Federal Work-Study

Federal Work-Study is available for both undergraduate and graduate students.

Description

FWS awards appear on the student’s financial aid package along with all other financial aid. The amount shown represents the funds that a student could earn by working in an FWS-approved job. FWS jobs are not guaranteed. Students must apply, interview, and be selected for a position before they can begin earning FWS funds.

FWS earnings are paid directly to the student every two weeks, based on the number of hours worked in each bi-weekly pay period.

Awarding is subject to Important Dates for Limited Funds Consideration. Because FWS is a limited-fund program, students are advised to complete the FAFSA before December 15th each year to receive priority consideration.

FWS awards appear on the student’s financial aid package along with all other financial aid. The amount shown is the amount of funds allocated to the student to earn by obtaining an FWS job. FWS funds are not applied automatically to tuition, fees, or other charges on the student’s university account. For the 2025-2026 academic year, the minimum FWS award is $3,000 ($1,500 per semester) and the maximum FWS award is $5,000 ($2,500 per semester).

Benefits of Participating in FWS

Convenient locations – most FWS jobs are located on campus or near campus and accessible by UGA or Athens Transit
Flexible with class schedules – students will never be asked to work during scheduled class/exam time, as this is not allowed
Financial aid benefit – FWS earnings are excluded from the Student Aid Index, which may help students qualify for more aid in future years
Variety of job options – there are FWS positions available in dozens of university departments and with off-campus community organizations
Reduce debt – earn money for educational expenses instead of borrowing additional student loans
Gain Experiential Learning (EL) Credit – students working in off-campus FWS positions may be eligible to receive EL credit based on hours worked
Rate of pay – FWS positions offer hourly rates between $11.75 – $20.00/hour
Build professional skills – gain valuable work experience, build your resume, and make professional connections
Potential SNAP benefit eligibility – students working in FWS-specific positions can potentially be eligible for SNAP benefits (Food Stamps) as determined by their state of residence

Eligibility

To be eligible for FWS, students must:

Meet all Basic Student Eligibility Criteria
Demonstrate at least $1,500 in Unmet Need per semester
Be enrolled at least Half-Time
Be otherwise eligible as determined by the Office of Student Financial Aid (OSFA), including but not limited to maintaining Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)

Students must maintain eligibility at all times during the term of employment. Dropping or withdrawing from courses, or receiving additional aid such as scholarships, can affect eligibility.

If a student becomes ineligible, they must stop working in their FWS job immediately until they are instructed otherwise.

FWS Award Example

A student receives a $5,000 FWS award for the academic year, $2500 per semester. The student earns $13 per hour in their FWS job.

$2500/$13 per hour = 192 available work hours per semester

The same student works 25 hours over a two-week period.

$13 per hour x 25 work hours = $325 paycheck (167 available work hours remaining and $2,175 available to earn)

Pay Rate

Pay rates for FWS jobs range from $11.75 to $20.00 per hour, depending on the position and responsibilities. Each department or organization determines the pay rate for its FWS positions based on job duties and required experience.

FWS Hiring Period

Fall Semester: Hiring usually takes place from July through September. Most jobs are filled before fall classes begin, so students should apply early.
Spring Semester: Hiring typically occurs from December through January. Fewer positions are available in spring, so early action is recommended.

Important Reminders

FWS employees cannot:

Work more than 20 hours per week (including all other UGA jobs that a student may have)
Work during scheduled class or exam time
Earn more than their total FWS award amount for the semester

FWS Waitlist

Students who did not receive an FWS award on their Financial Aid Offer may contact [email protected] and ask to be placed on the FWS waitlist. Students will be screened for an award based on their eligibility and available program funding.

Process

To be considered for FWS:

Submit the FAFSA for the appropriate aid year.
- Note: The FAFSA no longer includes a question about FWS interest.
Awards are offered as FAFSAs are received, until all funds are exhausted.
If awarded, students can accept or decline FWS in their financial aid offer, typically available in the summer.
- Declining FWS does not affect future eligibility or consideration.
Students must accept the award in Athena to participate.
- Students must accept both semesters to remain eligible.
- Failure to accept FWS within 30 days may result in cancellation and reallocation of funds.

To reduce or cancel your FWS award, complete a Change In Aid request.

Students who accept FWS can apply for FWS-specific jobs on Handshake. Positions are obtained through a competitive application and interview process. It is recommended that students update their Handshake profile, resume, and CV before applying.

FWS is not the only employment option at UGA. For non-FWS jobs, visit the UGA Career Center. Students may hold more than one job on campus but can have only one FWS position at a time.