Non-Work Study

Quick Facts
  • It’s the student’s responsibility to conduct a job search, apply for jobs, interview, and be hired. You can search for non-work-study jobs on Workday@Penn.
  • A Student Worker is appointed to a position in Workday@Penn by the employing department. 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.
  • Students employed on-campus are paid weekly by the employing department. Students are required to perform accurate time entry and submit weekly timesheets in Workday@Penn. 

Overview

A student who does not receive a work-study award as part of their financial aid package, or is a non-financially aided student, may be employed as a Student Worker (non-work-study). The employing department’s hiring manager appoints the student to a job requisition number in Workday@Penn. The department is responsible for paying 100% of the student’s wages.

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.

Non-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

International students are limited to on-campus employment, which is defined as working for Penn, on Penn Payroll, and on Penn premises. 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
  • 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 Services (ISSS) to make sure your employment will be considered on-campus employment. Special permission from ISSS/DHS is required to work at these non-Penn sites – for more information meet with an ISSS advisor.

Job Appointment and Required Documents

The appointment of a student worker (non-work-study) is handled directly by the hiring manager, who will begin the process in Workday@Penn. Instructions for the onboarding process 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 by visiting Onboard@Penn

New international 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 need to have an on-campus job first. The instructions and application for Social Security: On-Campus Work Authorization for F-1 and J-1 Students is located at the International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) website.

How Are Student Employees Paid

All student workers who receive their pay from Penn will enter their time on Workday@Penn. 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 U.S. 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.