Each year, the School of Nursing hires a limited number of Teaching Assistants to help support our undergraduate and graduate courses. These positions play an integral role in helping us fulfill our goal of offering our students superior teaching and learning experiences, mentorship, as well as professional networking opportunities. These positions also have the potential to directly impact students' learning and contribute to a supportive campus environment.
ABOUT APPLICATIONS
The School of Nursing's application system allows TAs to apply to multiple courses within one application. All Nursing undergraduate (3rd year and above) and graduate students (including non-research students) may apply for a TA position. Be advised that Teaching Assistants at The University of British Columbia (UBC) are represented by the Canadian Union Of Public Employees Local 2278 (CUPE2278) and that a Collective Agreement between UBC and CUPE2278 is in effect. All TAs are required to join the Union as a condition of employment. The collective agreement applies to all TA contracts, and selection of TAs will be done in accordance with the requirements of the Union.Salaries are based upon CUPE 2278 and UBC rates.Equity and diversity are essential to academic excellence. An open and diverse community fosters the inclusion of voices that have been underrepresented or discouraged. We encourage applications from members of groups that have been marginalized on any grounds enumerated under the B.C. Human Rights Code, including sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, racialization, disability, political belief, religion, marital or family status, age, and/or status as a First Nation, Metis, Inuit, or Indigenous person.
DEADLINE TO APPLY
Summer 2026:
Anticipated positions will be posted on March 15 for the Summer 2026 Session. Members (Preferred and New applicants) of the Bargaining Unit will have until March 31 to submit an application. Applications submitted after this period may not be considered.
Winter 2026/2027 (Terms 1 & 2)
Anticipated positions will be posted on by March 31 for Winter 2026/2027 Sessions. Members (Preferred and New applicants) of the Bargaining Unit shall have until April 30 to submit an application.
Descriptions of the courses are available under the "Courses" tab.
ELIGIBILITY
Registration
Students and recent graduates of UBC are eligible for appointment as a Teaching Assistant. Recent graduates are those that have completed their degree requirements within 8 months of the term they are being hired for. Student applicants must be registered in a UBC program or must have been unconditionally accepted to UBC, for the term in which the TA-ship takes place.
As per the School of Nursing practice, Teaching Assistant positions are capped at a maximum workload of 200 or 240 hour per academic year from September 1 to April 30, with an allotment of 100 or 120 hours per term (contingent upon enrolment in the respective course). A separate allotment of up to 100 or 120 hours is available for the summer term covering the period of May 1 to August 31. Students can hold multiple part-time TA positions across the university or within the same department so long as it does not exceed the hours indicated. In the winter term the average weekly hours are for a full-time TA position is 12. In the summer, it is compressed so students are allowed a maximum of 24 hours per week. It is the TA’s responsibility to communicate their workload and commitments to their potential supervisor to ensure there are no conflicts.
In order to apply to TA for SoN the following criteria must be met:
- Must reside in BC and be legally eligible to work for the duration of the appointment at the time of the application and must provide proof of your legal eligibility to work (such as a study permit and SIN document for international students).
- If you are an international student who does not hold, nor is anticipated to receive, a study permit before the start of term, please decline any offered positions as soon as possible before the term starts.
- Must be willing to perform on-site work for the entire period of the appointment and attend lecture and lab sessions for the course where applicable. If you will be out of town for a significant portion of the term, please do not accept a TA position in that term.
- Must inform your instructor and the School of any additional TA positions or conflicting responsibilities before accepting the offer.
- Must ensure that you will not exceed the maximum hours a TA can hold as set out in the Collective Agreement.
- Availability to attend the mandatory School of Nursing CUPE 2278 union orientation (new and returning TAs); date/time/location will be announced by the School. Make-up sessions will also be available by CUPE 2278.
- Must accept or decline your offer as soon as possible, max 10 business days following receipt of offer.
- Must complete all Workday onboarding steps after your appointment is processed in Workday (UBC’s HR/Finance system).
- Students from other degree programs may be considered based on experience and suitability to the program.
Competencies
- Mastery of the course academic material and subject matter.
- Ability to help students learn actively and explain course content in a clear and logical manner.
- Ability to effectively lead discussion groups that facilitate student learning and to constructively evaluate student presentations.
- Ability to effectively assist student learning by enabling different sets of skills, including oral and verbal communications, problem solving, critical thinking, numeracy, teamwork, leadership, planning.
- Proficiency in using Canvas, including setting up assignments, posting course resources, managing grades, and communicating with students.
- Ability to evaluate and grade student papers, assignment, and other course components in a fair, consistent, and timely manner, in accordance with course and School standards.
- Have an understanding of and will agree to comply with WorkSafe BC, UBC and Departmental Safety Regulations.
- Possess excellent oral and written English communication skills.
Supervisor Approval
Applicants must have the approval of their Research or Program Supervisor to engage in an employment contract in addition to their academic program.
Your supervisor must be made aware of your intent to apply to TA positions and must approve of the total number of hours (especially for students that would like to accept multiple positions).
Additional Requirements
Although we appreciate the interest of all applicants, only the successful candidates will be contacted with further details.
TYPES OF DUTIES
Although the precise duties will vary depending on the course for which an offer/appointment is made, in general TAs can expect to perform the following duties:
Orientation/Induction Meeting (Mandatory) - Time/Location to be announced by the School of Nursing
Training (Mandatory) - Course-specific training meeting at a time mutually agreeable to Instructor and TA. Complete additional trainings as required by the instructor.
Union Orientation (Mandatory) - Attend the School of Nursing CUPE 2278 union orientation. Date/Time/Location will be announced by the School of Nursing. Make-up sessions are also offered by CUPE 2278.
Laboratory Assistance – Set up of equipment in preparation of Lab Sections as directed by the Instructor; Supervision and instruction of students in Lab Section as directed by Instructor; Maintaining a safe and professional laboratory; Assisting students with troubleshooting equipment; ensuring laboratory equipment and supplies are used appropriately and, where appropriate, restored to original set-up at the end of each session.
Tutorial Assistance – Instructions of students in Tutorial Sections as directed by the Instructor, including demonstration of problem solutions.
Course Administration – Attending lectures, tutorials and labs, as directed. Preparing and managing resources both in-person and online to support the instructor and students. Facilitate online discussion boards and answer student inquiries (Maintain Canvas, set up classrooms, hold office hours); Instruction of students in Office Hours to aid with assignments, course materials, etc., as directed by Instructor.
Marking – marking of Exams, Quizzes, Assignments, Lab Reports, and/or Project Reports, as directed by Instructor.
Invigilation of Exams (Mandatory) – is required. All TAs must be available for the full exam period of the term in which they are hired as a TA. TAs may be assigned to invigilate course(s) other than those for which they TA. Course/Time /Location to be announced by the School of Nursing Student Support Office.
COURSES
Please note that the following list is subject to change based on course enrollment and other factors. Courses with asterisks (*) beside their name have specific preferred qualifications. Please see the accordion (below this section) for more information.
Please submit a separate application for summer TA-ships and winter TA-ships.
Summer and Winter applications for 2026 will be accepted up to, and including, March 31, 2026 and April 30, 2026, respectively.
REMUNERATION & CLASSIFICATION
Remuneration is at the standard hourly TA rates agreed upon with the Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 2278 (CUPE 2278).
Senior Teaching Assistant (STA): $42.95 per hour (A Senior TA is a graduate student who is registered in a masters’ or doctoral program at UBC and 1) coordinates or guides other teaching assistants, or 2) is focussed on curriculum development and has substantial teaching experience, professional development, or achievements as a TA.
Graduate Teaching Assistant 1 (GTA 1): $40.16 per hour (A GTA 1 is a graduate student who has completed two (2) years’ service as a graduate student teaching assistant.)
Graduate Teaching Assistant 2 (GTA 2): $38.65 per hour (A GTA 2 is a graduate student with less than two (2) years’ service as a graduate student teaching assistant.)
Undergraduate Teaching Assistant 1 (UTA 1): $26.40 per hour (A UTA 1 is an undergraduate student who is registered in a bachelors degree program at the University of British Columbia who is required to perform a broad range of Teaching Assistant Duties.)
Undergraduate Teaching Assistant 2 (UTA 2): $24.44 per hour (A UTA 2 is an undergraduate student who is registered in a bachelors degree program at the University of British Columbia who performs Teaching Assistant duties that do not require knowledge of the discipline, or student contact beyond an incidental or transactional basis (such as handing out or returning exams or assignments). UTA 2 duties may include setting up labs, demonstrations, or classrooms; administrative duties and preparing materials. UTA 2 assignments do not include duties such as classroom teaching, conducting tutorial sessions, providing feedback on assignments and exams, holding office hours, or demonstrating procedures to students.)
A NOTE ON PREFERENCE
TAs at UBC are represented by the Canadian Union Of Public Employees Local 2278 (CUPE2278) and a Collective Agreement between UBC and CUPE2278 is in effect. Under this agreement, previously appointed TA’s must be given preference (for a certain number of teaching years) over new applicants. Once CUPE 2278 members (i.e., previously appointed TAs) have been considered for available positions, new applicants are considered for any remaining positions. All positions are offered on the basis of union preference and merit based on the competencies listed above. Please note that applicants should apply before the stated deadline in order to be reviewed for eligibility as preferred candidates.
Please consult the CUPE2278 Collective Agreement for more information on how TA preference is determined.
https://hr.ubc.ca/working-ubc/collective-agreements-and-terms-conditions-employment
Applicants should be aware that generally not all applicants will be offered TA positions.
READY TO APPLY?
Please consult our Careers page for current openings.
(Note: Clicking the button labelled "TA APPOINTMENT PROCESS" will bring you back to this page.)
CAREERS