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.

The University of North Texas provides health insurance coverage as part of doctoral and Master of Fine Arts (MFA) students' assistantship package. If awarded an Assistantship and the eligibility criteria are met, students will receive a health insurance allowance to help offset the cost of insurance. 

Health Insurance Details

As a graduate student employee, you hold a hybrid status, both student and employee. Because of this, you have access to two different types of health insurance benefits. This guide explains your options, what actions you need to take, and how to stay compliant each year.

Quick Start — What You Need to Know First

If you are hired as an RA, TA, TF, or GSA at 20 hrs/week (0.5 FTE):

Eligibility Requirements

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

• Be admitted to a PhD or MFA program.

• 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 in both ERS and SHIP plans 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. 

Your Insurance Options

Students will receive an election form through their student email to inform the university of the coverage election that you would like to choose, either the SHIP or ERS plan. Students must complete the form no later than January 9, 2026.

Option 1 — SHIP (Student Health Insurance Plan)

Default plan

• You are automatically enrolled once hired at 0.5 FTE
• Premium appears in your student account
• You may pay the premium in full or through a payment plan (February 5, 2026 payment deadline)
• The university will provide a one-time taxable payment of $1,790 on their paycheck in February 2026 to help offset cost (as long as employment continues).  Coverage will be valid through the end of Summer 2026.

Basic coverage for both Dental and Vision options  exist, and are included in funded SHIP.  Broader coverage plans may be available for individual purchase.

Option 2 — ERS Employee Insurance (Employee Plan)

You must actively choose and enroll

• Not automatic — you must contact HR Benefits to enroll
• 60-day waiting period for medical to begin
• You must pay 50% of premium out-of-pocket (~$2,698.48 for spring and summer 2026 terms)
• The university will provide a one-time taxable payment of $1,790 on their paycheck in February 2026 to help offset cost (as long as employment continues).  Coverage will be valid through the end of Summer 2026.

Visual Comparison

Although plans have comparable coverage, because graduate student employees are considered half-time, those who enroll in the ERS plan must pay 50% of the premium out of pocket ($2,698.48 for the Spring and Summer 2026 terms). The preferred option for all salaried graduate student employees is the SHIP because of the lower out-of-pocket costs.

International graduate student employees are automatically enrolled in the SHIP.

Waiving SHIP

Some students already have valid outside insurance and may want to waive SHIP.

If you waive SHIP:

• You do not receive the health insurance allowance
• A waiver must be submitted  at each enrollment period
• Missing the deadline = you remain enrolled in SHIP for the coverage semester (Fall or Spring/Summer)

If you elect to waive coverage on the election form completed through myUNT, you will be contacted to provide proof of current insurance coverage.

 

General Information

Q: Who is eligible for this insurance plan?
A: Degree-seeking doctoral and Master of Fine Arts students 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: I have outside insurance through the Marketplace, spouse, or parent. Can I still receive the allowance?
A: No. Students who waive SHIP or ERS are not eligible for the allowance.

Q: If I stop working or drop below 20 hours, what happens to my insurance?
A: Your eligibility ends. A COBRA continuation notice will be mailed to you if enrolled in ERS and coverage continues until the last day of the month, when your employment changes.  If you were enrolled in SHIP, a qualifying life event is created and coverage continues until the end of the current coverage period.  Note, documentation of the QLE event needs to be submitted within 30 days.

Funding and Departmental Questions

Q: Who funds the premium for eligible students?
A: The Vice Provost for Academic Affairs covers premiums for doctoral and MFA students 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.

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.

Special Enrollment Scenarios

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.

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.

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.

Need Help? Contact the Right Office

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, 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.