# Financial Aid and Scholarships
**Source**: https://financialaid.ucdavis.edu/work-study/graduate
**Parent**: https://financialaid.ucdavis.edu/work-study/employers/on-campus
# Graduate Student Researchers
## Graduate student researchers
Financial Aid and Scholarships, in collaboration with Graduate Studies and individual academic departments, administers work-study funds to graduate students based on need. The Federal government pays for a percentage of the costs of graduate student research, or GSR, employment. Federal Work-Study is available for students eligible to complete the [Free Application for Federal Student Aid, the FAFSA](https://financialaid.ucdavis.edu/graduate/apply). The FAFSA must be completed annually to be considered. In the School of Education, only Ph.D. students are eligible for work-study.
There is a limited number of Federal Work-Study units available to graduate students at the University, so even if you are eligible, your program may not have units available. GSR work-study funds are available for use from October 1 through June 30 of the current award year.
### Eligibility for graduate student researchers
| Student | [Federal Work-Study](https://financialaid.ucdavis.edu/work-study/undergraduate) | [Institutional work-study](https://financialaid.ucdavis.edu/work-study/undergraduate) | [Graduate student researcher](https://financialaid.ucdavis.edu/work-study/graduate) | [On-campus employer](https://financialaid.ucdavis.edu/work-study/employers/on-campus) | [Off-campus employer](https://financialaid.ucdavis.edu/work-study/employers/off-campus) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Graduate student](https://financialaid.ucdavis.edu/work-study/graduate) | **yes** | no | **yes** | **yes** | no |
To be eligible for work-study, a graduate student must:
- Complete the [Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA](https://financialaid.ucdavis.edu/graduate/apply), annually by the priority filing date
- Be a U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident
- Be identified as eligible for graduate work-study by your academic department
- Maintain [Satisfactory Academic Progress, or SAP](https://financialaid.ucdavis.edu/consumer/sap)
- Work with your academic program coordinator to inquire about being hired and awarded a graduate student researcher, or GSR, work-study position. Academic program staff, in conjunction with faculty, hire the GSRs and notify students when work-study awards are posted online.
For additional information regarding eligibility criteria, please contact your academic program coordinator.
[### Mandatory GSR Time Record
Graduate Student Researchers are required to complete TWO time records: one for University payroll and one for work-study compliance.](https://financialaid.ucdavis.edu/sites/g/files/dgvnsk2561/files/media/documents/GSR%20Monthly%20Timesheet%20v3.pdf)
[**Info for UC Davis Employers**](https://financialaid.ucdavis.edu/work-study/employers/ucdavis)
[**Resources for Researchers**](https://research.ucdavis.edu/)
## Graduate Researcher News
### [The Color Lab Uncovers the Soothing Effects of Light](https://financialaid.ucdavis.edu/GSR/color-lab)
- by Greg Watry
- July 28, 2025
- [GSR](https://financialaid.ucdavis.edu/articles/GSR)
Is there an opportunity for us to use lighting as a medium to relieve human stress?
### [Seed Grants for International Activities](https://financialaid.ucdavis.edu/GSR/seed-grants)
- by Global Affairs
- November 21, 2024
- [GSR](https://financialaid.ucdavis.edu/articles/GSR)
Global Affairs provides Seed Grants for International Activities to faculty.
### [Catalyzing Change: Engineering Enzymes to Meet Human Needs](https://financialaid.ucdavis.edu/GSR/catalyzing)
- by José Vadi
- October 23, 2024
- [GSR](https://financialaid.ucdavis.edu/articles/GSR)
Program Equips Researchers to Innovate in Food, Energy, and Health.