International Student Work-Study

Quick Facts
  • International students are limited to on-campus employment, which is defined as working for Penn, on Penn Payroll, and on Penn premises. 
  • It’s the student's responsibility to conduct a job search, apply for jobs, interview, and be hired. You can search for jobs on Workday@Penn.
  • You need to have a Social Security Number in order to work in the United States, but you must secure a job first in order to apply for the Social Security Number.
  • A student cannot begin working until the hiring manager appoints the student to a job requisition number on Workday@Penn. New student employees are required to complete University onboarding tasks through Workday@Penn and Onboard@Penn.
  • When classes are in session, students (full-time or part-time) are not permitted to work more than a total of 20 hours per week.
  • During school breaks (Thanksgiving, Winter, and Spring), F-1 students may work full-time, up to a maximum of 40 hours per week
  • All students are paid weekly based on hours worked. Students are required to perform accurate time entry and submit weekly timesheets in Workday@Penn. 

Overview

International Student Work-Study is a Student Registration and Financial Services subsidized work program, which provides on-campus employment opportunities to eligible international undergraduate students only during the academic year (fall/spring). While the program offers a variety of job opportunities, a student is encouraged to seek work related to a student's course of study.

A work-study award represents the maximum earnings potential while employed under the program, up to the total amount of your award. The work-study award is not deducted from the student's University tuition bill. The student is paid for those hours actually worked.

Work-Study employment can benefit a student in several ways:

  • Pay for personal expenses
  • Improve time management skills
  • Help build a student's resume
  • Serve as a reference for future employment

If a student chooses not to use their work-study award, it will not affect the student's current financial aid package, or future eligibility for work-study.

A student may postpone working until the spring semester. However, the availability of jobs may be limited.

How to Find a Job

International students are limited to on-campus employment, which is defined as working for Penn, on Penn Payroll, and on Penn premises. For more information, and for off-campus work authorization, meet with an International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) advisor.

It’s the student's responsibility to conduct a job search, apply for jobs, interview, and be hired. A student may only work for a hiring manager who has a job listed on Workday@Penn. Login to Workday and click Careers, and then click Student Employment.

The student must present a copy of their class schedule to the hiring manager at the time of the interview, in order to ensure there is no conflict between class times and the work schedule.

Not all Penn affiliates or entities are considered on-campus employment sites for immigration purposes. The following examples are considered non-Penn sites:

  • CHOP (including Pediatrics)
  • International House
  • Monell Chemical Senses Center
  • Red and Blue Call Center
  • The Wistar Institute
  • AppleOne or any agency under different EINs

This is not an exhaustive list of non-Penn sites. Therefore, you must check with International Student and Scholar Service (ISSS) to make sure your employment will be considered on-campus employment.

Special permission from ISSS/DHS is required to work at non-Penn sites – for more information meet with an ISSS advisor.

Social Security Number

New student employees will need a valid Social Security Number in order to work in the United States. Before applying for a Social Security Number, you must first have an on-campus job offer. The instructions and application for Social Security: On-Campus Work Authorization for F-1 and J-1 Students are located at the International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) website.

Job Appointment and Required Documents

The hiring manager will appoint the student to a job requisition number in Workday@Penn.

New student employees are required to complete onboarding, which includes filled out federal forms, W-4 (Employee's Withholding Allowance Certificate), and online I-9 (Employment Eligibility Verification) as well as other documents for non-resident aliens. The employing department's hiring manager will begin the onboarding process and instructions will be sent to the student employee via e-mail. After completing the online onboarding tasks in Workday@Penn, new student employees will complete in-person tasks at Onboard@Penn located on campus. Schedule an appointment and learn more at Onboard@Penn. 

How Are Student Employees Paid?

 

University regulations require that weekly hours must be supported by a listing of clock hours worked for each student.

All student workers who receive their pay from Penn will enter their time on Workday@Penn, the University's new human resources and payroll platform. A student’s hours cannot be held for a period of time, and then submitted all at once. University regulations require that a student employee must be paid weekly. The employing department will instruct the student regarding the procedures for entering time in Workday.

A student cannot be paid for lunch, holidays, sick time, and other time off, or for receiving instruction in the classroom, laboratory, or other academic setting.

Work-Study wages are subject to the same federal, state, and local income taxes as any other earned income.

International students have the same taxes withheld that United States students do. Students that are from a country that has a tax treaty with the United States may be able to claim a refund of the taxes withheld when they file their yearly income tax returns. If you have any questions regarding taxation, please contact the Penn Employee Solution Center at solutioncenter@upenn.edu. 

Workday@Penn Resources

You may access self-service tip sheets and videos, available 24/7, to assist you in navigating Workday@Penn, entering time, understanding your pay slip, or changing your pay elections (direct deposit).

University Policy on Acceptable Use of Electronic Resources

A student employee is required to comply with the University’s Policy on Acceptable Use of Electronic Resources.