Student Work

Harvard University Student Employment Office

The Harvard University Student Employment Office (SEO) is an important resource for all Harvard students seeking employment during their studies. The SEO posts both on and off-campus job listings offering a wide range of work opportunities. To view these job postings, you may visit the SEO website or visit the SEO at 86 Brattle Street.

Federal Work Study Program

This program is a need-based federally funded financial aid program offered to eligible U.S. citizens and permanent residents of the U.S. Students can reasonably expect to earn up to $3,500 per year through work-study funding; the FWSP maximum hourly wage for graduate students during the 2007-2008 academic year is $17.15. Students must have applied for financial aid and have been awarded FWS funds as part of their financial aid award package to be eligible for a FWSP position. FWSP employers pay a percentage of a student's wages; the federal government pays the remainder.

There are numerous opportunities for FWSP positions both at the University and off campus. Students frequently work in jobs connected with their research or career goals. Federal Work Study job opportunities are posted on the Harvard University Student Employment Office website. This site includes information for both students and employers about the eligibility requirements for participation in the work-study program. Jobs are also posted on bulletin boards throughout the University's campus; at HGSE the main site for paper job postings is the bulletin board across from the mailroom in the basement of Longfellow Hall. Students generally seek positions once they have arrived on-campus.

The Financial Aid Office (FAO) issues a FWSP Referral Form for each job a student undertakes. This form is the authorization for a student to be paid through work-study funding. Students may work more than one job, provided their total earnings through work-study do not exceed the amount of their total FWSP award. The FAO lists an "earnings ceiling" on the Referral form. This ceiling is the maximum amount the student may earn at this particular position. Students are required to monitor their earnings, to be sure they do not exceed their ceilings.

Employers and students may wish to download our Federal Work Study Publication (163KB pdf) for additional information about the FWSP and the referral process.

HGSE Career Services Office

The Career Services Office assists HGSE alumni and students enrolled in degree programs in formulating career plans. The office serves as a resource and information center by offering current job listings, a career resource library, informational handouts, a semi-monthly job bulletin, individual counseling sessions, as well as workshops on career planning and job-search skills. In addition, the Career Services Office invites educational recruiters to campus, provides data on alumni career paths and salaries, coordinates the annual Career Day Programs, and coordinates student and alumni networks. For more information visit the Career Services Office.