SOWK Teaching Assistant Opportunities Winter/Fall 2026-27

To apply for a SOWK TA position, please complete the application form towards the bottom of this page, including uploading a current CV. Applications must be received by May 8th in order to be considered. Please contact sowk.senioradmin@ubc.ca for any questions regarding the application form.

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. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however Canadian citizens and permanent residents will be given priority.

• Must be currently enrolled as full-time UBC graduate students.
• Must be located in British Columbia for all working hours, specifically the Lower Mainland. Long-distance appointments are not accepted.
• Applicants will be evaluated based on prior TA or relevant work experience, course background, familiarity with the Social Work discipline and related areas, and prior supervisor evaluations for returning TAs.
• TA positions will be offered in accordance with the preference requirements outlined in the CUPE 2278 Collective Agreement.
• Returning TAs within the preference timeframe for their degree (first two years for master’s programs, first five years for doctoral programs) must apply by May 8 to maintain their preference rights. Failure to apply by May 8 will result in the loss of preference for the current year.
• Successful applicants will be required to submit their schedule availability (including their course schedule and any other availability constraints) by August 1 to facilitate the course-matching process.
• We regret that there are no positions available for undergraduate students at this time.

• Application deadline is May 8, 2026.
• A first round of offers is expected to be sent by the end of May and will be limited to positions that are confirmed to be funded.
• A second round of offers is expected to be sent by the end of June once funding has been confirmed.
• A third round of offers may be made between August and early September in response to registration changes and final course assignment needs.*
• Offers will be made first to applicants with preference status in accordance with the CUPE 2278 Collective Agreement, followed by Social Work’s incoming graduate students, and then other qualified applicants.
• Offers will be for TA positions in general; specific course assignments will be finalized between August and early September.* Best efforts will be made to align individual preferences and experience with course assignments.

*Assignments are finalized in August once (1) the majority of students have registered, allowing for an initial assessment of course sizes, and (2) hired TAs have confirmed their own schedules to facilitate course matching. Adjustments may continue through early September in response to last‑minute enrollment changes to ensure equitable TA support across courses.

• We expect to hire about 18-30 TA positions for the 2026-27 Winter term. The number of positions will be dependent on course enrollment, and we do expect to hire TAs for all courses enrolling over 40 students. Please visit UBC Calendar to see our courses list: https://vancouver.calendar.ubc.ca/course-descriptions/subject/sowkv
• All positions are classified as either GTA I or GTA II, depending on the applicant’s prior experience level, and are paid at the corresponding rates as defined in the CUPE 2278 Collective Agreement. Current rates are $40.16 per hour for GTA I and $38.65 per hour for GTA II. The total number of hours for a TA appointment is expected to be between 50 and 108, depending on the assignment. The majority of positions will be 50 hours.
• Term 1 appointments run from September 1 through December 31.
• Term 2 appointments run from January 1 through April 30.
• The majority of courses are delivered in person.

Teaching Assistants (TAs) play a vital role in supporting our courses. The following outlines tasks that TAs may be assigned:

Required for all TA hires, (whether new or returning to CUPE 2278 and/or Social Work):

• Training and Orientation: Participating in mandatory TA training sessions and orientation. This happens yearly and is mandatory for all TAs, including the returning ones.

Required for all positions:

• Instructor Meetings: Meeting regularly with the instructor to ensure clear communication and coordination.

Tutorial positions:

• Tutorials and Discussion Groups: Leading tutorials or discussion groups.
• Student Support: Holding office hours and responding to student inquiries via email or discussion boards.

Duties that vary by course:

• Lecture Support: Attending and observing lectures (in person and/or online).
• Course Preparation: Reviewing course materials and assisting with class preparation.
• Assessment and Grading: Marking assignments and exams, providing feedback, and entering grades in Canvas.
• Exam Support: Assisting with exam invigilation.
• Student Support: Holding office hours and responding to student inquiries via email or discussion boards.