Types of Positions

This information is meant to serve as a general overview. Hours and payment method can vary based on a department’s budget, funding source and needs. If you have any questions about your hours, please be sure to check with your direct supervisor. Please be sure to review Requirements for Working on Campus webpage if you have not already.

Student Assistant (SA) positions are offered and paid by Stony Brook University departments and are open to any SBU student with a social security number, regardless of their financial aid package, year in school, or citizenship. Students in these positions may work a maximum of 29 hours a week among all positions.

Note: Students may be hired as a student assistant even with graduate status.
Graduate Assistants (GA) may work up to 20 hours a week and often work as .1 - .9 FTE. They can sometimes be paid through a stipend or tuition reimbursement.

View Human Resources Information

Note: Students may be hired as a student assistant even with graduate status.
Research Assistants are hired to assist in executing an academic research agenda. Depending on the department, a research assistant may work 20 or 29 hours during the school year depending on the department and up to 40 hours over the summer.
Offered through the federal campus-based aid program, federal work study (FWS) provides qualifying students employment opportunities to fund their college education. FWS salaries vary, depending on how much the student is granted and how many hours they will be working per week. The Office of Financial Aid determines each student’s semester eligibility and maximum earnings. Students who are offered and accept a position would receive federal work study funds in the form of a bi-weekly paycheck and may not work more than 40 hours per week. Both the student and the supervisor should closely monitor the FWS student’s award balance to ensure that the student does not work beyond their eligibility.

To have federal work study (FWS) funding, students would have:
- Selected interest for work study on their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
- Been notified of their federal work study award from the Office of Financial Aid
- Accepted the FWS award in SOLAR
- Actively have FWS funding to apply to work study positions on Handshake
Priority consideration is given to students who file a FAFSA by the priority filing deadline. For more information, please view the Federal Work Study webpage by the Office of Financial Aid.
The Community Service Federal Work Study program (CSFWS) is a federally subsidized work program, which provides eligible students the opportunity to work for a public or 501 (c) 3 non-profit sector organization whose mission and work benefit the community.

Stony Brook University participates in the Community Service FWS program during both: the academic year and summer semesters. The Career Center works with several community-based agencies that offer these positions to eligible students. Work performed off-campus must be in the public interest. Work in the public interest is defined as work performed for the welfare of the nation or community, rather than work performed for a particular interest or group.

What are the benefits?

Participation in CS FWS allows students to combine the financial need for work with the personal desire to help the community and expand industry experience. Eligible students have the opportunity to:
- Design a service experience in collaboration with a partnering organization.
- Network and make career contacts
- Receive FWS funds in the form of a bi-weekly paycheck
* It is recommended for students to have their own transportation to commute to and from the employer site.

Who is eligible? The Financial Aid Office determines each student’s semester eligibility and maximum earnings. Matriculated undergraduate/graduate students who have a financial aid package may qualify for CS FWS, with the following exceptions:
- International students are not eligible
- Graduating seniors are not eligible the summer after their senior year
- For more information on work study, please visit the Federal Work Study section of the Stony Brook Financial Aid Website.

Work Hour Restrictions*

These are the maximum hours you may work per week for each position for the fall and spring semesters. Even if you have more than one job you must adhere to these restrictions. Please note that this information is meant to serve as a general overview. Hours and payment method can vary based on a department’s budget, funding source and needs. If you have any questions about your hours, please be sure to check with your direct supervisor.

Student Assistant = 29 hours per week

Research Assistant = 20/29 hours per week

Federal Work Study = 40 hours per week

International students can work on campus for 20 hours per week during the fall and spring semesters. More information can be found below under Guidance for International Students.

*Summer restrictions may apply to Research Foundation (RF) positions.

Visa and Immigration Services (VIS):

It is recommended for students on a F-1 or J-1 visa to connect with Visa and Immigration Services (VIS).

The students will need to review with a VIS advisor if the student employment position is considered on-campus before starting the experience.

Start Your Search

Students search for on campus student employment positions directly in Handshake which is the only job posting site at Stony Brook University. Handshake serves as the Career Center's recruiting and career services platform for students, alumni and employers.

Find a Job on Handshake