Working on campus at Queen's offers advantages that off-campus jobs in Kingston can't match: proximity to class, schedule flexibility during exams, employers who understand the academic calendar, and often lower-stress environments than retail or service jobs. The landscape of Queen's on-campus employment is larger than most students realize — it extends well beyond the campus bookstore and library desk to include research positions, tutoring, athletic facilities, and the substantial AMS student-run business ecosystem. This guide covers every realistic pathway to campus employment at Queen's in 2026.
The Queen's Work-Study Program
The Queen's Work-Study Program connects eligible students with on-campus part-time jobs that are funded partly by the university. Work-Study positions are specifically reserved for students who demonstrate financial need (typically students receiving OSAP) — it's a financial aid program delivered through employment rather than grants.
Eligibility: Work-Study positions at Queen's require OSAP eligibility in the current academic year. Students who receive OSAP grants are automatically considered for Work-Study placement. If you're uncertain whether you're eligible, contact the Queen's Student Awards Office.
How to find Work-Study positions: Queen's posts Work-Study opportunities through the Queen's Jobs Opportunities system (mycareer.queensu.ca). Positions are posted throughout the year but the highest concentration of new postings is in September and January. Search specifically for "Work-Study" in the position type filter. Common Work-Study roles: research assistant positions in academic departments, tutoring and peer mentoring roles, library assistance, and administrative support in student services offices.
Pay and hours: Work-Study positions typically pay Ontario minimum wage to modestly above, and hours are capped to ensure they don't conflict with academic obligations — typically 10–15 hours/week maximum during the academic year.
Teaching Assistant (TA) and Research Assistant (RA) Positions
For upper-year undergraduates and graduate students, Teaching Assistant and Research Assistant positions are among the most academically valuable campus employment opportunities — they pay better than most entry-level campus jobs and build skills directly relevant to graduate school and academic careers.
TA positions: Teaching Assistants at Queen's support professors in large first and second-year courses by leading tutorial sections, marking papers and exams, and holding office hours. TA hiring happens through individual departments, not through a central system. Contact the department office for subjects in your major in March (for summer courses) or April–May (for fall courses). Having a strong academic record in the courses you'd TA is the primary criterion; departments hire TAs they trust to represent the material accurately. Pay varies by department and collective agreement but is typically $20–$30/hour.
RA positions: Research Assistants work directly with professors on research projects — literature reviews, data collection, analysis, and writing. RA opportunities are almost entirely found through direct faculty relationships, not job postings. The path: take a course, do well, establish a relationship with the professor during office hours, and express interest in their research. Professors who are looking for RAs frequently hire from students they know from their classes. Second and third-year students who build these relationships early have significantly better access to RA positions than those who try to find them cold through a job board.
AMS Employment — Working for the Student Government
The Queen's Alma Mater Society (AMS) is one of Canada's largest student governments by budget and employs hundreds of Queen's students across its various operations. AMS positions cover a wide range of roles and experience levels:
- The Lazy Scholar (AMS bookstore) — retail positions selling textbooks, school supplies, and Queen's merchandise. Entry-level; flexible scheduling; good option for first-year students
- AMS Food and Beverage — Queen's Pub (the Grad Club bar/restaurant), Tina's (vegan restaurant in JDUC), and catering operations. FOH and BOH positions; variable hours; tips for bar and restaurant roles
- AMS Events — event staff for concerts, Homecoming programming, and other large-scale campus events. Variable hours, event-based scheduling
- AMS Service offices — positions in the AMS Peer Support Centre, Career Services, Housing, and other services that are funded through student fees and staffed by students
- Elected and appointed positions — AMS commissioners, directors, and assembly members are paid governance roles. These require election or a competitive application process but provide leadership experience and compensation beyond most entry-level campus jobs
AMS job postings appear on mycareer.queensu.ca and on the AMS website. The September hiring wave is the largest — most AMS services are fully staffed by mid-September for the academic year.
Queen's Library and Academic Support Employment
The Queen's Library system is one of the largest campus employers of student workers. Circulation desk staff, shelving and processing positions, and library technology support roles are posted through mycareer.queensu.ca. Library work is widely regarded as one of the best campus jobs for students who need a low-stress, schedule-flexible position with a quiet working environment.
The Queen's Learning Commons (in Stauffer Library) hires peer tutors and study skills facilitators who work with other students on academic skills, writing, and course-specific tutoring. These positions typically require a strong academic record and some experience teaching or mentoring. The pay is modest but the experience is directly transferable to TA applications and graduate school personal statements.
Athletic and Recreation Employment
The Queen's Athletics and Recreation Centre (ARC) hires student employees in a range of roles: fitness class instructors (if you have relevant certifications), intramural sport officials, aquatics staff (lifeguards and swim instructors — requires lifeguard certification), equipment room staff, and recreation program assistants. If you have relevant athletic or fitness certifications, the ARC is worth approaching directly — certified fitness professionals are always in demand for campus programming.
For students interested in varsity athletics: most varsity teams use student managers, analysts, and administrative supporters who travel with the team and work closely with coaching staff. These are not paid positions in most cases but provide strong network-building and co-curricular experience in athletic administration — relevant for students considering careers in sport.
Tutoring Through Campus Programs vs. Independently
Campus tutoring programs (the Learning Commons, departmental tutoring centres, and the Engineering Society's tutoring programs) offer a steady, organized platform for paid tutoring. Independent tutoring through platforms like Wyzant or through direct arrangement with classmates typically pays more per hour but requires more self-marketing. The campus tutoring platform is the right starting point for students new to tutoring — it handles finding clients, sets a reasonable starting rate, and provides some structure. Once you've established a tutoring track record, moving to direct client relationships at higher rates is straightforward.
How do Queen's University students find on-campus jobs in Kingston?
The primary platform for Queen's on-campus job postings is mycareer.queensu.ca (the Queen's Career Services job board). Search for "on-campus," "work-study," or filter by location "Queen's University campus." The highest concentration of postings appears in September (for the fall term) and January (for the winter term). For RA positions, the path is direct faculty outreach — identify professors whose research interests you, do well in their courses, and express interest directly. AMS positions are also listed on the AMS website and are worth checking separately from mycareer.
What is the Queen's University Work-Study Program?
The Queen's Work-Study Program is a financial aid program that funds on-campus part-time employment for students who demonstrate financial need through OSAP eligibility. Work-Study positions are reserved specifically for eligible students — they appear in the mycareer.queensu.ca job board with a "Work-Study" tag. Hours are capped (typically 10–15 hours/week) to protect academic performance. Pay is at or above Ontario minimum wage. If you receive OSAP, you're likely eligible — contact the Queen's Student Awards Office to confirm and start your search on mycareer in September.
How do Queen's students become Teaching Assistants?
Teaching Assistant positions at Queen's are hired by individual departments, not through a central system. The path for undergrad TAs: build a strong academic record in the subject you want to TA, take upper-year courses in that department, establish relationships with professors during office hours, and contact the department administrator in April–May about TA opportunities for the following September. Departments prioritize students they know and trust. Graduate students are preferred for TA positions in many departments; upper-year undergraduates with exceptional records in the subject are competitive for courses in their major.
Off-Campus Employment in Kingston — When Campus Jobs Aren't Available
Campus employment at Queen's is competitive and limited in total positions. Not every student who wants a campus job will find one, particularly in the first year before building the academic relationships that unlock RA and TA opportunities. Understanding the Kingston off-campus job market provides an important backup plan and often better hourly pay.
Kingston's student employment market: Kingston is a university city and the local service economy is well-adapted to student workers. The highest concentrations of student-friendly employers are: downtown Kingston (Princess Street and the surrounding blocks), the Kingston Centre (Cataraqui) and Cataraqui area (retail, food service, cinema), and medical and professional district employers who need part-time administrative staff.
Best off-campus job categories for Queen's students: Food service (Kingston has a strong restaurant scene with enough volume to provide consistent shifts — look particularly at downtown establishments within walking or cycling distance of campus). Retail (Kingston Centre and downtown retail stores; scheduling typically accommodates exam blocks if requested early). Medical administrative (reception, data entry, and administrative roles in Kingston's medical district employ students and pay above minimum wage — look for postings through mycareer.queensu.ca and Indeed Kingston). Tutoring (private tutoring through Wyzant, Varsity Tutors, or direct referral within the Queen's community — experienced in a subject and willing to charge $30–$50/hour for organized, one-on-one instruction).
Scheduling your work around academics: The standard guidance for Queen's students is to limit work hours to 15–20 hours per week during the academic year. Queen's is academically demanding; students who work 30+ hours per week alongside full course loads consistently report academic difficulties. Set the expectation with any employer before starting that you are a full-time student and that your schedule will change around exam periods. Employers who have experience with Queen's student employees — which most Kingston businesses have — understand and accommodate this within reason.
Tax implications of student employment: Canadian students working part-time jobs in Kingston must file a T1 General personal income tax return each year by April 30. Your employer will provide a T4 slip by the end of February showing employment income. Student income is often partially or fully offset by tuition tax credits (T2202 from Queen's) — see a Kingston tax clinic or the Queen's Student Accounts office for guidance on filing your first return. Many Kingston tax preparation locations offer student discounts on their fee, and free Community Volunteer Income Tax Program (CVITP) clinics operate at multiple Kingston locations in February and March for students whose income qualifies.
Building your resume through campus and Kingston employment: The best Queen's student employees treat their campus or Kingston part-time job not just as income but as resume material. Document specific responsibilities, quantify impact where possible — number of students tutored, events supported, research tasks completed — and ask supervisors for a reference letter before you leave the role. Queen's Career Services on campus offers free resume review appointments; book one each fall to update your resume with the current year's experience before on-campus recruiting begins in October and November for internships and co-op positions.
