Work-Study Program

Students must submit a Work-Study application to verify eligibility for the program. Even students who have previously participated in the Work-Study program must reapply every term.

To qualify, students must:  

• Be taking a minimum 60% course load (40% for students with a disability) throughout the fall/winter terms.
  • To be eligible for Work-Study in the summer term, students must be returning to a post-secondary institution in the subsequent fall/winter terms.
• Demonstrate financial need.

Laurentian University offers Work-Study opportunities year round. Students must reapply every term to be considered for a position.

The four Work-Study terms and the maximum weeks and hours students can work are detailed in the table below.

The hourly wage for a Work-Study position startin in fall 2023 will be minimum of $16.55/hour (based on the Ontario minimum wage increase in October).

The Work-Study program is reviewing it's suggested pay scale to help determine each position’s suggested hourly wage. The final hourly wage will be determined by the Work-Study team based on the Student Hourly Wage Rates Chart which is currently under review.

The approximate earnings per term, dependent on the position’s grade and number of hours worked, are:

• Fall Term (up to 15 weeks): up to approximately $3,500
• Winter Term (up to 15 weeks): up to approximately $3,500
• Fall/Winter term (up to 30 weeks): up to approximately $7,000
• Spring/Summer Term (up to 16 weeks): up to approximately $9,000

Students will receive an email from the Work-Study team regarding the start of the application process, along with a link to the online application form which can be found on the website. Students will be asked to fill out and submit the application form by a specified date and time.

All students will receive an email once their application has been processed to let them know if their application has been approved or if they do not qualify for the Work-Study program (i.e., in financial need).

If you are approved for Work-Study, you will be sent a link to a list of available student positions. It is your responsibility to email your cover letter and résumé to the contact person listed under the position you are interested in.

The employer may be coordinating follow-up interviews and selecting the best candidate for their position. Being approved for Work-Study does not guarantee you a position. 

Once an on-campus employer has decided on the student for the position, they will confirm their decision by contacting the selected student and workstudy@laurentian.ca.

If you are the selected student, you will need to complete the approved Work-Study forms to begin the position, which will be sent to you once you have been approved for Work-Study. Once all the completed employer and student forms have been submitted to Work-Study, you will be notified that the hiring process is complete and you can begin to work on the date specified by your supervisor.

Work-Study positions would have the following characteristics:

• Designed to accommodate the student’s academic schedule;
• Situated on campus, in the field, or remotely, with supervised support and training;
• Consists of duties that are related to the student’s program of study and/or employ good sound experiential learning principles;
• Involves projects that offer the student developmental opportunities to build new  skills, acquire new knowledge, or enhance existing knowledge and skills (i.e., employment related skills, research experience, or professional/office experience); 
• Enables students to add to their résumé, to enhance their career readiness, and to support a positive career path for them upon graduation;
• Does not replace or subsidize existing positions; and does not conflict with any existing collective agreements.

All on-campus departments can participate in the program, according to the Work-Study employer guidelines.

The employer needs to be approved for a Work-Study position and subsequently offer a qualifying student the approved position while following the Work-Study program guidelines.

Laurentian University offers Work-Study opportunities year round. Employers must reapply every term to be considered for a position.

The four Work-Study terms, the maximum weeks and hours students can work, and the months that CareerHub begins recruiting for positions are detailed in the table below.

The hourly wage for a Work-Study position starts at a minimum of $16.55/hour this fall 2023 and the Work-Study scale is being reviewed.

The Work-Study program will contribute a fixed portion of the minimum wage which will remain true to the spirit of supporting approximately 65% of the total student wage.

The program normally offers a subsidy of approximately 65% to pay the student’s position salary, while the employers pay the remaining 35% of their salary as well as their benefits. This is subject to change every term, as it is dependent on funding available to Work-Study.

Employers will receive an email from the Work-Study team regarding the start of the application process, along with a link to the online application form. Employers will be asked to fill out and submit the application form by a specified date and time. Applications may be received after the deadline, although they will be filled subsequently based on availability.

One form will need to be completed for every job requested and will need to include the job title and job description in both official languages (English and French). As we return to deliver services on campus, with some still working and learning remotely, employers will be asked to reflect on if and how their position(s) can be done remotely as well as in person to offer flexibility to students if possible.

After reviewing all position proposals, a memorandum form will be sent to every employer confirming the approval or denial for funding of their position.

If approved, sign and send back the memorandum to careerhub@laurentian.ca to confirm funding.

If denied, your proposal can still be considered if any additional funding is presented over the term; in this case, you would be contacted directly by the Work-Study team with the next steps.

If you wish to request a specific student for the position, indicate it on the memorandum form received by Work-Study. Once the indicated student gets approved for Work-Study, the hiring process can begin.

All unmatched students who are approved for Work-Study will be sent a link to a list of available student positions. It is their responsibility to email their cover letter and résumé to the contact person listed under the positions they are interested in. 

You, as the employer, will be coordinating follow-up interviews and selecting the best candidate for your position. Being approved for Work-Study does not guarantee that your position will be filled, as it is dependent on the number of student applicants we receive and what their interests are.

Once you have decided on the student for the position, confirm your decision by contacting the student and careerhub@laurentian.ca.

The student then needs to complete paperwork for the position, which is sent to them once approved for Work-Study. Once all the completed employer and student forms have been submitted, you will be notified that the hiring process is complete and the student can begin to work.