Employment

Summary

Limits

With only a few exceptions, earning a Cornell graduate degree requires full-time study. An individual is considered a full-time student if he or she is registered, enrolled in courses, or engaged in thesis or dissertation work, and in conformity with limitations on assistantships, hourly student appointments, and/or outside employment. Because the time devoted to assistantships, hourly student appointments, and/or outside employment impacts the time students have available for their studies there are limits imposed:

  • All students – All full-time students are limited to 20 hours of combined assistantship, hourly student appointments, and/or outside employment per week. Further limitations may apply to students based on their funding source.
  • Students with fellowship or GRA support – A student who holds a university-funded fellowship, external fellowship, or graduate research assistantship may accept additional assistantships, hourly student appointments, and/or outside employment of no more than eight hours per week, provided that the terms established by the funding entity allow for such arrangements.
  • Students with RA, TA, or GA support – Because these assistantship appointments typically average 15 hours per week, students may only accept five hours per week of additional assistantships, hourly student appointments, and/or outside employment to remain under the 20 hours per week cap.

International Students

Enrolled F1 and J1 students may be paid for work on campus while classes are in session during the fall or spring semesters or, if registered during the summer, students may work only 20 hours per week.

Workday

Students who hold employment at Cornell may view their appointment details and may record their time in the Workday system. Address and phone numbers can be updated in Student Center, and will then synchronize with all other systems.

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