Graduate Student Appointments

• Teaching Fellow (TF) (Job Codes 0802, 0803) - Teaching fellows have direct student contact in a formal instructional setting and are charged with primary responsibility for teaching a course for credit under the direct supervision of a faculty member or chair, receiving regular in-service training and planned and periodic evaluations. Teaching fellows are listed as the instructor of record.

• Teaching Assistant (TA) (Job Codes  0812, 0813) - - Teaching assistants are graduate students who do not have primary responsibility for teaching a course for credit; they perform under the instructor's direct supervision and provide general assistance to the instructional process, such as grading, tutoring, etc. Teaching assistants may not be listed as instructor of record and duties must be part of the graduate students overall educational program.

• Research Assistant (RA) - (Job Codes 0822, 0823) - Research assistants are graduate students who are engaged in research activities under the direction and supervision of a principal investigator or faculty working on research. Duties assigned must be part of the graduate students overall educational program.

• Graduate Services Assistant (GSA) (Job Codes 0832, 0833) - Graduate assistants are graduate students whose responsibilities are administrative in nature or consist of other activities that do not generally fit within the TF, TA, or RA job responsibilities, but contribute to the overall academic progress or professional development of the student. Duties assigned must be part of the graduate students overall educational program.

New job codes based on the new two level system of academic progression effective 9/1/2024 will be posted in Summer 2024. Click here to view Salaried Graduate Student Job Codes.

Doctoral students can receive funding for up to 12 semesters, and master's students for up to 6 semesters. Approved leave does not count against these limits.

Master's students on UNT assistantships are eligible for funding for no more than 6 long, academic semesters, regardless of whether students work at any time at .5 or .25 FTE.  For MFA students, semester time limits will be determined by the number of required SCH in the degree program divided by 6. For example, students in a 48 hour MFA program would be eligible for 8 semesters of funding (48 ÷ 6).

Students who file an approved request for a leave of absence will not have months spent on leave counted against these limits.

To ensure compliance with university policy criminal history checks will be conducted on all salaried graduate students.

Upon receipt of the dynamic form and the offer letter, the Office of Academic Resources will initiate the criminal history check through Accurate. The student should timely respond to the request in order to ensure timely onboarding. The Office of Academic Resources will sign the dynamic form once the final results are received and found compliant. Upon completion, the department will then be able to complete the hiring process for the student. A break in service for one long semester requires a new background check.

Salaried Graduate Student CHC Department Process step-by-step

Evidence of the University's commitment to recruiting and retaining high quality and full-time graduate students is the payment of tuition and mandatory fees on behalf of selected students. These payments will be processed in the form of a tuition benefits plan and will be allocated to each college for distribution to their departments and/or students. Additional funding will also be held centrally in the Toulouse School of Graduate Studies for strategic distribution to colleges, departments, and/or students. Students must maintain good academic standing to continue to receive support.

For information regarding the CLE (Course Load Exception) form and process please review the information provided here.

Beginning Fall 2025, the University of North Texas will provide health insurance coverage as part of a recruitment fellowship for newly admitted doctoral and Master of Fine Arts (MFA) students. If awarded an Assistantship and the eligibility criteria are met, the health insurance premium will be fully covered by the university. The full cost of your student health insurance will be covered and applied directly to the students’ tuition and insurance bill.

Health Insurance Details

Eligible students will be automatically enrolled in the university’s Student Health Insurance Plan. More information about coverage and benefits: unt.myahpcare.com/benefits

Eligibility Requirements

To qualify for the health insurance fellowship benefit, students must:

• Be newly admitted to a doctoral or MFA program starting Fall 2025 or later.
• Hold a 50% FTE salaried graduate appointment.
• Be enrolled in at least 9 credit hours (or meet one of the full-time exceptions noted in UNT Policy 06.020).

Eligible dependents (legal spouses and children under 26) can be voluntarily enrolled at the student’s expense. Dependent coverage is not included in the fellowship.

Important Deadlines & Enrollment

• Students must be hired and on payroll by the 12th class day of the semester (census day).
• If your employment starts mid-semester or if your onboarding is delayed past the 12th class day, you won’t be eligible for that term’s insurance. Insurance eligibility would begin the following semester.

If you experience a qualifying life event (like marriage, birth of a child, or loss of coverage), you may be eligible for special enrollment. Learn more: AHP Qualifying Events

Premium Amounts (2025–2026 Academic Year)

 

General Information

Q: What is included in the recruitment fellowship package?
A: The recruitment fellowship for newly admitted doctoral and MFA students includes a Teaching Assistantship and funds to cover your student health insurance premiums. These funds will be applied directly to your tuition and insurance bill.

Q: What type of health insurance coverage will students be enrolled in?
A: Eligible students will be automatically enrolled in the university-sponsored Student Health Insurance Plan. Coverage details can be reviewed at: https://unt.myahpcare.com/benefits

Q: Who is eligible for this insurance plan?
A: Degree-seeking doctoral and Master of Fine Arts students (admitted for Fall 2025 and after) at UNT who meet the Tuition Benefit Program guidelines (.5 FTE salaried graduate appointment & enrolled in at least 9-credit hours or meet one of the full-time exceptions noted in Policy 06.020) are eligible. Eligible dependents (legal spouse and children under 26) may be voluntarily enrolled. Premiums for dependents are paid at the time of voluntary enrollment and are not part of the recruitment fellowship package.

Q: Is enrollment in the student health insurance plan mandatory?
A: Yes. New doctoral students will be automatically enrolled, and there is no opt-out option.

Coverage Details and Timing

Q: What is the total premium covered under this fellowship?
A: The full annual premium cost ($2,604) will be covered for eligible students.

Q: What time period does the insurance coverage span?
A: Coverage includes the fall, spring, and summer terms and runs from August 12, 2025 through August 11, 2026.

Q: Will students be enrolled if they begin mid-term?
A: The Assistantship employment must span the entire semester and the deadline for student enrollment in insurance is the 12^th class day of the term. Delays in onboarding and/or administrative delays in providing a list of eligible students for enrollment are not eligible for mid-semester enrollment. If a student has a qualifying life event which impacts their eligibility, please contact Academic Resources for assistance. Information on qualifying life events may be found at https://help.ahpcare.com/hc/en-us/articles/5121412897815-Am-I-Eligible-for-a-Qualifying-Event.

Q: Are international students subject to different coverage rules?
A: Plan benefits are the same for all participants.

Employment & Summer Coverage

Q: Must students be employed during the summer to retain coverage?
A: No. Summer premiums are paid along with spring, and students do not need to be employed during summer to retain coverage.

Q: If a student graduates in May, will summer insurance still apply?
A: Yes.  Coverage for the Summer insurance begins May 15^th and runs until August 11^th.  There may be an allowable exception for graduating international students that provide proof of return to their home country shortly after graduation.

Q: What happens if a student leaves the program mid-term?
A: Insurance remains in effect for the remainder of the term.

Funding and Departmental Questions

Q: Who funds the premium for eligible new students?
A: The Vice Provost for Academic Affairs covers premiums for new doctoral and MFA students admitted in Fall 2025 or later who meet eligibility requirements.

Q: What if the student is funded by a research grant?
A: Faculty are encouraged to budget for the insurance premium in their grant proposals. If grants cannot cover it, central funding will be available for eligible new students.

Q: What if a student changes funding source mid-term?
A: Insurance should continue uninterrupted. Funding source changes will only be allowed due to changes in grant-funding. Departments must manage the transition and work with Student Accounting to reallocate expenses.

Q: Who handles reallocations and expense questions?
A: Student Accounting is the primary contact for expense reallocations.

Q: How are insurance charges coded in grant accounts?
A: Charges will be posted as fees under expense account 54622. A new program code for PhD insurance is being developed.

Special Enrollment Scenarios

Q: If I’m a current UNT master’s student and enter a doctoral program in Fall 2025, am I considered a “new” student?
A: Yes. Any student newly admitted to a doctoral or MFA program for Fall 2025 or later is considered new, even if they previously attended UNT in another program.

Q: What about students admitted to doctoral programs but starting coursework at the master’s level?
A: These students are eligible for centrally funded insurance benefits as long as they are officially admitted to a doctoral program in Fall 2025 or later.

Q: Do I need to be employed to be eligible?
A: Yes. Students must hold a .5 FTE salaried graduate appointment (Teaching Fellow, Teaching Assistant, Graduate Assistant, or Research Assistant) and meet the Institution’s Tuition Benefit Program guidelines. Please note that hourly employment does not count towards the .5 FTE salaried graduate appointment.

Q: If I’ve never been on payroll before but start now, will I receive insurance?
A: Only students newly admitted to doctoral or MFA programs in Fall 2025 or later are eligible for centrally funded insurance. Employment alone does not qualify students retroactively.

Administrative Questions

Q: How often will student eligibility be audited each term?
A: Audits should occur at least twice per term to ensure accuracy and compliance.

Q: When are premiums paid?
A: The final count is taken on the 12th class day. Premiums are due within 30 days. Spring payments also include summer coverage.

Q: How are premiums charged?

A: Fall rates:

Domestic students - $1,048.00

International students - $1,053.00

Spring/Summer rates:

Domestic students - $1,556.00

International students - $1,561.00

For further questions, please contact the Toulouse Graduate School or Student Accounting at UNT.

Graduate students who have an Assistantship but are not eligible for the Recruitment Fellowship Coverage, have two benefit plans for which they may elect to enroll. Enrollment in benefits is not required. Student insurance costs will vary depending on the plan and the level of coverage selected in either plan.

1. Group Benefit Program (GBP): For students employed at least 0.5 FTE which is administered by the Employee Retirement System (ERS) of Texas. Students receiving centrally-funded support via assistantship will receive centrally-funded contributions to this plan similar to that which is provided under the GBP. Details regarding the program can be found at UNT Group Insurance.  Any questions regarding the Group Benefit Program can be answered by HR benefits located here: https://hr.untsystem.edu/benefits/
2. Student Insurance Plan: Any salaried graduate student, domestic or international students, can enroll in the Student Insurance Plan regardless of FTE. Details regarding the plan can be found at UNT's Health & Wellness Center or at UnitedHealthcare Student Resources.

All international students and scholars holding non-immigrant visas must carry UNT-approved health insurance coverage during the entire period of their UNT residence. Residence is defined as that continuous period from initial orientation and enrollment or employment, including holidays, through graduation or final separation from the university. International students are automatically charged for the UNT-offered policy each semester at registration, and must provide proof of comparable insurance by the established deadline at International Advising to avoid purchasing the UNT-offered policy. International scholars must demonstrate acceptable insurance coverage at International Advising during their initial orientation session. The University has contracted with UnitedHealthcare Student Resources to offer a Student Insurance Plan to international students.  Details regarding the plan can be found at the UNT's Health and Wellness Center or UnitedHealthcare Student Resources.