Students are eligible to work at The University of Texas at Austin if they meet certain criteria, and these minimum eligibility requirements vary depending on the student’s program of study and type of student job. Also, different types of jobs come with limits on how many hours per week a student employee can work and standard appointment dates that can be used each semester.
The university’s HR system, Workday, has a built in Student Eligibility Engine that checks on these criteria and limits and reports to HR staff with any errors.
Enrollment Requirements for Student Job Titles
| Graduate Academic Titles | Job Code | Fall / Spring | Summer | Can student work in the title the summer after graduation? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assistant Instructor | 0045 | 9 | 3 | no |
| Teaching Assistant | 0062 -0063 | 9 | 3 | no |
| Graduate Research Assistant | 0090 | 9 | 3 | no |
| Academic Assistant | 0065 | 9 | 3 | no |
| Assistant (Grad) | 0071 | 9 | 3 | no |
| Tutor (Grad) | 0064 | 9 | 3 | no |
| Undergraduate/Professional Academic Titles* | Job Code | Fall / Spring | Summer | Can student work in the title the summer after graduation? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Research Assistant (U or P) | 0095 | 12 | 0 if enrolled in 12 hours the previous spring; 3 if not enrolled in 12 hours the previous spring | yes, if enrolled in 12 hours the previous spring |
| Assistant (U or P) | 0070 | 12 | 0 if enrolled in 12 hours the previous spring; 3 if not enrolled in 12 hours the previous spring | yes, if enrolled in 12 hours the previous spring |
| Tutor (U or P) | 0066 | 12 | 0 if enrolled in 12 hours the previous spring; 3 if not enrolled in 12 hours the previous spring | yes, if enrolled in 12 hours the previous spring |
| Student Non-Academic Titles* | Job Code | Fall/Spring | Summer | Can student work in the title the summer after graduation? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student Assistant | 0074 | 6 | 0 if enrolled in 6 hours the previous spring; 3 if not enrolled in 6 hours the previous spring | yes, if enrolled in 6 hours the previous spring |
| Student Associate | 0075 | 6 | 0 if enrolled in 6 hours the previous spring; 3 if not enrolled in 6 hours the previous spring | yes, if enrolled in 6 hours the previous spring |
| Senior Student Associate | 0076 | 6 | 0 if enrolled in 6 hours the previous spring; 3 if not enrolled in 6 hours the previous spring | yes, if enrolled in 6 hours the previous spring |
| Student Technician | 0077 | 6 | 0 if enrolled in 6 hours the previous spring; 3 if not enrolled in 6 hours the previous spring | yes, if enrolled in 6 hours the previous spring |
| Student Camp Worker | 0078 | 6 (UT or own institution) | 0 if enrolled in 6 hours the previous spring; 3 if not enrolled in 6 hours the previous spring | yes, if enrolled in 6 hours the previous spring |
| Non-Affiliated Student Worker | 0079 | 6 (in own institution) | 0 if enrolled in 6 hours the previous spring; 3 if not enrolled in 6 hours the previous spring | yes, if enrolled in 6 hours the previous spring |
| H&F Resident Assistant | 0073 | 6 | 0 if enrolled in 6 hours the previous spring; 3 if not enrolled in 6 hours the previous spring | yes, if enrolled in 6 hours the previous spring |
| Camp Resident Assistant | 0098 | 6 (UT or own institution) | 0 if enrolled in 6 hours the previous spring; 3 if not enrolled in 6 hours the previous spring | yes, if enrolled in 6 hours the previous spring |
Work Study Rules here. Federal Work-Study funds may not be used for work performed after the student drops below half-time or withdraws from the University.
Limits on Student Work Hours
- Students in Work-Study Positions *
- Enrollment Requirements: Must be enrolled at least half-time with approved SAP
- No more than 19 hours per week in Work-Study position
- No more than 8 hours in any 24-hour period or 40 hours in one week
- Up to 40 hours per week permitted when classes are not in session
- Work-Study funds are utilized for the first 19 hours. Earnings above 19 hours are not Work-Study Earnings.
* NOTE: Students in a Work-Study position are not subject to the ACA Law.
- International Students
- No more than 20 hours per week of UT Austin employment during long semesters OR summer (if the summer is their first semester or last semester)
- Up to 40 hours per week permitted during:
- Fall and Spring Break (5 weekdays, plus the Saturday and Sunday before and after)
- Summer (day after May graduation through day before August classes start) *Graduate Students have further limits, see below*
- Thanksgiving break
- Winter break (day after December graduation through day before January classes start)
- Graduate Students in an Academic job (0062, 0063, 0090, 0045, 0065, 0071)
- No more than 20 hours per week of UT Austin employment in a student job title during the student’s first two long semesters (fall/spring) as a full-time graduate student
- No more than 30 hours per week of UT Austin employment in a student job title during subsequent semesters, including summer
- Exception: Up to 40 hours per week during:
- Fall and Spring Break (5 weekdays, plus the Saturday and Sunday before and after)
- Summer (day after May graduation through day before August classes start, but no more than an average of 30 hours per week between 6/1 and 8/15)
- Winter break (day after December graduation through day before January classes start)
- Professional Students (0066, 0067, 0070, 0074, 0075, 0076, 0077, 0095)
- Professional Student Academic job profiles - No more than 20 hours per week of UT Austin employment in a student job title during the student’s first two long semesters (fall/spring)
- Professional Student Non-Academic job profiles - No more than 40 hours per week of UT Austin employment in a student job title during the student’s first two long semesters (fall/spring), subject to limits for international students
- Professional Student Academic & Non-Academic - Up to 40 hours per week during:
- Fall and Spring Break (5 weekdays, plus the Saturday and Sunday before and after)
- Summer (day after May graduation through day before August classes start); for students enrolled in summer classes,
- Winter break (day after December graduation through day before January classes start)
- Students in Undergraduate Academic Titles (0066, 0070, 0095)
- No more than 20 hours per week of UT Austin employment during long semesters (fall/spring)
- Up to 40 hours per week during:
- Fall and Spring Break (5 weekdays, plus the Saturday and Sunday before and after)
- Summer (day after May graduation through day before August classes start); for students enrolled in summer classes, Quantity of Work Guidelines recommended: Work hours + course credit hours = no more than 40 hours per week
- Winter break (day after December graduation through day before January classes start)
- Students in Non-Academic Titles
- Up to 40 hours per week, subject to limits for Work-Study, international, and graduate students
- Quantity of Work Guidelines recommended: Work hours + course credit hours = no more than 40 hours per week
* Departments may impose stricter limits for the students they employ in student titles.
NOTE: Under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), health insurance benefits must be offered to:
- any employee who is reasonably expected to work (i.e., is assigned) at least 30 hours per week or 130 hours per month for a period of 90 days or more, and
- any employee who works an average of at least 30 hours per week or 130 hours per month during a 12-month measurement period
- Work-Study Appointments are exempt from this law
Beginning 9/1/17, employees who are eligible for coverage under the ACA will automatically be enrolled in basic coverage, including UT Select health insurance. For purposes of the 12-month measurement period, ACA eligibility is based on actual hours worked. Assignments must accurately reflect work hours.
Student Employment Dates
Graduate student academic assignments
- Fall: 8/16 – 12/31
- Spring: 1/1 – 5/15
- Summer: 5/16 – 8/15
Undergraduate, Professional academic assignments and all non-academic assignments*
- Fall: 8/1 – 1/15
- Spring: 12/1 – 5/31
- Summer: 5/1 – 8/31
Work-Study assignments*
- Fall: 8/16 – 12/31
- Spring: 1/1 – 5/31
- Summer: 6/1 – 8/15
* Any student employee who is not in a Graduate Academic job title can be assigned to work within these dates and Workday will check the corresponding semester for eligibility to work. (For example, a Work-Student student who has a WS award for Fall may work any dates within 8/16 & 12/31.)