By University regulations, a Course Assistant/Teaching Assistant must have graduate standing or be a Coterminal student with at least 180 units completed and shown on the undergraduate transcript. CA/TA appointments are not restricted to EE students; students from other departments may apply, but the department does give preference to EE students, because a CA/TA appointment is a form of financial aid. A student with TGR status can be appointed as a CA/TA , but no matter which percent appointment is held, ONLY the TGR fee will be paid. Any units taken will be at the TGR CA/TA's own expense.
In addition, the EE department requires:
- A student to be matriculated at Stanford for 1 quarter before they apply for a CA/TAship. For example, incoming students for Autumn 2025-2026 will be eligible to be a CA/TA for Winter 2025-2026.
- Successful candidates should be in good academic standing (3.8-4.0 GPA)
- Candidates should have taken the course for which they are applying – or a more advanced course in the same subject area – and received an "A" letter grade or better.
Students who have not met all three of the above criteria may be appointed on a case-by-case basis.
Other requirements include providing an unofficial copy of a Stanford transcript with the application, and international students must be screened for English proficiency. (See the How to Apply page for more information.)
Also, it is University policy that a student on full fellowship or 50% time assistantship may work no more than 8 hours per week in addition. (International students on F and J visas may NOT work more than 50% time.)
Students are welcome to try for other appointments while the department considers their CA/TA application. However, once a CA/TA appointment is accepted, the student is expected to fill it. Therefore, that student must withdraw their CA/TA application immediately after receiving other support. The maximum total appointment per quarter is 50%.