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 (GSR) employment. Federal Work-Study is available for students eligible to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (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 are 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.
Student Eligibility
To be eligible for work-study, a graduate student must:
- Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (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 (SAP)
- Work with your Academic Program Coordinator to inquire about being hired and awarded a Graduate Student Researcher (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 Researcher News
Federal Updates
A federal updates page on the University of California website tracks evolving federal policy shifts and provides resources as they become available. This resource includes a student financial aid section.
