Financial Assistance for Graduate Students

Student Employment Opportunities with the Federal Government

Student Educational Employment Program

The Student Educational Employment Program has two components; student temporary employment and student career experience. It is available to all levels of students: high school, vocational and technical, associate degree, baccalaureate degree, graduate degree, and professional degree students.

1. Student Temporary Employment Program (STEP)

Job opportunities under this component offer temporary employment. Employment can range from summer jobs to positions that can last for as long as one is a student. These employment opportunities need not necessarily be related to a students' academic field of study or career goals.

2. Student Career Experience Program (SCEP)

This component offers students valuable work experience directly related to their academic field of study and career goals. It provides formal periods of work and study while attending school. It requires a commitment by the student, the school, and the employing Federal agency. Students may be eligible for permanent employment under this component after successfully completing their education and meeting work requirements.

Eligibility Requirements

Students are eligible under the Student Educational Employment Program if they are:

* A student enrolled or accepted for enrollment as a degree-seeking student (diploma, certificate, etc.)
* At least the minimum age required by Federal, state or local laws and standards governing the employment of minors,
* Taking at least a half-time academic or vocational and technical course load in an accredited high school, technical or vocational school, 2-year or 4-year college or university, graduate or professional school, and a U.S. citizen or a national (resident of American Samoa or Swains Island). Non-citizens may be eligible for employment if:

    1. Permitted by a Federal agency's appropriation act, and
    2. Eligible to work under U.S. immigration laws. U.S. citizenship is required for conversion to permanent employment under the Student Career Experience Program.

Students interested in the Student Educational Employment Program should contact the Federal Agency where they are interested in working, or contact the Federal Government's Human Resources Agency at:

Office of Personnel Management
1900 E Street NW
Washington, DC 20415-1000
Telephone: (202)606-1800

For additional program features, students should visit the Office of Personnel Management's Web site at: http://www.opm.gov/employ/students/index.asp