Work Study Program

Note: If you are an employer, please visit the Work Study Program for Employers section.

Program Description

The Work Study Program (formerly the International Student Work Opportunities Program) is designed to provide financial assistance through paid part-time employment on campus for undergraduate students. The program provides students with the opportunity to gain and enhance skills, obtain work experience in a Canadian context and enhance their experience of studying and living in Canada.

Application Deadline: September 3-15, 2024

Eligibility Criteria

For a student to be eligible to apply to the Work Study Program, they:

  • must be an undergraduate student (Canadian citizens, permanent residents, exchange students and graduate international students are not eligible)
  • must demonstrate financial need
  • must have a valid study permit
  • must be registered in the program full time
  • must be registered on main campus (students registered at Huron or King's are not eligible for the Work Study Program, but may be eligible for a similar program at their institution. See details at the bottom of this page)
  • must have completed at least 2 full semesters of study at Western (i.e., should be in second year or above)
  • must be in good academic standing

Meeting the eligibility requirements is not a guarantee of employment. Students approved to participate in the Work Study Program must pursue job postings, compete with other students, meet minimum job requirements, attend interviews and receive an offer of employment to get a job.

Number of Work Study Positions

50 positions for the 2024-25 academic year.

Compensation and Time Frame

The rate of pay is $17.20 + 4% vacation pay. The maximum allocation for each student is 200 hours. Participants must complete their work hours by April 30, 2025.

How to Apply

  1. Determine your eligibility.

    All interested students must ensure they meet the eligibility criteria (see above). Only those applicants who meet the eligibility criteria will be considered.
  2. Complete the Work Study Program online application form.

    The Work Study Application Form will be available on Student Center as of September 3, 2024.

    To log onto Student Center you will need your student ID and password. Once you have logged on, click on "Student Financials" and then "Financial Aid and Funding". Once here you can click on the link "Click Here To Apply for Financial Assistance" which will take you to the login for the Financial Assistance portal. Then select "International Student Work Study" to begin your application.
  3. Documentation required in support of your application
    • Photocopy of your current study permit
    • Proof of your bank balance from August 1, 2024, to present (acceptable documentation includes photocopies of actual bank statements or online statements showing ALL banking transactions and how living expenses and tuition are paid. If your bank statements do not show your expenses, please include additional documents (e.g., credit card statements) or explanation of expense items).

COMPLETED APPLICATIONS: All supporting documentation should be submitted using the secure online DocDrop . You must use a PDF file format to upload your documents. Please select the International Student Work Study document type when uploading your application. 

NOTE: Please ensure that every page of the documents submitted includes your Western Student Number.

The application deadline for online application AND submission of supporting documentation is September 15, 2024.

IMPORTANT: Incomplete applications will not be considered. All requested supporting documentation must be included with the application by the application deadline.

Notice of Approval

Work Study Program participants will be assessed and selected by the Student Financial Services department. All Work Study Program applicants will receive email communication from Student Financial Services within two weeks of the deadline date informing them whether their application has been approved or denied. Applicants can also check their account to view the decision on their Work Study application.

Candidates approved to participate in the Work Study Program will be granted access to the online work study campus job listing which contains postings of various jobs in the different departments across campus.

Approval does not mean you have a job. Students approved to the Work Study Program must investigate and pursue available job postings and compete with other students. They must meet minimum job requirements, be interviewed and be hired for a job

If you are accepted to the Work Study Program, you must have a resume in order to begin your job search. For help with creating or updating a resume, please visit Student Experience.

Social Insurance Number

You must have a Social Insurance Number (SIN) in order to work and receive payment for work in Canada .

International students who are studying full-time and who have a valid Study Permit are eligible to work on-campus and to get a SIN.

Students Registered at an Affiliate University College