How Many Hours May a Student Work?

During the academic year, all students may work a maximum of 20 hours per week. This rule stands true for Federal Work-Study eligible students, non-work-study students, international students, and U.S. resident students. For holiday breaks that are one week or longer (summer break, Thanksgiving break, or winter break; NOT October break), students can work a maximum of 40 hours per week.

Please Note: The maximum of twenty hours per week includes hours worked from all positions a student may have. For example: If a student has two on-campus positions during the academic year, they may work a total of twenty hours in one week, not twenty hours in one position and twenty hours in the other position (which would be a total of forty hours per week).

If you are a student who is eligible for Federal Work-Study, please note that Bates does not place a minimum requirement on the number of hours a work-study student must work. However, most students can earn their entire work-study award by working an average of eight to twelve hours per week during the academic year.