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Federal Work Study

Federal Work Study (FWS) is a need-based federally funded program that allows eligible students to earn money to help pay for school costs. FWS provides funding for part-time employment to UNF students, both on and off campus.

If interested, email FWS@unf.edu from your secure UNF email account and ask to be evaluated for an award. Funding is limited, so awards are given on a first-come basis. FWS positions are only available during fall and/or spring terms. Available FWS positions can be found through Workday. 

Benefits of Federal Work Study 

  • Opportunity to earn additional money to help pay for school costs
  • On-the-job experience that could give you an edge in the job market after graduation
  • Working with accomplished professionals in your field of choice will provide you with valuable references for the future
  • Program is academically-focused and your supervisor will schedule you to work around your class schedule
  • Even though FWS earnings are taxable, the earnings are not considered in determining your financial need on the FAFSA
  • Some FWS positions are community-service based, giving students an opportunity to give back to the local community 
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FWS Information for Students

If interested in FWS, email FWS@unf.edu to be evaluated for an initial award. To be eligible for FWS, the following must all be met before an award evaluation

  • Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and indicate you are interested in FWS 
  • FAFSA must show you have financial need 
  • Be a degree-seeking Undergraduate, Post-Baccalaureate or Graduate student
  • Meet Satisfactory Academic Progress standards
  • Have a completed, error-free FAFSA with no outstanding requirements from the Office of Student Financial Aid
If all initial eligibility requirements are met, students will receive an Email of Eligibility that outlines next steps and how to apply. The Email of Eligibility will need to be uploaded with your FWS job application

How to Apply

  1. Once you receive an Email of Eligibility from the Office of Student Financial Aid to your secure UNF email address, apply for available FWS jobs through Workday 
  2. Find UNF Student Jobs on Workday and log in with UNF ID number
  3. Search for jobs that contain "FWS" or "Federal Work Study"
  4. When applying, upload a copy of your Email of Eligibility to your application. You will be contacted if you are selected for an interview
  5. If you have previously been employed in a FWS job, contact your supervisor to discuss upcoming availability 
  6. Once hired, make sure your supervisor gives you instructions on how to set up direct deposit and how to process your timesheet to get paid biweekly 

Additional Information

If hired, the Office of Student Financial Aid will post a FWS award to your financial aid package after the beginning of the term.

  • At least six hours of degree-applicable coursework must be confirmed before awarding FWS
  • The amount of this award will range from $1000-$3000 for each term. Funds are nontransferrable between terms
  • You will work with your FWS supervisor to arrange your work schedule
  • FWS students generally must not work more than 20 hours each week/40 hours per pay period, may not work during scheduled class times and may not hold more than one position at the University
  • Additionally, FWS cannot be used to defer (pend) tuition, fees, or other charges billed to student accounts
  • FWS employees are paid according to the UNF biweekly payroll schedule based on the hours earned during the pay period
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FWS Information for Supervisors

To participate in FWS as a supervisor or department, contact the Office of Student Financial Aid by emailing FWS@unf.edu 

  1. The Office of Student Financial Aid will send all potential supervisors/departments a FWS Position Interest Form to complete in early July before the start of each academic year
  2. After review from FA and when given the approval to hire, post your job(s) in Workday using task Create Job Requisition.
  3. Review applicants and conduct interviews, and make an offer to the final candidate.
  4. Please see KB: Workday: Hiring a Student for help or steps for direct student hires. The Office of Student Financial Aid will process the student in Workday and post a work study award when at least six degree-applicable credit hours are confirmed for the term.
  5. Upon completion, supervisors will receive an email and tracking spreadsheet from FWS@unf.edu approving the student to begin working when cleared by Human Resources.
  6. Monitor student hours worked and dollars earned.
  7. Supervise the student worker.
  8. Review and approve the student worker's timesheets each biweekly pay period.
FWS Dates
Term Start Date End Date
Fall 2025 08/27/25 12/05/26
Spring 2026 01/16/26 04/24/26
Fall 2026 08/26/26 12/04/26
Spring 2027 01/15/27 04/23/27

 

Helpful Tips 

  • Students are allowed to begin work only after academic activity in a minimum of six credit hours has been documented, generally two to three days following the end of the add/drop period. After academic activity is documented, the Office of Student Financial Aid works to process work study awards. Students may not work beyond the last day of classes each term.
  • Students may work up to, but no more than, 20 hours per week and/or 40 hours per pay period. Any hours in excess of 20/week or 40/pay period will be charged back to the department's OPS account. It is the responsibility of the department to monitor the student's timesheet and hours worked. We recommend using the FWS tracking spreadsheet sent with the approval email.
  • Student workers are not allowed to work during scheduled class times and it is expected that supervisors will give consideration when academic reasons are cited for scheduling requests.
  • Time sheets must be submitted to the supervisor and approved by the standard University deadline (10 a.m. Monday prior to payday). 
  • Work study students do not receive paid time off for lunch, holidays, overtime, vacation, spring break, jury duty, sick time or when they are tardy or absent from work. It is the student's responsibility to notify their supervisor, in advance, if they are unable to work.
  • If a supervisor needs to terminate a student for any reason, they should email FWS@unf.edu immediately, so the term award may be cancelled and funding reallocated to another student.
  • The following are hourly pay rate suggestions for new positions
    • Freshmen: $15
    • Sophomore $15.50
    • Juniors $16
    • Seniors $16.50
    • Graduate and Post-Baccalaureate Students $17