Work Study

The Federal Work Study Program (FWS) is a federally-funded work program that allows students who qualify to earn money while working at a pre-approved organization: GW departments, local nonprofits, government agencies and community service employers.

You are automatically considered for FWS when you complete the FAFSA and, if eligible, it will be included in your financial aid offer. Students qualify for work-study based on their eligibility for need-based assistance. Once awarded, students are able to earn up to the total amount of their annual award. The work-study award is typically paid to the student through a bi-weekly paycheck, however students may choose to have their earnings credited to their university account by completing the Title IV Authorization form which is available on the Student Accounts website.

The amount of the student’s paycheck is based on the hours worked and their hourly pay rate. Once a student earns up to their annual work-study award they cannot continue to work unless their employer is able to retain them as a non-work-study employee.

Assistance from the Center for Career Services

The Center for Career Services offers comprehensive career development, experiential education, and student employment services and resources for GW students and alumni. Please note that the university does not assign students to specific jobs, rather Student Employment within the Center for Career Services maintains online position listings on the Student Employment Talent Management System.

Employers

It is beneficial for employers to hire work-study students because those employers are only responsible for paying a portion of the student’s wages. The remainder of the student's wages is paid by the federal work-study funds.

The Federal Work Study Program (FWS) is a federally-funded work program that allows students who qualify to earn money while working at a pre-approved organization: GW departments, local nonprofits, government agencies and community service employers.

You are automatically considered for FWS when you complete the FAFSA and, if eligible, it will be included in your financial aid offer. Students qualify for work-study based on their eligibility for need-based assistance. Once awarded, students are able to earn up to the total amount of their annual award. The work-study award is typically paid to the student through a bi-weekly paycheck, however students may choose to have their earnings credited to their university account by completing the Title IV Authorization form which is available on the Student Accounts website.

The amount of the student’s paycheck is based on the hours worked and their hourly pay rate. Once a student earns up to their annual work-study award they cannot continue to work unless their employer is able to retain them as a non-work-study employee.

Assistance from the Center for Career Services

The Center for Career Services offers comprehensive career development, experiential education, and student employment services and resources for GW students and alumni. Please note that the university does not assign students to specific jobs, rather Student Employment within the Center for Career Services maintains online position listings on the Student Employment Talent Management System.

Employers

It is beneficial for employers to hire work-study students because those employers are only responsible for paying a portion of the student’s wages. The remainder of the student's wages is paid by the federal work-study funds.

The Federal Work Study Program (FWS) is a federally-funded work program that allows students who qualify to earn money while working at a pre-approved organization: GW departments, local nonprofits, government agencies and community service employers. The Center for Career Services offers comprehensive career development, experiential education, and student employment services and resources for GW students and alumni. Please note that the university does not assign students to specific jobs, rather Student Employment within the Center for Career Services maintains online position listings on the Student Employment Talent Management System.

Funding for the Federal Work Study program is very limited. Students are notified only in the case of an award being made. To be considered for Federal Work Study, interested students should complete the Graduate Federal Work Study Request Form. Students must demonstrate at least $5,000 of need and understand that their total loan eligibility will be decreased by the amount of the Federal Work Study award. 

The work-study award is typically paid to the student through a bi-weekly paycheck, however students may choose to have their earnings credited to their university account by completing the Title IV Authorization form which is available on the Student Accounts website. The amount of the student’s paycheck is based on the hours worked and their hourly pay rate. Once a student earns up to their annual work-study award they cannot continue to work unless their employer is able to retain them as a non-work-study employee.

Other Employment Opportunities

Students who do not qualify for the Federal Work Study program may explore other employment opportunities. Many graduate students obtain employment to help fund their studies:

• Information on full-time, part-time, internship, cooperative education, temporary and summer positions are available on the Center for Career Services website.

• The GW Jobs site, maintained by University Human Resources, provides information about full-time and regular part-time positions. After a three-month waiting period, new GW employees, as well as the spouses and children of full-time employees, may receive educational benefits.

• Graduate students employed full- or part-time on a research grant may use their tuition benefits immediately if they begin their employment before the first day of classes.