Working on- or off-campus
As an international student, you may work in Canada if you meet the following criteria:
- You hold a valid study permit
- You are registered full-time during a regular academic term
- You are enrolled in a degree program
- You have started your studies
- You have a Social Insurance Number (SIN)
- Your study permit has this clause: Student may accept employment on or off-campus if meeting eligibility criteria as per R186 (f), (v) or (w).
Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has many regulations for international students and work permits; familiarize yourself with these regulations.
Important: If your study permit does not mention the employment clause, please meet with your ISO advisor who can explain how to request an amendment. You may not work until your study permit has been amended.
Regulations
Permitted hours of work
- There is no maximum limit for the number of hours you may work on campus (as per IRCC regulations)
- Employers must follow provincial labour laws on overtime and benefits
Additional employment opportunities for graduate students
Graduate students should check with their department for positions such as:
- Teaching Assistant (TA)
- Research Assistant (RA)
- Exam Invigilator
Work-study program
Work-study is for full-time undergraduate and graduate students who demonstrate financial need, allowing for part-time, on-campus employment. Students in the work-study program can work for a maximum of 200 hours per term.
Permitted hours of work
- The maximum hour limit for full-time work off campus is 24 hours per week during required academic terms
- You are allowed to work full-time during academic breaks (such as Christmas or summer holidays)
- Employers must follow provincial labour laws on overtime and benefits
Working both on- and off-campus at the same time
You may work both off-campus and on-campus at the same time as long as you do not exceed the number of hours that you can work off-campus (24 hours per week).
Important: You must stop working the moment you receive your final marks and credits. When in your last term, check your student record daily to find out when your final credits/marks are submitted.
