Work-Study is a need-based form of Financial Aid that you earn through on or off-campus employment and receive in the form of a paycheck. The Work-Study Program intends to encourage part-time employment and reduce loan debt incurred while attending college. Work-Study does so by paying a portion of your salary, thus making it more advantageous for an employer to hire you. Lastly, any earnings made under work study do not count against your aid eligibility when filling out the following year’s FAFSA or California Dream Act application.
If you are a “financial need eligible” graduate student, federal work-study is available for you to complete part-time paid internships, community service, research projects, or other endeavors closely related to your academic degree program.
Work-Study Information: Please be reminded that at this point, the campus remains open; therefore, students will be paid for actual hours worked. As always, employers should be flexible with their student workers, especially during this time.
Work-Study Programs
Graduate students who are eligible for work-study can find jobs under one of two programs:
Federal Work-Study Program awards up to $2,000
When you receive your official Financial Aid Notification (FAN), you will need to request this award from the Financial Aid and Scholarships Office by submitting the Work-Study Award Request Form. If awarded, you can then apply for work-study positions.
Graduate Work-Study Program award up to $15,000
The Graduate Work-Study Program provides federal work-study to graduate students with demonstrated need to complete part-time paid internships, community service, research projects, or other endeavors closely related to their academic degree program. Students can request a maximum of $15,000. After you receive your official Financial Aid Notification (FAN), you must apply and be approved for a specific job by the Graduate Division-Fellowships & Financial Services.
Student Eligibility
To participate in the Graduate Work-Study Program, you must meet the following conditions:
- Complete the FAFSA by March 2, 2021.
- EFC must be $12,000 or below.
- Be a US Citizen or Permanent Resident.
- Identified as eligible for Graduate Work-Study. If you are, you will be notified via award letter to fill out an application.
- Complete the GWSP Application participation request by the deadline for summer and/or academic year.
- Maintain satisfactory academic progress.
- Be enrolled half time (4 units) per quarter. If you are employed as Teaching Assistants/Associates/Fellows, Readers/Special Readers, Tutors/Remedial Tutors, or Graduate Student Researchers you must be enrolled in 12 units per quarter.
- For summer appointments only: you must be enrolled during the summer and the preceding Fall term (due to federal guidelines). If you are not enrolled, the amount you earn will be deducted from next year’s financial aid eligibility.
Summer Appointments
Federal guidelines require enrollment during the summer. In the event that you are not enrolled, federal guidelines require the application of 'Summer Savings' and mandatory enrollment during the preceding Fall term. Summer Savings is an advancement of the academic year's funding; therefore your eligibility throughout the academic year will be impacted.
Example of Impact to Academic Year Eligibility
| Original Academic Year Financial Aid Eligibility | $32,000 |
|---|---|
| Reduction to Academic Year Financial Aid | -$5,000 |
| Revised Academic Year Financial Aid Eligibility | $27,000 |
Academic Year Appointments
You must be enrolled at least half time (4 units) to maintain eligibility. Any appointments greater than 50% must be approved by Graduate Division and Financial aid and Scholarships.
Application Process
The UCLA Financial Aid and Scholarship office is responsible for determining your financial need and eligibility for Federal Work-Study funds. The following briefly describes the application process:
- You submit a completed Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online. The priority filing deadline is March 2, 2021, to be considered for Work-Study funds in the following academic year.
- The award letter notifies you of your eligibility. You must select the link provided on your award letter to confirm interest in GWSP.
- Search for a job at the Online Work-Study Job Bulletin (WSJB). If a position is not available or does not match your graduate field of study, you can seek out potential employers to participate in GWSP and have them post a position that meets your needs. You are responsible for contacting potential employers and arranging job interviews.
- Complete the GWSP application available on the Graduate Work Study Program Website. Applications must be submitted by the deadlines for summer and the academic year.
- You and the Department must submit the GWSP application to Graduate Fellowships and Financial Services Office (1228 Murphy Hall) for initial review and processing. Please make sure the form is completed in its entirety and is correct. If not, it will result in processing delays.
- After approval by Graduate Fellowships and Financial Services, the application is forwarded to the Financial Aid and Scholarships office for verification and final approval. Once approved, you will receive an approval notification from Financial Aid and Scholarships.
- Once approved, you notify your On-Campus employer or Off-Campus employer to retrieve your work-study referral form from the Work-Study Employer’s website to initiate the formal hiring process.
- The employer must complete and submit your Work-Study referral form on the Work- Study Employer’s website every academic year and/or summer you are awarded work-study. The work-study referral form serves as a confirmation to the employer that you are eligible to work under the work-study program.
Off-Campus Hiring Paperwork Process
- Once you accept the work-study award, you can send us a message on Message Center to request a hiring appointment.
- You will be sent hiring paperwork, an I-9 profile request, and an I-9 document upload request. Make sure to complete the hiring paperwork and upload the necessary documents before the hiring appointment.
- During the hiring appointment, you will present your hiring documents (view acceptable i-9 forms). Be prepared with any questions you may have about the hiring process, timesheets, or work-study in general.
- Once all hiring paperwork is complete and approved by UC Path, Financial Aid and Scholarships will e-mail you and your employer indicating when you can begin working. We will also give your Off-Campus employer access to the online referral form to complete and submit.
Permissible Working Hours
Work-Study students may work a maximum of 20 hours during the academic year. (The employer is responsible for 100% of hours worked in excess of 20 per week.) During winter and spring breaks, along with the summer period, students may work up to 40 hours per week. The employer must mentor, supervise and monitor the activities of student hires.