Graduate Assistantships
Graduate Assistantships are considered Service Stipends. Assistantship opportunities include instructional, research, and/or administrative positions. Both domestic and international students may be considered for available positions. Students awarded graduate assistantships through the College of Fine Arts are paid weekly on Fridays throughout the semester. These payments are considered earned income and are processed through Student Payroll.
How do I apply for a Graduate Assistantship?
Contact your school (information below) after receiving an offer of admission to a graduate program for information on the availability of assistantships and details about the application process.
- School of Theatre (SOT) – No separate application is required to apply for an assistantship in the School of Theatre. Assistantship offers are made concurrent with the admissions offer.
- School of Visual Arts (SVA) – Students in the School of Visual Arts who are interested in applying for assistantship consideration should contact SVA Director of Admissions Jessica Caccamo at jcaccamo@bu.edu.
- School of Music (SOM)- Returning students in the School of Music interested in applying for an assistantship should fill out the SOM Graduate Assistantship Application to be considered. Incoming students are considered during the admissions process. If you have questions, please email Director of Admissions Zachary Schwartz at zschwart@bu.edu.
When and how will I be paid?
Service stipends, such as Graduate Assistantships and Teaching Assistantships, are paid weekly, on Fridays. Typically, there are 17-18 weeks of payments per semester.
| Payment Period |
Fall: September-December
Spring: January-April |
| Payment Structure |
Stipend/salary is paid weekly on Fridays |
Please note that your weekly stipend rate may change at the beginning of each semester based on the number of weeks per semester.
Direct deposit is the preferred payment method for all student employees. Before being set up for a direct deposit, student employees will have their pay generated as physical paper checks and mailed to them through USPS. To learn more about physical paychecks, check our Paycheck Information and Procedures.
*Please note that your weekly stipend rate may change at the beginning of each semester based on the number of weeks of payments.
Do I need to complete an I-9 and W-4?
Yes, if you are working as a Graduate Assistant (GA) or Teaching Assistant (TA, you will need to complete I-9 and W-4 forms before you can be paid. If you are a domestic student, you will complete these forms with the Dean’s Office at the beginning of the academic year. If you are an international student you will start with your department and then ISSO will assist you with completing your hiring paperwork.
Additional Forms and Helpful Links
The following forms should be completed by the student employee and stored within the Dean’s Office. Boston University, Student Employment Office does not require a copy of these forms.
BU Student Employment Office
Non-Service Stipends
Non-service stipends permit exceptional students to focus primarily on their degree coursework with no departmental responsibilities. Students awarded non-service stipends must be enrolled in a full load of academic courses as determined by their program or department. There is no separate application for Non-Service Stipends, all awards are granted during the admissions process.
Please note that non-service stipends are split between the Fall and Spring semesters. They are paid out as a check or direct deposit to the recipient. If you are planning on using your stipend to contribute to your living expenses, please arrive with at least one month of savings to cover your expenses before your first stipend is processed at the end of September.
When and how will my stipend be paid?
Stipends are paid on the 4th Friday of each month each semester, directly to the student. U.S citizens and Permanent Residents will not have taxes withheld by BU; however, they are still required to report the stipend to the IRS. International students will have a standard 14% tax withheld (unless they are claiming exempt under a tax treaty).
Please remember that for non-service stipends, I-9s and W-4s are not needed; however, new international students will still need to check in with ISSO, and apply for a Social Security Number.
Payment Period:
- Fall: September – December (4 months)
- Spring: January – April (4 months)
Payment Structure:
Monthly (Stipend is paid on the 4th Friday of each month in the semester starting the last week of September directly to the student.
How will I get my paycheck?
To set up direct deposit, you will need your bank’s routing number and your bank account number.
- Log in to the MyBU Student Dashboard.
- Select “Financials” from the menu.
- Click on “Student Account Balance Due”.
- On that page, you will see a link for “Nelnet Payment & Payment Plans”.
- Clicking that link will take you to Nelnet’s portal, where you can access the “Manage Refunds” section.
- From there, you will be directed to the Student Choice Refund portal, where you can update your banking information.
Is my stipend taxable?
If you are a domestic student with a non-service stipend, taxes will not be withheld and you will not receive any tax documentation from BU. However, your non-service stipend may still be subject to taxation. Generally, the portion of the financial aid award that exceeds the expense of tuition, fees, and books is subject to income tax. It is the student’s responsibility to report it accurately to the IRS and make payments on any taxable portion of the award.
If you are an international student receiving a non-service stipend, a 14% tax will be withheld from the stipend unless your home country has a tax treaty with the US, and you complete the appropriate paperwork with the Payroll Office. Students who have declared a tax treaty will also receive a 1042S form from the Payroll Office, which reports earnings that were exempt under the tax treaty.
