EIU Master of Business Administration

Graduate Assistantships

Thank you for your interest in graduate assistantships at EIU.  Graduate assistantships at EIU are highly competitive. We understand that you may have questions and concerns regarding the application process and the specifics of our graduate assistantships, therefore, below are some answers to some common questions we receive:

1. GA Positions:  Numerous departments and organizations within EIU participate in the hiring of graduate assistants. To explore the full listing of these campus units, please visit this link:  Hiring Units Listing. Please keep in mind that the presence of a unit on this list does not necessarily mean that assistantships are currently available; it serves as a reference for the units that hire graduate assistants.
2. Eligibility: To be eligible for a GA, you must be admitted into a graduate degree program at EIU. Please note, only those students enrolled within a specific program can work as a GA within that program. For example, if you are not a graduate student in the Biology program, you will not receive a GA in Biology. Other GA positions are available outside of academic programs. Be sure to check the Hiring Units Listing for more details.
3. Application Procedure:  When finalizing your application for admission to EIU Graduate School via the MyEIU portal, you will have the opportunity to concurrently submit a Graduate Assistantship (GA) application. If you are interested in securing a GA position, we strongly recommend completing the GA application at that time. If you wish to complete the application at a later time, simply return to your MyEIU portal to do so or by going to this link: https://www.eiu.edu/myeiu/applications.php?action=new_app&ga=1
4. Application Timeline: Graduate assistantship positions commonly are academic year positions beginning in the fall semester. The application process for those fall semester placements should be completed at the time you submit your application to the Graduate School or no later than February 15 for the upcoming Fall term. These dates are crucial to keep in mind when planning your graduate assistantship application.
5. Selection Process: Graduate Assistantships are granted through a competitive selection process, with less than 20 percent of the graduate student body being awarded these positions. Securing a Graduate Assistantship is not assured, as applicants are evaluated against a range of criteria to determine eligibility.
   
   Students first accepted into the MBA Program are eligible for consideration for a GA position. The program has a residency requirement for consideration as well. After one year on campus, students are eligible for a position. The year may be spent at the undergraduate or graduate level. Selections are academically and professionally competitive, factors that influence selection for a GA position include undergraduate/graduate academic record, GMAT/GRE or other test scores, professional work experience, references, personal qualities and background, statement of goals, and MBA program need.
6. Financial Coverage: A graduate assistantship provides a monthly stipend along with a tuition waiver scholarship. The scholarship waives tuition only. Payment of applicable fees is the responsibility of the graduate assistant. Please note that the tuition waiver may not be applied to some courses offered through the School of Extended Learning and study abroad courses.
7. Terms and Renewal: GA positions at EIU are typically awarded for a period of nine (9) months and usually begin in the fall semester. It's important to understand that securing a GA for one year does not guarantee that your GA will be renewed for the following academic year.

We hope that this information provides clarity and guidance on the graduate assistantship application process at EIU. If you have further questions or require assistance, visit EIU Graduate Assistantships, or reference the appropriate information below:

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS:

Visit:  International Student Graduate Assistantships

Phone:  Office of International Students & Scholars (OISS) at 217-581-2321

Email: international@eiu.edu

DOMESTIC STUDENTS:

Visit:  Graduate Assistantships

Phone:  EIU Graduate School at 217-581-2220

Email:  graduate@eiu.edu