Physics and Astronomy Post Graduate Teaching Assistant

Physics and Astronomy Post Graduate Teaching Assistant

Ref Number B04-07510 Professional Expertise Teaching, Teaching Support and Examination Support Department UCL BEAMS (B04) Location London Working Pattern Part time Salary £36,433-£41,833 Contract Type Fixed-term Working Type On site Available for Secondment No Closing Date 02-Aug-2026

About us

Physics and Astronomy is recruiting a cohort of Postgraduate Teaching Assistants (PGTAs) to support education across the department starting from the next academic year (September 2026-27).

The Physics and Astronomy Department is located in the heart of the historical area of Bloomsbury. Scientific research and study has been a strong feature of UCL since its inception in 1826 and the Department is currently one of the top ranked Physics departments in the country, and indeed the world. The department is ranked #4 in the UK for Physics Education and #25 in the world according to QS ranking.

We have forged an internationally renowned reputation for being at the forefront of world leading research and providing high class teaching. Those joining us can expect to be part of a dynamic community of Physicists and Astronomers whose enthusiasm for science and innovation is exceptional.

About the role

The purpose of this role is to support and work with the academic leads on small group teaching and learning across our programmes.

Main duties of PGTAs are:

• Practical class teaching
• Laboratory class teaching
• Facilitate teaching sessions
• Maximising resources and teaching materials to aid students in their learning;
• Respond to queries referring to departmental tutors/module leads and/or central support services as appropriate;
• Monitor students’ online presence, engagement with their learning and their progress, returning data to the administrative office in a timely manner and following up where necessary by offering support and encouragement and/or raising with departmental tutors/module leads as appropriate;
• Marking in course student assessments
• Deliver formative feedback directly to students;
• Participation in regular meetings with the module leader to discuss arising issues and problems;
• Involvement in ad hoc meetings organized by module leaders or the PGTA Administrator/Rep.;
• To actively follow and promote UCL policies, including Equal Opportunities;
• To uphold confidentiality in regards to students records and marks;
• To engage with all training required to support the role.

PGTAs will be given training and support to assist them in their roles.

Please note this is primarily intended as an internal opportunity - only if there is no suitable PhD student at UCL identified would external applications from students at other universities be accepted and considered.

This is the first round of our recruitment; there will be opportunities for additional work in Term 2 and Term 3.

About you

The successful candidates will be pursuing a postgraduate degree, preferably associated with UCL Department of Physics and Astronomy or studying a related subject (e.g. Physics, Astrophysics, Natural Sciences etc.) Previous teaching experience is an advantage.

Your CV should detail your completed degrees, details of any current employer, and details of recent past employment. All PGTAs must complete training within the UCL Arena One scheme, normally available in September. This will be in addition to guidance or mentoring provided by the department for their PGTAs.

What we offer

The appointments will be made on the grade 6 scale , (pro rata) on a fixed-term basis. This exceeds the London Living Wage (LLW).

PGTAs will be paid based on the requirements of the UCL PGTA Code of Practice for up to a maximum of 60 hours per module. Coursework marking and feedback is included in the standard contracted hours, whilst examination marking (where applicable) will be paid additionally and calculated on the number of scripts marked.

Our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

As London’s Global University, we know diversity fosters creativity and innovation. We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where we all belong.

We particularly encourage applications from candidates underrepresented in UCL’s workforce, including those from Black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds, disabled people.

Attached documents are available under links. Clicking a document link will initialize its download.