Teaching Assistantships & Research Assistantships
Teaching assistantships are the only form of support offered by the Comparative Literature Graduate Program. These positions are limited and are usually awarded to top applicants. Teaching assistantships include paid tuition and a 9-month stipend of approximately $2,200/month for PhD students, $1,800/month for MA students as well as partial coverage (approximately 70%) of health insurance, in exchange for a 20 hr/week teaching appointment.
Teaching assistantships involve leading discussion sections for lecture classes, under the direction of a professor. These positions are ideal for students who have no prior teaching experience.
Research Assistants are usually assigned to a single professor to help with his/her research.
During the first two years in the program PhD students may be assigned teaching or research assistantships. Qualified doctoral students who demonstrate excellent teaching abilities may then be given appointments to lead classes as instructor of record.
The application for Teaching Assistantships is part of the CU Comp Lit Application form. All applicants are encouraged to indicate that they wish to be considered for a teaching assistantship – prior teaching experience is not a necessary qualification.
Financial Aid
The University offers a limited amount of financial aid. Students who wish to be considered for financial aid should apply directly to the Office of Financial Aid at the University.
Fellowships
Exceptional applicants may be nominated by the department for university-wide competitive fellowships. University fellowships offer a stipend, tuition, and are free from teaching requirements. Nominations for fellowships are based on the admission application materials, no additional materials are required.
