Last Updated: October 14, 2024 11:15:59 AM PDT
Learn the answers to the most common questions related to student employment at UC San Diego.

Got questions about student employment at UC San Diego? Our FAQ section provides answers to the most frequently asked questions, helping you navigate the basics of finding and managing on-campus jobs. Whether you’re just getting started or looking for clarification, this section offers helpful insights to guide you through the process.
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Who is eligible to work on campus in the Student Employment Program?
To be eligible for student employment at UC San Diego, a student must:
- Be registered and considered either a part-time or full-time student;
- Pay the UC San Diego Student Services Fees each quarter working; and
- Demonstrate satisfactory academic progress in a program leading to a degree, according to federal standards.
Summer Eligibility
For student employees to work during the summer, the following conditions must be met:
- Continuing students must have paid the previous spring quarter UC San Diego Student Services Fees.
- Incoming first year/transfer students must sign their Statement of Intent to Register (SIR). These students are eligible to work starting July 1st.
- Re-admit students (those who have been away for at least two quarters) must first pay the university re-admit fee. If a re-admit student does not pay this fee until the fall quarter, they would need to wait to start working until that time.
How can I apply for student employment jobs?
All student employment jobs are posted on Handshake, which is a platform used to post jobs online. All UC San Diego students receive student login credentials and a university email address which grants access to many university systems, including Handshake. To gain access, UC San Diego Career Center will send every new student a link to create an account with the school.
Can I work on campus as an international student?
International students who hold either an F-1 or J-1 Visa status are eligible for on-campus student employment during the period of their academic study at UC San Diego. All positions must end on or before the expiration date of the UC San Diego Form I-20. However, there are different considerations and requirements for each type of Visa. Please consult the International Student section of the website or the Student Employee Handbook for more information.
What documents can I use for employment eligibility verification?
Read about which documents are acceptable.
- From the above link, students must provide either one document from List A, or one document from List B AND one document from List C.
Notes:
- All forms of identification must be the originals; no copies may be accepted.
- All forms of identification must still be current, and not expired.
How many hours can I work per week?
Because students are enrolled in rigorous academic programs at UC San Diego, there are limits placed on the amount of hours students can work during academic terms. All student employees are permitted to work up to 19.5 hours per week during the fall, winter, and spring academic quarters. However, undergraduate student employees are permitted to work full-time (i.e. up to 40 hours per week) during the summer, if they are not enrolled, and during any academic breaks (i.e. winter closure, spring break). International and graduate students may not be able to work above 19.5 hours per week during the summer.
How much can I expect to be paid?
All non-academic student employment jobs are considered part-time jobs, and most are hourly, non-exempt, and on the bi-weekly pay cycle. All jobs are paid at least the San Diego County minimum wage, but the hourly pay rate depends on the job duties listed. The pay rate will be included in the Handshake job posting and the posting will contain both the starting pay rate and the pay range for the position.
How will I be paid?
Most students will fill out an online timesheet using Ecotime, which is an online timesheet system at UC San Diego that is used by most departments to record hours worked and determine the amount of pay that an employee should receive. An easy guide to using Ecotime is available in the Employment Toolkit. Students receive payment in the form of a paycheck or direct deposit from the UC San Diego payroll system. The Student Employment Office recommends that students sign up for direct deposit to receive their paycheck directly into their personal bank account.
How do I sign up for direct deposit?
Direct deposit is the process through which the university can deposit an employee's paycheck directly into a qualifying bank account. This reduces the time before the employee receives their pay after the paycheck is issued and increases the efficiency and accuracy of payroll. Employees can choose to allocate all their pay to a single account or by amount or percentage to multiple accounts, up to three total. To enroll in direct deposit in UCPath, go to Employee Actions > Income and Taxes > Direct Deposits. It can take up to 3-4 weeks for direct deposit to take effect, so it is important to enroll as soon as possible when starting a new position.
When do I get paid? When is my timesheet due?
A bi-weekly paid employee submits their timesheet and is paid every two weeks. The pay period runs Sunday-Saturday for two weeks and employees must report all hours worked and accrual usage before the payroll deadline to be paid properly. At UC San Diego, pay periods end on Saturdays and paychecks are issued 10 days later, on Wednesday. Pay period end dates and paydays can be found on the UC San Diego Payroll Timekeeping Deadline Schedule.