General Guidelines for Student Employment
Enrollment Requirements
- International students must be enrolled for at least 12 credit hours during Fall and Spring semesters. International students may work as student employees during the Summer semester if they are registered for at least 3 credit hours during Summer or was registered for at least 12 credit hours the previous Spring semester or registered for at least 12 credit hours for the upcoming Fall semester.
- All other students must be enrolled for at least 6 credit hours during Fall and Spring semesters. Students may work as student employees during the Summer semester if they are registered for at least 3 credit hours during Summer or were registered for at least 6 credit hours the previous Spring semester or registered for at least 6 credit hours for the upcoming Fall semester.
- Students MUST stop working IMMEDIATELY if they withdraw from school, cancel their registration, or reduce their credit hours below the minimum enrollment requirements for student employment.
Maximum Work Hours
Student employment should not interfere with students’ educational goals. Students are not permitted to work during their scheduled classes or examinations. It is recommended that students not work more than 20 hours per week when classes are in session. A normal work week is 10 to 20 hours per week. Students are permitted to work multiple jobs, but the total number of hours from all jobs should not exceed these limits.
- International students may not work more than 20 hours per week during Fall and Spring semesters when classes are in session. International students may not work more than 40 hours per week when classes are not in session during Fall and Spring semesters. International students can work up to 40 hours per week during the Summer semester.
- All other students are encouraged not to work more than 20 hours per week when classes are in session and not more than 40 hours per week during breaks when classes are not in session.
- Both student employees and supervisors should ensure that the student employee never exceeds 40 hours per week from all jobs worked at the University of Illinois. Student employees are covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and must receive overtime pay if they work in excess of 40 hours per week. FSLA does not require overtime pay for work on Saturdays, Sundays, holidays, or regular days of rest, nor does it require extra pay for night or weekend work. For more information, go to http://www.dol.gov/dol/topic/wages/overtimepay.htm. Federal Work-Study funds can never be utilized to pay overtime.
