Assistantships and funded research degrees

An assistantship pays you, and often covers tuition, in exchange for work. A teaching assistant marks work and runs tutorials or labs. A research assistant works on a professor's funded project, often the one that becomes your thesis.

In many countries, funded PhDs come as a package. It includes a stipend or salary, tuition covered, and sometimes health cover. Research masters are funded less often, and taught masters rarely.

Some departments do offer assistant roles to masters students after arrival. Ask departments directly what funding they offer and when it is decided.