Classes may have concluded for the academic year, but Queen’s students are still busy on campus learning new skills and gaining valuable experience. Every year, hundreds of Queen’s students take part in summer employment opportunities through the university that build practical skills, explore potential career paths, and create connections within the academic community.

There are various pathways to summer employment at the university through units such as the Division of Student Affairs and Vice-Principal Research Portfolio. Queen’s Career Services in Student Affairs also provides support resources to help guide students in their job search. These opportunities can provide unique and valuable experiences in the lab, in the field, and in the community.

With the fall semester approaching, many students are reflecting on their summer work experiences, what they’ve learned, and their contributions on campus.

As part of the Undergraduate Student Research Awards (USRA) program, Emma Wiggins is a third-year Health Sciences student who is gaining first-hand experience as a Research Assistant in a chemistry lab. Wiggins is currently working on a project that attempts to combat antibiotic resistance.

“Being in the lab every day, learning new techniques that have practical applications, has led me to consider different career paths,” says Wiggins. “After this summer, I am going to be a lot more motivated to learn course content and to think about how it can be used to benefit society.”

Izabel Brucaj is a third-year Economics student in the Undergraduate Student Summer Research Fellowships (USSRF) program working on a project of great interest to students and Canadians alike—An Analysis of Housing Market Dynamics: Evaluating Potential Bubbles and Their Implications on Affordability.

“The mentorship I’ve received this summer has helped show me what goes on behind the scenes when conducting research,” says Brucaj. “Housing and affordability are topics on every student’s mind, and applying my data collection and analysis skills makes me feel like I’m contributing to solutions that could help people in the future.”

Oliver Statham, a third-year Economics student in the Summer Work Experience Program (SWEP), is spending his summer working as a Digital Insights Summer Student on University Relations’ Digital Strategy Team. In this role, Oliver delivers online trend analyses that inform decision making, marketing initiatives, and user experience.

“This summer, I’ve had the unique experience of supporting and collaborating with various units, departments, and faculties across the university,” said Statham. “Having access to industry experts and technologies at this stage in my education has allowed me to further hone my skills and feel confident about extracting the narratives and stories behind the data.”

Beyond USRA, USSRF, and SWEP, Queen’s Athletics & Recreation employs 368 students during the summer who provide the community with access to university facilities and programming. The number of positions more than doubles during the fall/winter to more than 800 casual student staff.

More details about awards, programs, and fellowships

Undergraduate Student Research Awards (USRA)

The Undergraduate Student Research Awards (USRA) program lets students explore what it’s like to pursue a career in health, natural sciences, engineering, social sciences, or humanities. Introducing students to the day-to-day operations in a research environment can be a great way to explore different fields and potential graduate study programs for the future.

Undergraduate Student Research Fellowships (USSRF)

Undergraduate Student Summer Research Fellowships (USSRF) are providing up to 16 weeks of full-time work for 70 students this year. Students interested in the USSRF are required to seek out academic supervisors and determine a project in their area of interest. Over the course of the fellowship, students will receive mentorship that will help prepare them for future work experiences.

Summer Work Experience Program (SWEP)

The Summer Work Experience Program (SWEP) is among the largest employment programs on campus and has been helping undergraduate students find work since 1995. SWEP offers full-time employment for 160-170 positions each year across numerous faculties and departments. Some recent SWEP positions include: Solar Array Manager, Aquatic Biomonitoring Researcher, Research Assistant, and Gender-Based Violence Awareness & Bystander Intervention Education Training and Development Student Lead.

Fall and winter student employment

In addition to summer employment opportunities, on-campus student work opportunities continue year-round.  

Housing and Ancillary Services currently has 141 casual positions available to students. During the academic year, the number of positions can increase to nearly 220 positions with the inclusion of residence Dons.

Over 225 students are also involved in preparing and serving healthy and nutritious meals on campus through Hospitality Services and Event Services, including catering and retail opportunities.

To learn more about student employment at Queen’s, including the Work Study program that creates experiential learning opportunities for students with financial need, visit the Career Services website.