On-Campus Employment

You may work on campus while you are in your academic program if you maintain your F-1 status. The job does not need to relate to your field of study, and you do not need special authorization. If you are not sure whether a job qualifies as on-campus employment, you should contact VIS before accepting the position.

What Counts as On-Campus Employment?

On-campus employment includes many types of jobs at the university, such as teaching, research, or graduate assistant roles, and positions in the library, dining services, labs, and administrative offices. It also includes jobs with businesses located on campus that directly serve students, such as campus stores or restaurants.

Qualifying Employers & Positions

You may work in:

Positions paid through State, Research Foundation, or ASA funds
Jobs on campus with businesses that provide direct services to students (for example, campus dining or retail locations)
Some approved off-campus locations with a formal educational affiliation with Stony Brook (such as Brookhaven National Laboratory or Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)

Non-Qualifying Employers & Positions

The following do not qualify as on-campus employment:

Stony Brook University Hospital
Stony Brook Child Care Center
The Jazz Loft
Long Island State Veterans Home
Long Island High Technology Incubator (LIHTI)
Most businesses located within CEWIT

This list is not complete. You should confirm with your VIS advisor before starting any job.

Eligibility Requirements

To work on campus, you must:

Maintain your F-1 status
Work for an eligible on-campus employer
Begin and complete all work before your I-20 program end date
Follow the weekly hour limits

International students are not eligible for Federal Work-Study positions.

Work Start and End Dates

Start Date

If you have an initial I-20, you may begin working up to 30 days before your program start date.
If you are starting a new degree program at Stony Brook, you may work during the break between programs.
If you transfer to Stony Brook, you may begin working after your SEVIS transfer release date.

End date

Your on-campus work eligibility ends:

When you complete your degree requirements or reach your I-20 program end date, whichever comes first
On your degree conferral date, even if your I-20 end date is later
On the date your SEVIS record is transferred to another school
If you violate your F-1 status

Weekly Hour Limits

During the fall and spring semesters: you may work up to 20 hours per week
During winter or summer break: you may work more than 20 hours per week, up to a maximum of 29 hours is permitted, in accordance with SUNY policies.
If summer is your final semester: you may work up to 20 hours per week

Multiple On-Campus Jobs

Yes, you can work more than one on-campus job over the same period as long as your total weekly hours do not exceed these limits.

Counting Hours Per Week

It is best practice to count your hours each week in accordance to your payroll schedule, so it reflects properly on your paystub. If this is not possible, be sure to track your hours accordingly on your own.

Social Security Number (SSN)

You must apply for a Social Security Number (SSN) after you receive a qualifying job offer. An SSN allows employers to report your wages and taxes to Internal Revenue Service (IRS). An SSN is not work authorization, although Stony Brook University does not allow students to start their employment without their SSN.

Learn More on Applying For a SSN

After you receive your SSN, you must report it to the Office of the Registrar by completing their Social Security Number Update Form or visiting their office in the Union, Suite 206.