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On-Campus Employment

On this page: On-Campus Authorization • Hours Per Week • Start and End Dates • Enrollment Requirements • Other Considerations

On-Campus Authorization

Visa TypeEmployment Authorization
F‑1 studentsISS authorization is not required for on-campus employment.
J‑1 students

ISS authorization is required for on-campus employment:

  • Request authorization by submitting the On-Campus Employment Authorization e-form before starting employment
  • ISS will issue a J-1 Employment Authorization letter for your employer
  • Authorization may be granted for up to 12 months at a time or until the end of your DS-2019, whichever comes first
  • If you change employers, you must submit a new e-form

Hours Per Week

TermHours per Week
Fall and spring semestersUp to 20 hours per week while school is in session
Official university breaks (winter, spring, summer)Up to 35 hours per week

Read Allowable Work Hours for Student Workers Policy for additional information about full-time work during official breaks.

Start and End Dates

Upon initial entry to begin a new program, you may not begin on-campus employment more than 30 days prior to the first day of classes. If you are an incoming (SEVIS) transfer student, you may only engage in on-campus employment after receiving a new I-20 from the University of Arizona.

Your on-campus employment authorization ends on the end date of your I-20 or DS-2019.

Enrollment Requirements

As a student worker, you must meet the following minimum enrollment requirements each semester of student employment:

TermMinimum Enrollment Requirement
FallMinimum enrollment of 6 credit hours
SpringMinimum enrollment of 6 credit hours
SummerMinimum enrollment of 3 credit hours unless you have completed at least 6 credit hours during the previous spring semester and are registered for at least 6 credit hours for the following fall semester
WinterMinimum enrollment of 3 credit hours unless you have completed at least 6 credit hours during the previous fall semester and are registered for at least 6 credit hours for the following spring semester

Read Eligibility for Student Employment Policy for more information.

Other Considerations

For the majority of on-campus employment, the University of Arizona will be your employer and the work will be physically located on the university campus. Some off-campus locations are treated as on-campus sites if they are directly owned by the University of Arizona or have strong educational affiliation. If you are unsure whether your work site is considered on-campus, you should speak with an ISS advisor for clarification.

International students are not eligible for work-study positions on-campus, because the majority are federally funded and only available to students who have completed a FAFSA form.

You are only eligible to apply for a Social Security Number (SSN) if you have on campus employment or authorization to work off campus. If you have on-campus employment, such as a student work position or graduate assistantship, For application instructions, visit the Social Security Number (SSN) page.

This information does not apply to J-1 student interns.