Types of Student Employment

Federal Work-Study is a federal student aid program that funds part-time job opportunities for undergraduate students. All work-study jobs are intended to be part-time opportunities that pay at least minimum wage. Work-study awards are not applied directly to student accounts. Rather, students work part-time each week and earn a paycheck that can assist them with paying for books, transportation, fees, and other personal expenses. To determine if you have a work-study award, review your Award Notification on TritonLink from the Financial Aid & Scholarships Office.

Work-study eligibility is determined by completing the FAFSA – the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. The program provides funding to colleges and universities, which then use the funds to pay a portion of the wages earned by work-study students. Work-study reduces the need for student loans, leaves students with less debt, and lets them explore careers while gaining work experience. 

Several departments prioritize work-study students in their recruitment by indicating a preference for work-study candidates in the job posting on Handshake. If a position requires work-study, applicants will be asked to provide their financial aid award letter either as part of the application packet or upon being offered the position.

To better understand your work-study award, please visit “About Work-Study” on the Financial Aid website.

The Off-Campus Federal Work Study Program at UC San Diego partners with off-campus agencies to provide meaningful work experiences to Work-Study students. The Off-Campus Federal Work-Study Program allows students to utilize their Federal Work-Study award to work at select off-campus non-profit, governmental, community-based agencies, and schools. In order for the job to qualify for the program, the work performed at these organizations must be in the public interest. The Student Employment Office facilitates two programs per academic year with qualified employers: Non-Profit Partnerships and Reading & Math Tutors. 

Opportunities are posted on Handshake at the beginning of each Fall Quarter and end the first week in June. Interested students must have received and accepted their Federal Work-Study award in order to apply. Interested students must have first applied through Handshake to be considered. 

Non-Profit Partnership Program:

Non-Profit Partnership (NPP) Program student employees are assigned to work in various fields including healthcare, biological research, child care, community improvement, civic education, support services for students with disabilities, mentoring activities such as tutoring, and educational/recreational activities. Each non-profit organization has unique positions specific to their industry and business needs. 

Partnerships include: Salk Institute for Biological Studies, The Scripps Research Institute, San Diego Biomedical Research Institute, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, J. Craig Venter Institute

Reading and Math Tutoring Program:

Reading & Math Tutor (RMT) Program student employees work as reading tutors with Pre-K through 5th or 6th grade students and/or for family literacy. Student employees also work as math tutors with K-8th grades to assist with math in schools and in other non-profit organizations. Student employees are assigned to work at one of multiple off-campus schools or sites around San Diego County.

Partnerships include: Zamorano Elementary Fine Arts Academy, The Children’s School, Doyle Elementary School, Hickman Elementary School

*Eligible students who are awarded University Work-Study and who would like to have their award converted to a Federal Work-Study award (to be used for an Off-Campus Federal Work-Study job) may contact their Financial Aid Counselor in the Financial Aid & Scholarships Office to swap their award.