What is it?
The Work Study program is an opportunity for current undergraduate and graduate students to work on campus with faculty members and staff to enhance (inter)disciplinary and professional learning. There are over 5,000 positions available each year across both the Fall / Winter term (September to March) and the Spring / Summer term (May to August).
There are two streams in the Work Study program, which can provide students with opportunities to engage in research:
- The Research Experience Stream is designed to support students in developing and articulating workplace skills and competencies, building workplace experience and knowledge and in locating and participating in faculty-led research opportunities.
- The Work Experience Stream is designed to support students in developing and articulating workplace skills and competencies and in building workplace experience and knowledge. While not all Work Experience Stream positions involve research, some positions do provide students with research opportunities. To learn more, students should ensure they carefully review the job posting information on CLNx.
Important Considerations
Eligibility
The Work Study program is open to undergraduate and graduate students. Check the Career & Co-Curricular Learning Network’s Work Study page for full eligibility criteria for the current or upcoming Work Study term.
Duration
Work Study jobs typically require up to 15 hours of work per week to a maximum of 200 hours for the Fall / Winter term (September to March) and 100 hours for the Spring / Summer term (May to August).
Recognition and / or Compensation
Work Study positions are paid, the Work Study Program minimum hourly rate is $15.50. Units have discretion to pay a higher hourly rate.
Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Access
Inclusion in research experiences is achieved when an experience supports learning for all students. Learn about the University of Toronto’s commitment to an equitable learning environment and accessible learning environment as well as available resources and supports.
Additional Information
- As an employee of the University, students receive workplace insurance coverage.
- Students engaging in Work Study have general liability coverage through the University.
Tags: Co-curricular, Faculty-led Research, Paid
Benefits
- Allows students to apply their research knowledge and skills to a project, enhancing their understanding of the research process and approaches.
- The Work Study program offers students an opportunity to expand their network and build relationships with faculty, staff and librarians. In some instances, students will join a research team connecting them with a group of faculty / staff / librarians, graduate students and other undergraduate students.
Ideal time to participate:
- This will depend on students’ academic, professional, and personal goals but they can participate multiple times throughout their time studying at the University of Toronto. Work Study is an excellent way to gain research experience and can act as a launching point for future opportunities.
- You will be able to filter for Work Study positions if you are interested in a Work Experience Stream or a Research Experience Stream position. In determining what Stream you are interested in, consider what research goals you would like to achieve through your Work Study role.
- If you are interested in the Work Study program, you will need to consider if the position you are proposing is a Work Experience Stream position or a Research Experience Stream position. Since the Research Experience Stream is designed to support students in locating faculty-led research opportunities, all staff and librarians posting positions will select ‘Work Experience Stream’. Faculty posting positions will need to determine if their role meets the Research Experience Stream criteria or if it is better positioned as a Work Experience Stream role. Criteria for both streams is included on the CLNx Work Study pages.
- Visit CLNx to find full details about the Work Study program including program requirements and eligibility, upcoming program dates and the step by step process for hiring work-study students.
- The Work Study program offers a Professional Development Workbook to support student’s reflective process.
- Read “6 Reasons for Faculty, Staff and Librarians to Participate in the Work Study Program.”
- Faculty, staff and librarians should consider ways to embed equity, diversity, inclusion and Indigenous perspectives throughout students’ research experiences.
