Work while you study
Work-study is money that students may earn by working a part time job. The program allows you to gain work experience and pay for a part of your educational expenses as you earn your award. Most jobs are on campus and departments are eager to hire students with work-study awards. Rather than receiving a check at the beginning of each quarter, students receive their work-study award as earnings from their job in the form of a payroll check.
Work-study funds come from the federal government as well as The Regents of the University of California and are awarded based on need.
How to Apply:
- File the Free Application for Federal Student Aid FAFSA or the CA Dream Application.
- You must file your aid application each year to continue to be considered for work-study.
- Submit any additional documents requested by the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships by the deadline.
- You must file the FAFSA / Dream Application by the March 2nd (with the exception for the 2024-2025 year, it will be March 4th) deadline each year to continue to be considered for work-study.
- You must answer 'Yes' to the FAFSA / Dream Application question asking if you want to be considered for work-study.
Work-Study (Federal and University/Presidents)
Basic Eligibility Requirements
- All full-time and half-time undergraduate students in a degree program
- U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens
- AB540-eligible students who also meet all DACA requirements can only qualify for Presidents Work-Study
How Awards are Determined
- Based on financial eligibility.
- Due to limited available funding, these awards are generally made to students with relatively low Expected Family Contributions (EFCs).
- When awarding continuing students, preference is given to those students who have utilized their work-study award in the prior year.
Award Amounts
Annual amounts depend on financial need and other aid received.
Important Information about Work-Study Awards
- The work-study program is based on your financial aid eligibility; the amount you may earn in the program is listed on your ”My Aid Award” page.”
- You must be employed in a work-study position to receive your funds by way of a paycheck from your hiring department.
- As a work-study recipient, you have the choice of obtaining a work-study job either on campus or off campus at a nonprofit agency.
- Work-study employment is not available during the summer.
- Your award is the maximum amount you can earn under the work-study program, regardless of the number of work-study positions you hold.
- If you do not wish to utilize your work-study award, you may request to have it converted into a loan.
- If you decline your work-study award, the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships may terminate it and offer the funds to another eligible student.
- Work-study awards may not be extended from one academic year to the next.
- Unspent work-study award balances may not be rolled over from one academic year to the next.