As a university student, juggling your daily responsibilities can be challenging. Balancing academics, extracurriculars, friendships, part-time jobs, and more can easily become overwhelming. Finding a stable routine is important to maintaining balance. Getting a part-time job on campus helped me manage my finances while staying on top of my studies! If you’re interested in exploring campus job opportunities or other ways to make money during your undergrad, here are some options you can look at.

University Works

University Works is a program for undergraduate students interested in gaining practical work experience while enhancing their interpersonal skills!  This paid program offers a variety of positions across different campus departments, including roles such as research assistant, social media assistant, tour guide, and more. As long as you meet the minimum requirements— a full-time returning student, demonstrate financial need, and have a 2.0 GPA or higher your last year—you should consider applying to University’s work.

When I think about it, I would not have access to the same networking opportunities I would have had without this program. The positions I worked under were great experiences that impacted my personal and professional skills! 

This program is open to domestic and international students. Special exceptions can be made for students who are not taking a full course load and are under the Student Accessibility program. For more information on how to apply during the Fall/Winter term (part-time) or the summer term (full-time), check out the

University Works webpage

Research Awards

If you’re an undergraduate student looking to gain valuable research experience while getting paid, the Research Awards program is perfect for you! This program offers a 14-16 week full-time summer research experience under the guidance of a professor. You can work on diverse projects across science, engineering, health science, and social science departments.

Some specific programs under the research awards that students may be eligible for include the NSERC Undergraduate Student Research Awards, the STAR Award, and the CIHR & SSHRC Undergraduate Student Research Awards. Learn more about Research Awards 

Peer Educator 

If you’re academically strong and have performed well in previous courses, you can become a peer educator, where you can help students with their course content. This is also a great chance to build your resume and gain leadership experience. 

The tasks of a Peer Educator can vary given the role you’re assigned. Some roles you can potentially work as a Peer Educator include Peer Content Tutor, PASS Leader, Peer Success Facilitator, and more. 

To learn about the application process, summer and winter hiring periods, benefits, and qualifications for becoming a Peer Educator, Check out this webpage

Paid internships & co-op

You may be eligible for internship and co-op opportunities during your third or fourth year, depending on your program. These positions can be paid placements and generally run for 4-16 months. This is a great chance to familiarize yourself with professional development and networking.

Learn more about your program’s internship/co-op opportunities 

Brilliant Catalyst

Would you call yourself a problem solver or someone who has big ideas?  If so, you might find Brilliant Catalyst to be an exciting opportunity!  Many students aren't aware of it, but this program is an excellent platform for exploring your entrepreneurial skills. Through this experience, you can form a business, tackle a social issue you’re passionate about, or bring innovative solutions to various organizations.

Brilliant Catalyst is open to current students, recent alumni, and faculty. Experience Ventures, one of the programs they offer, is a paid position where students can focus on honing their entrepreneurial skills.  

For more information on Brilliant Catalysts' available paid opportunities and additional programming, 

check out their website

I highly encourage you to explore the opportunities listed. What's awesome about them is that not only are they positions where you can earn money, but they are experiences that can enhance your professional development!