Student AffairsQueen’s Work Study program creates part-time experiential learning opportunities for students with financial need.
This program, which provides wage subsidies for on-campus employers, is offered jointly through Career Services and Financial Aid and Awards and is funded by Queen’s University.
These opportunities not only provide students with an important source of income, they also provide valuable experiences and opportunities for students to develop the necessary skills to succeed at Queen’s and post-graduation.
Fall/Winter 2026-27 Work Study
We are currently accepting funding requests from Queen’s employers for Fall/Winter 2026-27 Work Study Positions. Please note that there have been changes made to the Work Study application processes.
Employers must submit a funding request and get approval before hiring Work Study students. Requests are reviewed first-come, first-served, considering past usage and program compliance.
The Work Study program operates within a fixed budget and funding is not guaranteed. Before submitting a funding request, please carefully consider your operational need, capacity to effectively supervise students, and ability to provide meaningful work for the number of positions and hours requested. Departments with sufficient existing budget capacity or access to alternative funding are encouraged to consider supporting student roles independently before applying for Work Study funding.
The Work Study program operates within a fixed budget and funding is not guaranteed. Before submitting a funding request, please carefully consider your operational need, capacity to effectively supervise students, and ability to provide meaningful work for the number of positions and hours requested. Departments with sufficient existing budget capacity or access to alternative funding are encouraged to consider supporting student roles independently before applying for Work Study funding.
Queen’s Departments may complete the Work Study Funding Request online form to apply for a wage subsidy for part-time, on-campus student roles for the 2026 Fall/Winter term.
A copy of the completed Work Study Funding Request form will be sent to Career Services for review and approval. Do not post a job or hire a student until you receive confirmation from the Career Services.
After you have been approved for funding and a job number has been assigned to your role, you can post your position on the Work Study job board in MyCareer
- Job postings must include:
- Work Study job number
- Job description
- Required skills or qualifications
- Application procedure (email directly or via MyCareer)
- Consider adding a requirement to provide proof of Work Study eligibility (screenshot from SOLUS) with their job application
- If you do not already have access to MyCareer, register for a new account online
- If you don’t see the Work Study job board when you login to MyCareer, please contact wkstudy@queensu.ca
If you opted to have applications submitted through MyCareer you will receive the application package on the next business day after your job posting expires. You will not be able to see how many applications you have until after the posting closes.
Please check out our Engaging Diverse Talent webpage for best practices during the hiring process.
Important Note: There is new Ontario Employment Standards Act legislation that requires you to notify all interviewed applicants of the hiring decision within 45 days of their interview (or final interview). Visit Queen’s HR Intranet for more information
Before formally offering a Work Study position to the student, you should communicate to the candidate that they have been selected for the position and ask if they intend to accept it. At this step, please be clear with them about the number of expected hours and advise them that this number could change. If the student has indicated that they wish to accept the position, you can proceed with the next steps in the Work Study hiring process.
It is your responsibility to ensure the student has Work Study eligibility. You may ask your student to forward the email confirmation they received from Financial Aid and Awards, or provide a SOLUS screenshot showing “Eligible for Work Study” as part of the application process, or when you make your verbal job offer.
Wage subsidy will not be paid for positions filled by students that do not have Work Study Eligibility.
To work on campus in the Work Study Program, students MUST have a Social Insurance Number (SIN).
International students can find out more about getting a Social Insurance Number (SIN) on the Queen's University International Centre website
Once you have confirmed the student’s Work Study eligibility, you may proceed with completing the Work Study Hiring Form. The link to this form will be provided to you with your Work Study Funding Request approval.
Work Study students are casual paid employees of your unit. The supervisor and timekeeper are responsible for all Human Resources tasks, including setting up payroll for the Work Study Student.
For most onboarding, supervision, and other employment related matters, please follow your normal HR procedures. If you have questions, contact your HR Advisor.
It is the supervisor's responsibility to negotiate start date and scheduling, and to ensure the student has the tools and online access required to do their job.
If your Work Study student leaves their role early, or is expected to work significantly fewer hours than approved through the Work Study Funding Request & Hiring Form, you must notify Career Services at wkstudy@queensu.ca.
At the end of the term, you must complete a mandatory Work Study audit. You will be required to report the actual number of hours paid to the student and wage subsidy will be provided for the lesser of the amount approved on the Wage Subsidy Request or the actual number of hours worked.
If the audit indicates that the student has received significantly fewer hours than indicated on the Work Study Hiring Form, and the update has not previously been reported to Career Services, your department may lose future access to the Work Study Program.
Please remember that Work Study positions are not a replacement for staff roles and responsibilities. Work Study positions should be designed to enhance the unit’s programming and to support students’ skills development in addition to their academic experiences.
A student may not commence work until a completed agreement has been confirmed by Career Services.
"Having work-study students contribute to our research projects has been incredibly valuable. Their fresh perspective, enthusiasm, and dedication have brought a new dynamic to our team. Not only did they contribute to the workload efficiently, but their eagerness to learn enriched the overall research experience."
Jessica Montagner-Holder
Research, Grants and Finance Manager Department of Emergency Medicine, Queen’s University
Jun 15 Queen's Employers can submit a Work Study Funding Request Form for Fall/Winter 2026-27 Positions
Jun 29 Employers must submit funding request by Noon for first consideration for funding
Jul 7 Employers are notified of decisions regarding Work Study funding
On-going Employers can continue to submit funding requests for second-round consideration
Jul 20 Students can start to view Fall/Winter job postings on MyCareer
Aug 17 Students can begin Fall/Winter term positions
Sep 29 Employers notified of funding approval on July 7 must complete hiring form
Apr 30 Last day students can work a Fall/Winter term position
- Part-time positions (approximately 6-7 hours per week if employed for the full term)
- Hourly wage of $17.95
- Positions with a Queen’s University department/office
Work Study positions are not a replacement for staff roles and responsibilities. Work Study positions should be designed to enhance the unit’s programming and to support students’ skills development in addition to their academic experiences.
Departments wishing to hire students through the Work Study program are responsible for first ensuring these arrangements comply with all provisions of Queen’s collective agreements and HR policies. Contact your HR Advisor prior to submitting a job posting should you have any questions.
Please also note that student roles, including Graduate Teaching Assistants, Graduate Teaching Fellows, Graduate Research Assistants, and JD and MD Teaching Assistants at Queen’s are covered by the PSAC Unit 1 collective agreement. Additional information can be found on the Faculty Relations Webpage.
Students that meet the following criteria are eligible for Work Study Positions:
- Current Undergraduate and Graduate students
- Must be registered in a full-time academic load for fall/winter term (9.0 credit units or higher per term) or 40% of a full course load for students with disabilities
- Domestic and International Students
- Confirmed as Eligible for Work Study from Financial Aid and Awards based on demonstrated financial need
- Eligible students will receive email notification from Financial Aid and Awards
- Students who have not received an email notification can apply online
- Once students receive confirmation that they are eligible for Work Study, they will remain eligible until they are no longer a full-time student. Eligible students can apply for Summer Work Study positions as long as they remain active in a degree program at Queen’s University.
Note: If a Work Study Student discontinues their studies at Queen’s, their Work Study position must end immediately and the Career Services must be notified at wkstudy@queensu.ca.
Employers are reimbursed 75% of wages paid to Work Study Students up to a maximum earning of $2000 per term, or $4000 for the combined Fall-Winter terms (maximum reimbursement of $3000).
The hourly wage for all Work Study roles starting in Fall 2026 is $17.95/hour, plus vacation pay. Vacation pay and benefits must be wholly paid by the employer.
For the 2026-27 academic term, the maximum number of paid hours covered by Work Study wage subsidy are:
- Fall/Winter Term (Aug 17 – Apr 30) – 222 hours
When you hire a Work Study student, you, as the employer, must indicate to the student approximately how many hours will be available. The Work Study Hiring Form must indicate the total number hours that the student is hired for.
If you are unable to offer the full number of hours indicated in your Work Study Agreement, you must notify the Work Study Coordinator at wkstudy@queensu.ca as soon as possible.
All approved roles are reimbursed based on minimum wage ($17.95/hr effective Fall 2026) after the completion of the mandatory Work Study Audit at the end of the term.
Work Study eligible students can earn up to $2000 per term ($4000 for the combined Fall-Winter terms). Employers receive 75% reimbursement of paid wages up to these maximums ($3000 maximum reimbursement for combined Fall-Winter terms). Wage subsidy is the same for all international and domestic students.
Wage reimbursement will not exceed the hours noted in noted in the completed Work Study Funding Request Form.
View the Employer Guide for more information.
All Work Study employers must complete the online, 2-part Experiential Learning (EL) WrapAround process with their student staff.
Adding an Experiential Learning framework to student roles is an important opportunity for students to develop essential skills and knowledge that complement their academic degrees and help prepare them to have impact in their future careers.
Visit the Experiential Learning (EL) Hub, and review the EL WrapAround information in the Employer Guide for more information.