have a social security number and complete the following forms, which are available from the Atlas Service Center (first floor of E17) or on their website.

I9 Employment Eligibility Verification

Everyone in the United States — not just students — must complete the Employment Eligibility Verification Form (I-9) from the Department of Homeland Security. The most common documents needed to complete this form are an original Social Security card, birth certificate (certified copies are acceptable), or passport.

Federal law mandates that U.S. Workers must provide a completed I-9 form and original document(s) identified in Lists A, B, and C of the form. You cannot work or be paid until you provide the I-9 form and documents to the Atlas Service Center (first floor of E17). Detailed instructions and required documentation can be found here.

W4 & M4: Federal and State Tax Forms

By law, the Institute must withhold federal and Massachusetts state taxes from all salaries. All individuals who receive salary payments must complete the federal (W4) and state (M4) forms. After the start date of your appointment, you can complete tax withholding forms and arrange for direct deposit online here.

Direct Deposit Authorization Form

All MIT employees, including students, are required to have their paychecks directly deposited to a US bank account that they designate. (Visit the Atlas site, go to About Me/Direct Deposit Preferences.)

Inventions & Proprietary Information Agreement

Graduate Research Assistants must also sign the MIT Inventions and Proprietary Information Agreement (IPIA), acknowledging that all inventions created at MIT, with MIT funds, become the property of MIT. Signing the form is required, and it should be submitted to the headquarters of the Department of Architecture or sent directly to the MIT Technology Licensing Office (TLO) via interdepartmental mail (NE18-501. The form may be downloaded from the MIT Technology Licensing Office.

Portfolios

Students should have up-to-date portfolios available on their MIT Architecture website profile. Among other things, portfolios are needed to apply for departmental travel awards and prizes. It is in the student's interest to update their portfolio after each term. When faculty are hiring students for TAs or hourly positions, they review the student profiles, so be sure to keep your profile updated with recent work.