Work Study

Are you looking to gain valuable work experience and ensure you are career ready after graduation? Participating in the Work Study program can help you build the skills you’ll need to get you where you want to go.

Through Work Study, you can expect to:

• develop workplace skills
• explore potential career paths
• expand your networks
• and gain insight into your personal and professional growth through hands-on experience and reflection

Beyond earning a paycheck, you’ll receive mentorship from UBC faculty and staff through work experiences that complement academic and experiential learning. The program offers a variety of job opportunities, ranging from research to professional and administrative practices.

To be eligible for Work Study jobs, students must meet the following requirements. Eligibility will be confirmed by the Work Study Program Coordinator upon submission of your information by a supervisor.

Students

Credits, requirements, and conditions

*credits from co-op placements are not eligible.

Student Responsibilities

Maintaining eligibility

Your employment as a Work Study student with the University is conditional upon the terms and conditions of the Work Study program which state students must maintain a minimum of 18 credits (nine per term) to remain eligible for Work Study employment. Should your registration fall below the minimum requirements it is your responsibility to notify your supervisor and the on-campus employment coordinator.

Employment terms and conditions

The provisions of the employment standards act including those related to the termination of the employment relations incorporate the terms and conditions of your employment with the university. All university employees are expected to contribute to the building of a respectful, safe, and productive workplace.

UBC policies

As an employee of the University you are expected to familiarize yourself with the University’s policies and procedures. Students are expected to perform their assignments in a mature and responsible manner. You will be required to comply with the directions of your supervisor(s). Students who fail to perform in a satisfactory manner may be removed from their assignment.

Payroll forms

The following list of completed forms are required to complete your hire:

• New hires: Personal Data Form and TD1 forms.
• Rehires: Unless information has changed students do not need to submit new TD1’s or deposit form.
• International undergraduate students should include a copy of a valid study permit and a copy of a valid social insurance number (SIN) card.
• If you do not have a SIN, you and your supervisor will need to complete an employment contract and take it to 471 Queensway Avenue in Kelowna to apply for a SIN.
• Your supervisor is responsible for ensuring that you have all the resources and information that you need.

Communication with your supervisor

It is important to communicate with your supervisor regarding any changes to your situation that may impact your ability to complete the requirements of your Work Study position. Examples include, but are not limited to; changes to your schedule, an increased course load, illness, or family obligations.

Getting paid

Once you have started your job, you must log in to Workday to submit the number of hours you worked within each given pay period. It is your responsibility to ensure the hours reported accurately reflect the work completed.

All employees at UBC will be paid on the 15th and last day of the month. Your payday on the 15th will include hours worked from the 24th day of the previous month to the 8th day of the current month.  Your end of the month pay will include hours worked from the 9th to the 23rd of the current month.

Student Success Story

Sam Grinnell, 4th year English & Cultural Studies

Position: Undergraduate Research Assistant, Urban Indigenous Research Collective

“I’ve been fortunate to pick up a lot of new skills (and refine some old ones) thanks to this job. There has been a great variety in the work I’ve done so far, such as conducting literature scans, building a research database, editing articles, helping create Ethics applications, and working within a team of academics and community members.

Being thrown into so many different experiences has been great for me. I’m not sure this Work Study position has helped me pick out a career or narrow my focus. I think it has done quite the opposite. I feel like there’s so many more employment opportunities and areas to work in that I had no idea about prior to this job.

This position has allowed me to make more connections and engage in more thorough research. My experience at UBC has been really positive and I feel as though this Work Study position is a big part of that. It’s given me a window into what it’s like to be a researcher and how respectful community engagement takes place and what it looks like. It’s been a really transformative experience because I’ve had the opportunity to be involved in fields of study and spaces that are new to me.”