Sessional Instructors

Dates for FALL 2026 Sessional hires: September 8 - December 24, 2026
Job Postings up by: June 29, 2026
Application deadline: July 13, 2026
Semester starts: September 8, 2026

All Sessional Instructor positions are regulated by Article XIV of the Teaching Support Staff Union (TSSU)-SFU Collective Agreement. 

Teaching Assistants (TAs) 

Dates for FALL 2026 Sessional hires: September 8 - December 24, 2026
Job Postings up by: June 29, 2026
Application deadline: July 13, 2026

TA and TM positions are posted on the Central Job Postings Site ten weeks prior to the start of the semester: in March for the Summer, in July for the Fall, and in November for the Spring.

Articles XIII (A) and XV (A) of the TSSU-SFU Collective Agreement list four TA/TM categories:

1. Graduate Teaching Assistant 1 (GTA 1). A GTA 1 must be registered at Simon Fraser University for a master's degree or as a qualifying student for a master's program.
2. Graduate Teaching Assistant 2 (GTA 2). A GTA 2 must be registered at Simon Fraser University for a doctoral degree or as a qualifying student for a doctoral program.
3. Undergraduate Teaching Assistant (UTA). A UTA must be registered at Simon Fraser University in a program leading to teacher certification, a diploma or a bachelor's degree.
4. External Teaching Assistant (ETA). An ETA is a person who is not otherwise a full-time employee of the University and who is not a student in any of the categories referred to in a, b or c above.

The Program Director assigns TAs/TMs to courses based on necessity dictated by enrolment numbers. All posted positions are subject to change based on enrolment and budgetary authorization.

Priority of qualified applicants to TA and TM positions in the Department of World Languages and Literatures is in accordance with Article XIII and Article XV of the TSSU-SFU Collective Agreement. In hiring TAs or TMs, the Department of World Languages and Literatures considers the following applicants:

1. Qualified SFU graduate students 
2. Currently registered WL Honours students
3. External and/or undergraduate applicants

Detailed Priority Criteria:

1. Applicant & Instructor Preference
2. According to the TSSU Collective Agreement Article XIII, section B: In order to be appointed, a person must have sufficient knowledge in the discipline of the course to interpret the course material.
3. Dollar value of financial support offered at the time of admission.
4. Number of base units already received to ensure sufficient teaching-related experience in the field of study.
5. Past ratings from TA evaluations.
6. Other previous teaching experience.
7. Funding for RAships, practicums, and internships.

Note: If an assignment within a priority group requires a selection between applicants, the graduate student without financial support from merit-based scholarships or fellowships with a value equal to at least 5.17 base units, will have priority for the appointment.

POLICIES

Equity
The University is committed to the principle of equity in employment.
(See Policy GP 19.)

Privacy
The information submitted with your application is collected under the authority of the University Act (R.S.B.C. 1996, c.468, s. 27(4)(a)), applicable federal and provincial employment regulations and requirements, the University's non-academic employment policies and applicable collective agreements.

The information is related directly to and needed by the University to initiate the employment application process. The information will be used to contact references supplied by you, evaluate your qualifications and complete the employment process by making a hiring decision.  Applicant information may also be disclosed to the Teaching Support Staff Union in accordance with Article XIII F.3.1.a (iv) of the Collective Agreement.

If you have any questions about the collection, use and disclosure of this information please contact the Associate VP, Human Resources, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6. Telephone 778-782-3237.