What is a Stipended Graduate Assistantship?

Eligible F-1 and J-1 PhD students may receive a Stipended Graduate Assistantship (SGA) or Fellowship through their academic department. These awards generally include a stipend, tuition remission, and health plan, and recipients must comply with the federal regulations related to F-1/J-1 on-campus employment. 

SGAs/Fellowships are part of a PhD student’s academic program offered through the department at the time of admission. If you have a position on campus that is titled “Assistant” (e.g. Research Assistant, Teaching Assistant), but you are paid hourly through the Office of Student Employment, Graduate Assistantships & Fellowships (SEGAF), then you most likely do not have an SGA.  

To receive payment for your SGA, you must obtain a Social Security Number (SSN) through the Social Security Administration (SSA). You can learn more about applying for an SSN below. 

For more specific information about receiving an SGA, please check with your College. 

Regulatory Guidance for Northeastern-Sponsored J-1 Students 

You must submit an SGA request for each academic year that you continue in an assistantship, as SEVIS authorization can only be issued one year at a time. 

Regulatory Guidance for Non-Northeastern Sponsored J-1 Students: 

If your J-1 program sponsor is Fulbright or an organization other than Northeastern, you will need to request on-campus work permission (and any necessary authorization letters to apply for an SSN) from your J-1 program sponsor. 

Guidance for F-1 and J-1 Graduate Students with an SGA

  • F-1/J-1 students are not eligible to work more than 20-hours per week  
  • F-1/J-1 students are not eligible to work in other on-campus positions while holding the SGA. 
    • Note: SGAs require a 20-hour per week commitment (see SEGAF guidance) and F-1/J-1 regulations do not permit students to exceed 20 hours a week while school is in session 
  • Graduating F-1/J-1 students with an SGA may work until the last day of university finals. The dates of the finals period are posted on the Academic Calendar.  
    • Students should not perform assignments for a Stipended Graduate Assistantship (SGA) after the lats day of finals of an F-1/J-1 student’s final term of graduate enrollment (though they may receive final stipend payments after this date).Any employment with Northeastern that begins after the final term must be in accordance with the appropriate post-completion work authorization (F-1 Post-Completion OPT or J-1 Academic Training).  

SGA Resources for PhD Students

Applying for a Social Security Number (SSN)

If you do not already have an SSN, please follow the steps below.

1 Submit a request to OGS

Complete the Stipended Graduate Assistantships Social Security Number Letter Request. You will be asked to provide information such as the College where you will be providing services and your start date.

2 Receive your letter

Once your college has confirmed that you have an SGA, OGS will review your submission and generate the letter. You will receive an email to your Northeastern email address to pick up the letter at OGS once proessed.

3 Apply for your Social Security Number

Present the letter to the Social Security Administration (SSA) in order to apply for an SSN. For detailed instructions on how to apply for a Social Security Number, refer to the Social Security Number section of the OGS website.

It is the student’s responsibility to notify OGS if there are any changes to their SGA.