What are the conditions and steps to become a Temporary Teaching and Research Assistant (ATER)?

Becoming a Temporary Teaching and Research Assistant (ATER) allows doctoral students nearing the end of their thesis, PhD holders, or foreign professors and researchers to gain teaching experience and continue their research. To obtain this status, certain eligibility criteria must be met, and a well-defined recruitment process must be followed. Let's explore the conditions and steps involved in becoming an ATER.

Summary :

1. Clarify the eligibility criteria for ATER status.

2. Detail the steps in the recruitment process for ATERs (temporary teaching and research assistants).

3. Understanding the obligations and conditions of employment of ATERs (Teaching and Research Assistants).

4. Knowing the contract duration and renewal options

1- Clarify the eligibility criteria for ATER status.

Being a Category A civil servant preparing for a doctorate

To be eligible for the ATER (Teaching and Research Assistant) status, tenured or probationary civil servants in category A who are currently preparing a doctorate are eligible. This specific criterion allows these public employees to benefit from a contract adapted to simultaneously pursue their thesis and teaching activities.

Let's take the example of a tenured research engineer who begins a PhD in economics. Their status as a Category A civil servant allows them to apply for a temporary teaching and research position (ATER) for a period of three years, renewable for one year. This will allow them to pursue their doctorate while gaining significant teaching experience.

It is important to note that only full-fledged Category A civil servants, excluding contract employees, are eligible for the specific 3-year ATER contracts. This restrictive condition aims to target candidates with existing experience and stable status within the civil service.

Being a doctoral student in the final stages of their thesis, a PhD preparing for competitive exams, a foreign lecturer-researcher, a former teaching assistant or a former research grant recipient

In addition to Category A civil servants, several other profiles are eligible for ATER (Teaching and Research Assistant) status. This includes doctoral students in the final stages of their dissertations, for whom this contract can be an opportunity to complete their doctorate while gaining initial teaching experience. Doctoral candidates preparing for competitive recruitment exams for higher education positions, such as those for qualification as a lecturer, can also apply.

Imagine a doctoral student in biotechnology reaching the final year of her PhD. Becoming a teaching and research assistant (ATER) would allow her to benefit from additional funding to complete her research with peace of mind, while also familiarizing herself with the many facets of the teaching and research profession. A valuable experience to prepare her for her future academic career.

Furthermore, the ATER (Temporary Teaching and Research Assistant) position is open to foreign teaching and research staff wishing to teach in France for a fixed term. Former teaching assistants or research fellows who have completed their doctoral contracts are also eligible. For these various profiles, becoming an ATER represents an attractive pathway to an academic career.

Did you know that Category A civil servants preparing a doctorate can benefit from a 3-year ATER contract renewable for 1 year, compared to a 1-year contract renewable for 1 year for most other eligible profiles?

2- Detail the steps in the recruitment process for ATERs (temporary teaching and research assistants).

Apply for positions advertised by the institutions

The first step to becoming a teaching and research assistant (ATER) is to apply for positions advertised by higher education institutions. These offers are generally published on university and school websites, as well as on platforms specializing in academic employment.

Let's take the case of a PhD in political science applying for a teaching and research assistant (ATER) position. She will need to regularly monitor the websites of faculties that might interest her and subscribe to alerts from dedicated portals like GALAXIE. By putting together strong application files highlighting her research and teaching skills, she will maximize her chances of being selected.

Admissions officers can facilitate this step by communicating targeted information about vacant teaching and research positions to relevant candidate pools, such as doctoral students and PhDs. Implementing a simple and intuitive online application system also helps attract more applicants.

To be selected after consultation with the scientific council and appointed by the president or director of the institution

Once applications are received, the selection process for temporary teaching and research positions (ATERs) continues. Applications are reviewed by the institution's scientific council, which issues an advisory opinion. Based on this opinion, the president or director of the institution selects a candidate and proceeds with recruitment on a fixed-term contract.

Let's illustrate this with a foreign lecturer-researcher applying to Sciences Po Paris. After reviewing their academic record, the director of Sciences Po will decide on their recruitment as a temporary lecturer and researcher (ATER) for a one-year term. A customized contract will then be drawn up, specifying the expected teaching and research obligations.

To guarantee equal opportunities, it is essential that the selection criteria for applications be transparent and made known to candidates. Communicating results to applicants within a reasonable timeframe also helps to enhance the attractiveness of this recruitment process.

"The president or director of the institution recruits ATERs on fixed-term contracts, the duration of which varies according to the category of ATER to which the candidate belongs."

For admissions managers, supporting this process is an integral part of academic excellence:

3- Understand the obligations and conditions of employment of ATERs (Teaching and Research Assistants).

Provide 128 hours of lectures, 192 hours of tutorials, or 288 hours of practical work per year on a full-time basis, which can be reduced by half on a part-time basis

As a teaching assistant (ATER), you will be responsible for providing a substantial teaching load. Full-time, this represents 128 hours of lectures, 192 hours of tutorials, or 288 hours of practical work per academic year. These requirements are established by regulations and are binding on all institutions.

Let's take the example of a doctoral student nearing the end of their thesis who is recruited as a full-time teaching and research assistant (ATER). They will be required to teach an average of 4 hours of lectures or 6 hours of tutorials each week. In order to prepare their teaching and continue their doctoral research effectively, good time management and organizational skills will be essential.

However, it is possible to work as a part-time teaching and research assistant (ATER), at 50% of the full-time hours. In this case, the teaching load is reduced by half, to a minimum of 64 hours of lectures, 96 hours of tutorials, or 144 hours of practical work. This option is particularly attractive for doctoral students wishing to dedicate more time to their thesis.

Participating in the various obligations related to teaching: supervision, knowledge assessment, examinations

Beyond the hours of classroom teaching, being a teaching assistant (ATER) involves participating in numerous tasks related to teaching. You will be required to supervise students, for example, during supervised projects or internships. Preparing lessons and designing teaching materials are also integral parts of the role.

Imagine a teaching assistant in law tasked with supervising a group of first-year Master's students for their final dissertations. This will involve regular monitoring, with group methodology sessions and individual meetings to guide the students' work. A time-consuming but rewarding investment.

Furthermore, you will participate in the assessment of student learning, whether through continuous assessments, midterms, or final exams. Supervising exams and grading papers are the responsibility of teaching assistants (ATERs) just as they are for tenured professors. Finally, depending on the needs, your presence may be required on admissions panels.

To facilitate the posting of teaching and research assistant (ATER) positions, Sciences Po Paris has deployed and configured a dedicated admissions platform. This tool simplifies communication with relevant candidate pools.

Respect the rules governing the accumulation of activities by public employees, with possibilities depending on the working hours

Like all public employees, teaching assistants (ATERs) are subject to specific rules regarding the accumulation of activities. You must ensure that you comply with these rules alongside your contract. The possibilities for combining these activities depend primarily on your working hours.

Let's consider the case of a PhD in biology, a part-time teaching and research assistant (ATER), who wishes to continue consulting for companies. If they work 50% of their teaching hours, this combination will be possible, provided it is compatible with their university obligations. However, at 100%, such a secondary activity will not be permitted.

For example, a full-time teaching and research assistant (ATER) cannot hold another public sector job simultaneously. However, certain secondary activities remain possible, such as consulting or research work, subject to the agreement of your employing institution. For a part-time teaching and research assistant, the regulations offer more flexibility regarding the permitted combination of jobs. It is therefore important to inquire about your individual situation beforehand.

For admissions managers, providing clear information about these rules helps attract diverse profiles to teaching assistant positions.

4- Know the duration of the contracts and the possibilities for renewal

Contract of 1 to 3 years depending on the profile, renewable for 1 year

The duration of ATER contracts is not fixed but varies depending on the profile of the recruited candidate. For Category A civil servants preparing their doctorate, the initial contract runs for a period of 3 years. It is renewable once for an additional year, bringing the total maximum duration to 4 years.

Let's take the example of a hospital engineer starting a doctoral thesis in public health. By being recruited as a teaching and research assistant (ATER), she will benefit from this 3-year contract, a real security for carrying out her ambitious research project. If needed, a one-year extension will allow her to complete her thesis with peace of mind.

For other eligible profiles (doctoral students nearing the end of their thesis, PhDs preparing for competitive exams, foreign teaching and research staff, former teaching assistants or research grant recipients), the initial contract is generally for one year. It can be extended by a one-year renewal. The cumulative duration cannot therefore exceed two years for these categories of temporary teaching and research assistants (ATERs).

Maximum durations are fixed and cannot be extended, even for part-time work

A key point to remember is that the maximum durations of ATER contracts, as defined by regulations, are fixed and non-negotiable. Regardless of the individual's profile, it is not possible to obtain an extension beyond the established limits.

Imagine a doctoral student in literature hired as a teaching assistant to prepare students for competitive exams. Their initial one-year contract is renewed once. Upon reaching the end of their second year, they will not be able to request a new extension, even if they wish to try the exams again. The rules are strict and applied uniformly.

In conclusion, becoming a Temporary Lecturer and Researcher (ATER) is an invaluable opportunity for doctoral candidates nearing the end of their dissertations, PhDs preparing for competitive examinations, visiting lecturers, and civil servants. This status allows them to gain significant experience in higher education while continuing their research. To access this position, candidates must meet specific eligibility criteria, follow a rigorous recruitment process, and comply with the obligations and conditions of service specific to ATERs.