The Office of Student Employment offers several types of employment for Emerson students:
Federal Work-Study (FWS)
Federal Work-Study is reserved for students who receive FWS funds as part of their financial assistance packages. To be eligible, you must file a FAFSA for each award year of your academic career. Once awarded, it is the student’s responsibility to search the job board for available positions and apply. Students are strongly encouraged to apply for jobs (about 7-10) as early in the semester as possible.
Earnings are paid directly to the student through weekly paychecks. Students' weekly hours and wages are limited by eligibility and fund availability, and students are only compensated for hours they actually work. It is not a traditional financial aid “grant,” and earnings are not applied to tuition. The earnings are designed to help offset education-related expenses like school supplies and books.
Students who decline FWS funds one semester are not guaranteed to receive them in the future, and may have to find jobs through Emerson Employment. Students may appeal for FWS funds in future semesters after receiving their initial financial aid packages.
Service Work-Study
Through the FWS Program, Emerson College funds a number of Service Work-Study jobs that Emerson students may hold at approved nonprofit/community service agencies. Service Work-Study helps provide local organizations with the consistent volunteer help they need at little or no cost. At the same time, students are able to do meaningful public interest work in the greater Boston community, while still being able to afford college necessities.
Our partnerships include Jumpstart, the Museum of Fine Arts, Lyric Stage, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Jewish Vocational Services, and the Huntington Theatre Company.
Emerson Employment (EME)
Any undergraduate or graduate student who is eligible to participate in the Student Employment Program may work on campus in jobs offered by Emerson College department supervisors. Emerson Employment positions are fully funded by the College’s individual departments and are not associated with financial assistance in any way.
Emerson Employment offers more job opportunities than FWS—in fact, the number of Emerson Employment students equals almost three times the number of FWS students working on campus. However, there is more competition for Emerson Employment jobs than FWS jobs.
Summer Student Employment
Summer employment is available to Emerson students through the Emerson Employment (EME) program.
Students may work up to 40 total hours during the summer (as opposed to 20 total hours during the academic year).