On-Campus Jobs and Work-Study at Carleton and uOttawa — How to Apply (2026)

On-campus employment is the most student-friendly work option in Ottawa. Jobs are posted by departments that understand you have a class schedule — hours are typically 7–12 per week, scheduled around your timetable. No commuting. Supervisors are accustomed to student employees who occasionally have midterms. And for students who haven't established Canadian work references yet, on-campus positions build that track record. Here's how both programs work and how to actually get hired.

Carleton University Work-Study Program

Carleton's Work-Study program is a formal employment program offering part-time, paid, on-campus positions to eligible students. Key details for 2026–27:

• Application opening: September 1, 2026. This is the date the 2026–27 Work-Study application opens — have your materials ready to apply on or shortly after this date, as positions are competitive
• How to apply: through Carleton Central → Student Services → Awards and Financial Assistance → Undergraduate Online Application Forms → Other financial aid applications. Submit the Work-Study application through this portal first; approved applicants then view and apply to actual job postings through the mySuccess portal (also via Carleton Central)
• Eligibility: must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident AND be registered as a full-time student AND demonstrate financial need (OSAP assessment is often used as the need indicator). A limited number of international students may participate subject to fund availability — check with the Awards office if you're an international student interested in the program
• What positions look like: research assistant positions in faculty labs, administrative assistant roles in campus departments, library assistants, student ambassadors, IT support, and athletic facility staff. Most positions run 7–12 hours per week at above-minimum-wage rates (typically $17–$22/hour depending on the role)
• Benefit beyond the paycheque: Work-Study positions build your first Canadian reference. A supervisor who is a Carleton faculty member or administrator provides a credible reference for post-graduation employment and graduate school applications

University of Ottawa On-Campus Employment and Work-Study

uOttawa's on-campus employment system is one of the largest in Canada by volume:

• Volume: more than 1,700 job opportunities across student services and academic faculties are available through uOttawa's on-campus employment system each year
• Work-Study Program: uOttawa's Work-Study Navigator is accessible through uoZone. Students must demonstrate financial need by completing the financial questionnaire on the platform. Approved applicants are matched with positions
• Fall 2026 hiring timeline: hiring for the fall 2026 term opened August 1 and runs until October 13, 2026. Apply early — positions fill quickly and the program window closes mid-October
• Hours and compensation: work-study positions typically offer 7–12 hours per week per position. Students are limited to one work-study position per term. Total earnings over fall and winter combined: approximately $7,450 (varies by hourly rate and hours worked)
• Position types at uOttawa: teaching assistant support roles, library and research assistant positions, administrative support in faculties and student services, events staff, and student-facing services support across the campus

Non-Work-Study On-Campus Jobs

Beyond the formal Work-Study program, both campuses have general on-campus employment that doesn't require financial need eligibility:

• Campus food services — Carleton Dining Services and uOttawa food service operations hire students for dining hall, café, and catering positions throughout the year. These positions are posted independently of the Work-Study program and are accessible to all students regardless of financial need or citizenship status
• Campus retail — campus bookstores, convenience locations, and retail operations hire students for customer-facing roles
• Student union positions — CUSA (Carleton) and SFUO (uOttawa) hire paid students for their service centres, events teams, and operational positions. Check the CUSA and SFUO websites for current postings
• Library services — both campuses' library systems hire student assistants for circulation desk, shelf reading, and support roles. These positions frequently appear on the mySuccess/uoZone job portals and are excellent for students who want quiet, flexible work environments
• Research assistantships (RA positions) — faculty members frequently hire undergraduate research assistants for their research projects. These positions are sometimes Work-Study funded and sometimes directly funded by research grants. The best way to find RA positions is to approach faculty directly in your program with a CV and expression of interest — many RA positions are never formally posted and are filled through direct faculty-student relationships

Types of On-Campus Jobs and What They Pay

On-campus work at Carleton and uOttawa covers a wide range of roles. Understanding which categories exist helps you target your applications:

The Residence Advisor position deserves special mention — it's technically employment (you receive a room credit and a monthly stipend) that also provides free or heavily subsidized housing. For students paying $700–$1,100/month in residence fees, the RA position saves $8,400–$13,200/year. Applications for RA positions at both Carleton and uOttawa open in February for the following fall — the most impactful application you can submit in second year if housing cost is a concern.

Making Your Application Stand Out

On-campus positions are competitive. Students who get hired share a few consistent characteristics:

• Apply immediately when the portal opens — Work-Study positions at both Carleton and uOttawa fill within the first few weeks of the application window. Waiting until October often means the best positions are gone
• Tailor your application to the specific role — "Student worker" applications that are generic rarely succeed against applications that specifically address the skills listed in the position description. Even entry-level campus positions respond to tailored cover letters
• Leverage your academic program — applying for a position in your faculty or related to your field of study gives you a natural conversation point in interviews. A psychology student applying for a position supporting the Psychology department's administrative office has a ready answer to "why this role?"
• Faculty connection helps for RA positions — emailing a professor whose research interests you with a brief, specific, and professional expression of interest in working as an RA is more effective than waiting for RA postings. Keep the email short: one paragraph on what specifically interests you about their research, one paragraph on your relevant coursework, and a polite ask for any current or upcoming RA opportunities. Attach a one-page CV

Balancing Work and Studies

The research on student employment and academic performance is nuanced: students who work up to 12–15 hours per week on campus typically maintain or slightly improve their academic performance compared to non-working students, because structured work creates structured time management. Students who work more than 20 hours per week begin to show declining academic performance on average.

The Work-Study programs at both Carleton and uOttawa are explicitly designed around the 7–12 hour/week range to keep students in the beneficial zone. If you find a position requiring more than this during a heavy academic period, communicate with your supervisor — academic accommodations in scheduling are standard and expected from on-campus employers during midterms and finals.

Tax Implications of On-Campus Employment

On-campus employment income is taxable in Canada. Understanding your tax obligations as a student worker prevents surprises in April:

• Your employer deducts income tax, CPP, and EI at source — every paycheque from an on-campus employer will have federal and Ontario income tax withheld, plus Canada Pension Plan contributions and Employment Insurance premiums. You don't need to remit these separately — they're deducted automatically
• You receive a T4 slip in February — your employer issues a T4 summarizing your earnings and deductions for the previous calendar year. Use this to file your Canadian tax return (deadline: April 30 for employment income)
• Students almost always get a refund — because your income over 10–12 hours/week at $17–$22/hour falls well below the full personal exemption thresholds, most of the tax withheld during the year is returned as a refund when you file. Students who don't file miss this refund
• Tuition tax credit — your T2202A (tuition receipt from the university) provides a tuition tax credit that further reduces your taxable income. Combine it with your employment income reporting to maximize your refund
• File even if you think you earned too little to owe tax — filing with zero tax owing still activates your GST/HST credit payments (quarterly payments of $70–$100 for low-income individuals) and creates a RRSP contribution room that will matter later in your career