Make the Most of Your Award
Do you have a Federal Work-Study award? Here’s the information you need to know to take full advantage of this program.
Federal Work-Study—a federally funded financial aid program administered by Boston University—is designed to help you earn money for educational expenses. Unlike traditional grants, Federal Work-Study earnings are not applied to tuition. Here’s how it works:
- You’re personally paid for hours worked in an eligible Work-Study position.
- You can use your earnings to cover costs like tuition and fees, room and board, books, supplies, and necessary travel expenses. (You may also want to save part of your earnings to apply to the next semester’s expenses.)
- The pay from a Work-Study position is your responsibility once earned, with no obligation to the Federal government or the University.
Recipients of Work-Study awards have access to additional part-time job opportunities while attending Boston University.
Maintaining Your Work-Study Award
Boston University Financial Assistance selects as many participants for the Work-Study Program as funding allows for the academic year program, while students apply directly for the summer program. Eligibility for both programs is based on financial need. Learn more about reapplying for Work-Study.
If your eligibility changes during the academic year or summer program, BU Financial Assistance may be required to adjust or cancel your Work-Study award. Therefore, it is important to monitor your award balance, which you can view through MyBU Works.
When accepting your financial aid package, you may decline your Work-Study award online if you are not interested in obtaining a Work-Study position. Otherwise, notify Financial Assistance as soon as possible.
Payment for Work-Study
Undergraduate students are paid on an hours-worked basis. Graduate students may be paid on either an hours-worked or a weekly-salaried basis, depending on the job.
Your earnings will depend on your work schedule and your hourly pay rate or weekly salary and are paid only for hours worked. Holidays, snow days, sick days, lunch, and break periods are unpaid. Rates are set according to the complexity and responsibilities of the job and the skills and experience required. Learn more about getting paid.
You are able to submit an Appeal for Additional Funding if you’re actively working in a Work-Study position and will run out of funding before the program end date. Keep in mind that we cannot verify your eligibility for an increase before you start working in a Work-Study position.
