Graduate student researchers
Financial Aid and Scholarships, in collaboration with Graduate Studies and individual academic departments, administers work-study funds to graduate students based on need. The Federal government pays for a percentage of the costs of graduate student research, or GSR, employment. Federal Work-Study is available for students eligible to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, the FAFSA. The FAFSA must be completed annually to be considered. In the School of Education, only Ph.D. students are eligible for work-study.
There is a limited number of Federal Work-Study units available to graduate students at the University, so even if you are eligible, your program may not have units available. GSR work-study funds are available for use from October 1 through June 30 of the current award year.
Eligibility for graduate student researchers
| Student | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Graduate student | yes | no | yes | yes | no |
To be eligible for work-study, a graduate student must:
- Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, annually by the priority filing date
- Be a U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident
- Be identified as eligible for graduate work-study by your academic department
- Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress, or SAP
- Work with your academic program coordinator to inquire about being hired and awarded a graduate student researcher, or GSR, work-study position. Academic program staff, in conjunction with faculty, hire the GSRs and notify students when work-study awards are posted online.
For additional information regarding eligibility criteria, please contact your academic program coordinator.
Graduate student work-study responsibilities
As a graduate student researcher, or GSR, participating in the work-study program, you are expected to maintain professional standards and fulfill both your employment and reporting responsibilities.
- Conduct your research and fulfill your assigned duties in a professional, responsible, and timely manner.
- Maintain regular communication with your faculty supervisor or principal investigator regarding your work schedule, research progress, and any concerns that may affect your employment.
- Submit all required payroll and work-study time records by the established deadlines.
- Comply with all university, departmental, and research policies, including applicable confidentiality, safety, and compliance requirements.
- Maintain satisfactory academic progress while balancing your employment and academic responsibilities.
- Promptly respond to requests for information or documentation related to your Work-Study eligibility, employment, or funding.
Time record requirements for graduate student researchers
Graduate student research, or GSR, work-study students who are employed in a GSR position must submit two separate time records for each quarter in which they receive work-study funding:
- University payroll time record – Submit your hours through the university payroll system (typically the Time Reporting System, or TRS) as required for payroll processing.
- Work-study time record – Submit a completed and signed PDF work-study time record to document the portion of your GSR wages supported by Federal Work-Study funds: GSR Work-Study Time Record (PDF)
Failure to submit both required time records may delay processing and reconciliation of work-study funding.
Important reminder
You are required to report any increase in non-work-study earnings or other financial resources to Financial Aid and Scholarships, as these changes may affect your financial aid eligibility. Report any increase by submitting a change in aid request.
