On-Campus Student Employment
Every year there are hundreds of student jobs that open on the TC Campus!
By visiting the On-Campus Student Employment site, you can search for all available on-campus employment opportunities, including federal work study positions and graduate assistantships.
For more information on searching or for questions see our FAQs.
Meet the Student Employment Team
Student Employment at a Glance
There are six categories of on-campus student employment positions. All positions allow opportunities for various types of skill building while earning funds and, in some positions, tuition points. View the Administrative Guidelines & Grid for Student Positions at the College.
For questions regarding eligibility for federal work study and assistantships, please refer to the Office of Financial Aid.
Student Employment at a Glance
As of Fall 2024:
Semester-based (exempt) Positions
- TA: Teaching Assistant
- RA: Research Assistant
A semester-based (exempt) position may not be held in combination with an hourly (non-exempt) position
Hourly (non-exempt) Positions
- AF: Administrative Fellow
- CA: Course Assistant
- FWS: Federal Work Study
- Interim Student
Any of the above hourly (non-exempt) positions may be held in combination
Student Employment Support
Can't find what you're looking for? You can also contact our team at studentemployment@tc.columbia.
- Schedule a coaching appointment
- Both new and continuing students can access our Career Resources Portal, where you can reserve individual career coaching appointments.
Frequently Asked Questions
Teachers College Campus Jobs
- Students can search for TC campus jobs by visiting the On-Campus Student Employment site.
Columbia University Campus Jobs
- Students can find guidance, resources, and additional support links on the following website: https://www.careereducation.columbia.edu/resources/getting-job-campus
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Students can search for jobs at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, Mailman School of Public Health and Manhattanville campuses here, be sure to search for “Graduate Assistant”, “Student” or “Short-Term Casual.” Once you’ve found a job to apply for, be sure to confirm “hours per week” is less than the maximum 20 hours.
- Please note, Federal Work Study (FWS) aid awarded by Teachers College is not applicable to other Columbia University campuses.
The Handshake/LionShare database can only be accessed by students and alumni of the following schools:
- Columbia College
- Columbia Engineering (at the undergraduate level only) and
- School of General Studies
Teachers College students and alumni can access hundreds of external job postings, including some jobs on the Columbia University campus(es) via the Career Resources Portal.
Federal Work Study (FWS) roles are open to U.S. citizens and Permanent Residents, who have accepted a FWS allocation, if you are unsure about your eligibility for work study, you can find more information on the Financial Aid office website Federal Work Study | Financial Aid.
Yes, every year there are hundreds of student jobs that open on the TC campus. Some jobs for the Fall semester are posted and begin hiring over the summer, while others will be posted in September-October once the school year begins.
There are some departments that have needs arise mid-year and may hire a student during other times throughout the academic year.
- Visit the On-Campus Student Employment site as soon as you’ve enrolled at TC (typically the Summer before classes begin) and continue checking the website through the Fall, as lots of jobs will be posted during that period of time.
- Prepare a resume and cover letter to use when applying to jobs. Once you’ve started classes at TC, you can make an appointment with a TC NEXT career coach, who can help you polish your documents. You can also take advantage of “Quinccia”, our new AI resume review and mock interviews platform. You can find more information and access here.
- Network! Talk to fellow students, faculty, and program administrators. You never know who might know of an opportunity and can connect you with a hiring manager!
Yes! International students on F-1 or J-1 visas can work on any Columbia University campus, including: Morningside (Main Campus), Columbia University Irving Medical Center (CUIMC), Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS), Union Theological Seminary (UTS), TC, and Barnard. Please visit the Office of International Students and Scholars Services website for F-1 on-campus employment and J-1 on-campus employment requirements, and attend an on-campus employment workshop, prior to accepting an offer.
Typically, international students on F-1 or J-1 visas cannot work off campus, until they have completed one academic year of study. However, eligibility for off-campus employment may vary based on your visa status. To confirm your eligibility, we recommend contacting the Office of International Students and Scholars (OISS) at tcintl@tc.columbia.edu or attend advising hours to speak to an international student advisor. Additionally, OISS requires students to attend employment workshops in order to initiate an application process in regards to the employment benefits under F or J status.
We post volunteer opportunities on the TC NEXT Career Resources Portal. New opportunities (paid and unpaid) are updated on the portal daily.