Postgraduate Teaching Associate (PTA) Roles

Introduction

Postgraduate research students in Physics, and in some cases other disciplines, are invited to apply for Postgraduate Teaching Associate (PTA) roles roughly one month before the start of the academic year. All PGRS have the opportunity to teach or undertake other duties (e.g. demonstrating, marking, etc.) and are actively encouraged to do so, as this is an important part of career development. The University normally allows full-time PGRS to be employed as PTAs for up to 180 hours in an academic year and provides with support and training to enable them to undertake their duties effectively.

How to apply and the recruitment process:

• Complete this application form:
  • AppFormPhysicsPTA.docx
  and return it by email to the PTA Coordinator by the deadline specified in the 'Call for Applications' email.
• Physics will consider all applications and will offer roles based on experience, qualifications, availability and indicated preferences. The aim of the process is to ensure all roles are filled with appropriately qualified and willing personnel.
• Applicants will be contacted once the allocation process has been completed, with information about the role(s) allocated, along with the number of hours involved and the total pay for the work.
• Once applicants have indicated that they are willing to accept their allocated roles, the College will be issue contracts and letter of appointments for the work and the arrangements for payment will be made.

Important notes:

• All PGRs involved in teaching must complete at least stage 1 of the
  • Learning and Teaching in Higher Education (LTHE)
  course, provided by the University. Some roles may require LTHE Stage 2 training.
• All students (including UK nationals) must have the appropriate:
  • Proof of right to work in the UK
  before any employment can commence, and must get HR Services (Room 356, Northcote House) to inspect their passport and visa (if applicable) before they start working.
• The University's
  • Code of Practice for Employment of PGR Students
  contains full details about the requirements and regulations for employment while studying at Exeter.
• International Students with 'Tier 4' visas are not permitted to be employed for more than 20 hours per week and this limit refers to any single week, i.e. not averaged over a longer period.

General PTA Roles and Hours (2021/22)

These are provisional figures and documents but are not expected to change unless drafting errors are found.

PTA Organiser Roles and Hours (2021/22)

These are 'add-on' roles, normally undertaken by PDRAs but PGRS with previous experience of the problems class(es) may also be appointmented.

Payment Arrangements

General information about the pay and conditions of PTAs is published by the University:

• Postgraduate Teaching Associates

Payment will normally be paid monthly (in arrears) for claimed hours worked via the University Payroll System.

In their letter of appointment, students will be asked to complete sections A-E of the PD85 form (if they do not already have a University payroll number) and to submit this with their Hours Allocation Template (HAT) and proof of their right to work in the UK to the Finance Office. The Finance Office will then complete the remaining information, confirming the total hours contracted and payment arrangements. At the time of writing, for the academic year 2021/22, the starting salary will be at the full-time equivalent rate of £27,511 per annum (point 23) on Grade E, points 23 to 31, or £14.49 per hour. The casual teaching rate is £17.21 per hour; this is made up of £14.49 per hour plus holiday pay of £2.72 per hour.

Timesheets will normally be used by the Module Coordinators to ensure students are fulfilling the hours contracted.