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Work Study Program

The Work Study program offers part-time, paid on-campus employment to eligible undergraduate and graduate students at the University of Toronto. The program provides students with an opportunity to earn money while learning, developing workplace knowledge and skills, and exploring how their academic studies translate to career possibilities.

  • More than 5,000 students participate in the
  • Work Study program every year
  • Positions are available at all three campuses
    All Work Study positions are Co-Curricular Record (CCR) recognized
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Benefits

  • Earn money while completing your studies 
  • Gain meaningful work experience where you will set goals, identify knowledge gaps, and develop the skills you will need for your future career
  • Acquire valuable transferrable skills 
  • Be a contributing member of the University of Toronto  
  • Expand your network 

Examples of Student Jobs

  • Advancement Clerk 
  • Finance Assistant  
  • UTSC Farm Indigenous Garden Assistant 
  • Marketing, Communications & Web Assistant 
  • Digital Research Assistant 
  • Climate Justice Research & Writing 
  • Plant Scientist 
  • Publications Research Assistant 

Work Study Program Overview

The Work Study program is offered twice/year:  

  • Fall-Winter Session (September-March)
  • Summer Session (May-August) 

There are two types of streams:

Work Experience Stream
  • This stream supports students in identifying and developing the specific workplace skills and competencies they need to build workplace experience and knowledge.  
  • These positions are supervised by staff, faculty or librarians.  
  • They include opportunities to explore and reflect on how academic studies are connected to workplace competencies and how the Work Study experience translates to career possibilities.   
Research Experience Stream
  • This stream supports students in locating and participating in faculty-led research opportunities.  
  • These positions give students a chance to undertake or support a research project under the direction of a faculty member.  
  • They involve applying foundational methodologies and/or theories within a research field. 

Review Your Eligibility

To be eligible for a Work Study position, you must be working towards a University of Toronto degree and must meet the eligibility requirements below.

2024/25 Fall-Winter Program
(First Day of Classes – March 31, 2025)

  • Must be enrolled in at least 2.0 FCE (full course equivalent); minimum 0.5 credits in one session and 1.5 credits in the other. 
  • Must continue to meet the eligibility course load for the duration of the contract.  

Note: The university is based in Toronto and constituted according to Ontario law; therefore, it is our expectation that the provision of services to the university will be conducted in Ontario.


International Students

  • In addition to the Work Study requirements above, students are subject to Government of Canada rules and regulations regarding on-campus work. 
  • Individual student circumstances vary; the Work Study Program is not equipped to answer questions related to Canada Immigration policies. We encourage you to review the general information on the Centre for International Experience (CIE) website, and contact your specific campus immigration advising team for more support: UTM, UTSG, UTSC
  • Must be registered in both Fall and Winter sessions. 
  • Must maintain registration status for the duration of the contract. 

Note: The university is based in Toronto and constituted according to Ontario law; therefore, it is our expectation that the provision of services to the university will be conducted in Ontario.


International Students

  • In addition to the Work Study requirements above, students are subject to Government of Canada rules and regulations regarding on-campus work. 
  • Individual student circumstances vary; the Work Study Program is not equipped to answer questions related to Canada Immigration policies. We encourage you to review the general information on the Centre for International Experience (CIE) website, and contact your specific campus immigration advising team for more support: UTM, UTSG, UTSC

2025 Summer Program
(First Day of Classes – August 15, 2025)

  • Must be enrolled in at least 0.5 FCE (full course equivalent). 
  • May be fulfilled as any:  
    F course: First sub-session (May-June)  
    S course: Second sub-session (July-August) and/or  
    Y course: Full session (May-August). 
  • Must continue to meet the eligibility course load for the duration of the contract.

Note: The university is based in Toronto and constituted according to Ontario law; therefore, it is our expectation that the provision of services to the university will be conducted in Ontario.


International Students

  • In addition to the Work Study requirements above, students are subject to Government of Canada rules and regulations regarding on-campus work.
  • Individual student circumstances vary; the Work Study Program is not equipped to answer questions related to Canada Immigration policies. We encourage you to review the general information on the Centre for International Experience (CIE) website, and contact your specific campus immigration advising team for more support: UTM, UTSG, UTSC
  • Must be registered in the Summer session. 
  • Must maintain registration status for the duration of the contract. 

Note: The university is based in Toronto and constituted according to Ontario law; therefore, it is our expectation that the provision of services to the university will be conducted in Ontario.


International Students

  • In addition to the Work Study requirements above, students are subject to Government of Canada rules and regulations regarding on-campus work. 
  • Individual student circumstances vary; the Work Study Program is not equipped to answer questions related to Canada Immigration policies. We encourage you to review the general information on the Centre for International Experience (CIE) website, and contact your specific campus immigration advising team for more support: UTM, UTSG, UTSC

Who is NOT Eligible to Apply for a Work Study Position?

  • Non-degree students.
  • Students on a co-op work term and not registered in the sessional course load.
  • Students registered in the Toronto School of Theology.
  • Students who have graduated and are no longer registered. 
  • Students who do not have a valid Social Insurance Number (SIN).
  • Study Abroad Program participants. 

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Important

  • You are expected to meet the eligibility requirements during the Work Study hiring period.
  • You may only accept ONE Work Study position within each program cycle.
  • You will not be allowed to switch positions after you have signed your Letter of Offer and received the electronic approval notification from the Work Study Program.

Important Dates & Rate of Pay

Important Dates

The Work Study program has two sessions (Fall-Winter and Summer) with specific dates that vary each session. Employers may set an application deadline before the application period ends – apply early!

2024/25
Fall-Winter
Program

2025
Summer
Program

Student Application Period

  • When Work Study positions become visible and you can apply

August 16, 2024 – September 25, 2024

April 4, 2025 –
May 14, 2025

Hiring Deadline for Employers

  • When employers will conduct interviews
  • Successful candidates should return their signed offer letters and receive program approval within this timeframe

August 16, 2024 – October 7, 2024

April 4, 2025 –
June 2, 2025

Program Period

  • Timeframe you can work

September 3, 2024 – March 31, 2025

First day of classes – August 15, 2025

Hours and Rate of Pay

The Work Study program allows for a 15-hour maximum work week; however, your work schedule will be determined with your employer based on the requirements of the job and your availability.

2024/25 Fall-Winter Program

2025 Summer Program

Program Hours

200 hours (maximum)

100 hours (maximum)

Rate of Pay

$16.55/hour*

$17.20/hour

*Effective October 1, 2024, the work study hourly rate will increase to $17.20/hour to align with the new Ontario minimum wage. Previous to this, the work study hourly rate is $16.55 for hours worked September 3-30, 2024.

Notes:

  • Work Study positions are non-essential by nature and have been exempted from the ESA. There is no 4% vacation pay added to the hourly wage. 
  • Students who work the maximum, 15 hours per week, will reach the program maximum 200 hours (100 in the summer) before the program end date. Keep track of your hours and notify your employer when you start getting close to the total hours. 

Applying for Positions

Preparing Your Application

To participate in the Work Study program, you must meet Work Study eligibility requirements. You should then complete the following steps: 

Consider all jobs that interest you; do not limit yourself to those jobs that appear directly related to your studies. All Work Study jobs have transferable skills and provide for work-integrated learning possibilities. 

Work Study job postings become available on the Careers & Co-Curricular Learning Network (CLNx) website during the Student Application Period.  

Think beyond the position title! Use keywords from your goals to search for positions that will help you build those transferable skills. 

Example: Do you want to be a lawyer when you graduate?
There are many transferable skills required for this role – try these keywords in your search: advising, problem-solving, work under tight deadlines, research, and analysis.  

Understand the knowledge and skills required for the position and tailor your resume to demonstrate you have them (think about all your experience: academic work, volunteer, student leadership, and employment). 

  • Attend a Resume Workshop or have your resume reviewed at your campus career services office (UTM, UTSG, UTSC).
  • Attend a live information session. These sessions will be scheduled in April for the summer Work Study cycle and August for the Fall-Winter cycle. Students can register through the CLNx events calendar
  • To find relevant workshops and events, login to CLNx and then select your campus. 
  • To sign-up for appointments, login to CLNx and then select your campus. 

Additional Resources – Videos 

Preparing for the Interview

Once you have applied, the next step in the process is being interviewed by a prospective employer. Just like your resume, you will be asked questions demonstrating your knowledge and skills related to the requirements of the job. Go to the interview prepared to share a story related to each of the core knowledge or skill requirements.

Check out Big Interview, a free, online system that combines training and practice to help improve your interview technique and build your confidence.

After Applying

Congratulations on being hired! Please follow the next steps for onboarding.

By the end of the hiring period if you have not heard back from the hiring department it is very likely they have moved forward with another student. It is natural to feel disappointment with this outcome.  

If you are unsuccessful with receiving an interview or a job offer, use this time to strengthen your application and consider attending workshops or booking an appointment with the career services on your campus. You may also consider contacting a financial advisor in your faculty, college, or campus to see what options are available. 

Tri-Campus Career Services

Each of the tri-campus career services offices has a suite of resources to train and support Work Study students: 

Mississauga campus: offers a variety of workshops, appointments, and online modules, visit the UTM Career Centre for more information. 

St. George campus: offers a variety of workshops, events, and resources through CLNx. These workshops can support your professional development in topics such as networking, navigating career uncertainty, negotiating job offers, and navigating identity in the workplace. Visit the Student Life Events Calendar for more information. 

Scarborough campus: offers workshops on a variety of topics including communication skills, professionalism at the workplace, and equity and inclusion. For a complete listing and to register, visit UTSC Academic Advising and Career Centre

Accepting a Job Offer

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Congratulations, you're hired!

Visual Overview of the Work Study Program (PDF)

Your supervisor will work with their department to issue you a conditional Work Study Letter of Offer (LOO) before the end of the hiring period. 

Note: If you receive a verbal offer of employment, be sure the written LOO follows shortly afterwards (if needed, follow-up with the hiring department before the Work Study deadline). 

Action Items & Next Steps

Contacts

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

General

Eligibility

Application Process

Employment

Professional Development

Former Work Study Students