Graduate Assistantships

Colleges and Departments at Florida International University provide Graduate Assistantships (GAs) to qualified students on a competitive basis. GAs may teach, conduct research, or have other responsibilities that contribute to the student’s professional development. GAs are classified as Graduate Assistants, Graduate Teaching Assistants or Graduate Research Assistants. A graduate assistantship provides a stipend, tuition waiver and health insurance. For information on assistantship opportunities, students should contact the graduate program in which they are enrolled. Assistantships are not available to non-degree seeking students or students admitted on a conditional admission basis.

Graduate Assistant Insurance

Florida International University provides subsidized health insurance to all graduate assistants holding a full-term appointment for 20 hours per week.  All Graduate Assistants are required to participate in this health insurance plan unless their insurance company will certify equivalent coverage. Gallagher Student Health and Risk will administer the health insurance provided to Graduate Assistants.

For International Students with Insurance Holds

The insurance holds of international students is removed by FIU’s Student Health Services (SHS) once the insurance enrollment information for students holding GA/RA/TA contracts is available to them. The insurance enrollment list is to be submitted to SHS as soon as all contract details are in (prior to registration deadlines). For new Spring 2023 contracts that are submitted on time, the holds will be removed the week of December 12.

Opt out of the GA Health Insurance Plan

(This does not apply to international students, or students on an F1 or J1 visa*)

Learn More

1. Go to www.gallagherstudent.com/FIU

2. Click on ‘Graduate Assistant Waive’

3. Create a user account, or log in if you are a returning user

4. Select the Red ‘I Want to Waive’ button. When waiving the insurance, have your current health insurance ID card ready as you will need this information in order to complete the waiver form. Upon completing the form, you will be asked to review your information for accuracy and then click ‘submit’. Immediately upon submitting your online form you will receive a confirmation number. Receipt of this confirmation number only confirms submission, not acceptance, of your Waiver Form. Please save this number and print a copy of the confirmation for your records

5. Summer 2023 Deadline to opt out is Friday, June 16, 2023.

*International students, F1 and J1 visa students need to opt out through FIU Student Health Services. Please use the following form: International Student Health Insurance Compliance Form (PDF)

Stairs inside SASC
Graduate Assistant Contract Deadlines

Please make note of the following deadlines:

  • Friday, April 7, 2023 – Deadline to enter Summer 2023 contracts.
  • Friday, April 7, 2023  – Deadline to submit Electronic Credentialing For Graduate Teaching Assistants.
  • Friday, May 19, 2023 – Last day to submit the GA Employment Agreement form to UGS.  It is important that graduate assistants read and fully understand the information on their GA Employment Agreement form prior to signing the form. Fully signed GA employment Agreement forms must be emailed to ugs@fiu.edu by the hiring unit.
  • Friday, June 16, 2023 – Last day for GAs to opt out of the insurance online at www.gallagherstudent.com/FIU.  This is for GAs who have their own insurance and do not wish to be enrolled in the university’s plan. The form is submitted directly by the GA to Gallagher Student Health.