It's important to understand how the Work/Study program works so that your employment is not put in jeopardy. From recruitment and employment supports, to tips for staying eligible, be sure to follow the tips below for a successful Work/Study position at 91亚色.
Quick Links
In order to meet eligibility requirements for Work/Study positions, you must be enrolled in courses.
How many courses you need to take will depend on your student status. Please use the Eligibility Check tool to see what the minimum number of courses you need to take are.
The second step is to understand the eligibility criteria and submit your application.
The Work/Study Program has three different types of Work/Study positions: General Work/Study; Leadership, Engagement, and Ambassadorship Program (LEAP); and Research at 91亚色 (RAY).
The the roadmaps to learn more about the difference between them.
Browse and apply to jobs
All jobs are posted on the Co-op & Career Centre's job board ''. While most positions are standardized across the University, on you will be able to see extended job details information from the hiring manager, which is very helpful when customizing your cover letter or resume. has great search filters that will also help you to refine your search to positions that better fit your skill set.
Once you are ready to apply, the posting will re-direct you over to 91亚色's Employment Portal (YU Hire) and you can submit your application.
Support with your cover letter & resume
Be sure to take advantage of Career Supports like the Drop-in Career Lounge, 1:1 Appointments or the Resume & Cover Letter workshops.
The fourth step is to track your applications and prepare for your interview if you were invited to one!
Preparing for Interviews
Be sure to take advantage of Career Supports like the Drop-in Career Lounge, 1:1 Appointments or the Interview Preparation workshops.
Please note that Work/Study Administration is not responsible for making any hiring decisions. These decisions are at the discretion of the hiring units. The hiring process may take some time; however, it's important to monitor the status of your application.
As a hired Work/Study student, you are required to sign an offer letter (contract) and complete a series of onboarding programs to assist you with your new appointment.
Through the principals of work-integrated learning (WIL) and experiential education (EE) pedagogy, Work/Study students are required to complete the Work/Study journals and check-ins with the support of a coach/mentor. The Work/Study journals are guided by the Becoming YU framework.鈥&苍产蝉辫;
provides you with a framework to set meaningful goals, identify the skills you want to develop to achieve those goals and provide you with tools to reflect on and track your progress. Through Becoming YU you will recognize the value of your experiences, have greater clarity about your leadership and career goals, and articulate your skills and accomplishments with confidence!
鈥&苍产蝉辫;
Becoming YU has identified the following six competencies as important to students' personal, academic and professional success.鈥疺iew the complete :
- Communication: Sharing and exchanging ideas effectively.鈥&苍产蝉辫;
- Interpersonal Connections: Collaborating with others.
- Personal Success: Developing self-awareness and accountability.
- Social Responsibility and Community Engagement: Getting REDI* to make a difference.
- Knowledge Acquisition and Application: Learning and applying knowledge and information.
- Critical Thinking and Problem Solving: Making effective decisions.
鈥&苍产蝉辫;
This section will have resources and tools to help support you and your Work/Study coach to complete the Work/Study journals and check-ins.鈥
As a Work/Study student, you are a valued 91亚色 employee and have important responsibilities. Once you sign the offer letter, Employers and Work/Study Administration are required to enforce the offer letter conditions. Please make sure you fully understand your contract.
To learn more about employment contracts, please review Understand your employment contract | 91亚色.
General Employment Expectations
- Actively participate in the Work/Study Journals
- Complete your assigned duties and follow the instructions within your offer letter.
- Inform your supervisor about your availability to work the agreed-upon hours.
- Immediately tell your supervisor if you are unable to honour your work commitments and try to arrange a more workable schedule.
- Immediately inform your supervisor if you withdraw from your studies during the academic session 鈥 you will no longer be eligible for the Work/Study Program and must resign from your position.
- If you are an international student, you are required to meet Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)鈥檚 .
Students may hold only one Work/Study Program position at any given time. While students may apply for multiple positions, they must honor their commitment to a single employer once hired.
Eligibility Status
As outlined in section 4 in your offer letter, you are required to maintain your eligibility throughout the employment period. To review eligibility requirements again, please visit STEP 2: Eligibility Application.
If there is a change in eligibility and you believe you no longer meet eligibility requirements, then you are required to inform your manager and Work/Study Administration as outlined in section 4, subsection c (for domestic students) or subsection e (for international students). Work/Study Administration will assess if you still meet eligibility requirements. If you do not, then you will have to resign from your Work/Study position.
Important notice for international students regarding academic status changes:
- International students should be aware that changing from full time to part-time status during Fall or Winter semesters (only exception is the final semester of their final year) may impact PGWP eligibility.
- Consultation with an International Student Advisor is recommended before making any changes to academic status (dropping out or reducing course load).
Work Eligibility Scenarios for International Students:
Requesting Accommodations
For Work/Study students who need accommodations, please follow the process outlined by Health, Safety and Employee Well-being:
- Notify Hiring Manager and EWB@yorku.ca of request for medical accommodation and to receive support and information about the process.
- Have licenced medical practitioner complete the appropriate and send to ewb@yorku.ca or by fax 416-736-5439.
- Employee Well-Being will review Medical Certificate within 5 business days and connect to discuss the process, provide support, advise of the status of the accommodation and determine next steps.
- Co-operate in work accommodation efforts by participating in Accommodated Work Plan (AWP) planning.
- Maintain regular contact with EWB, and Manager鈥 office and provide updates if your situation changes.
- Use all available resources for optimization of health and well-being.
