Thinking about the Summer 2025 enrolment and your working eligibility
On November 15, 2024, IRCC announced the change to the number of hours international students may work off campus, which took effect on November 8, 2024. Eligible students may now work up to 24 hours/week off-campus during an academic semester. For more information, go to and .
Gaining work experience while you are studying can give you a head start on achieving your career goals after you graduate. Each institution defines and in compliance with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). For the definitions for ºÚÁϱ¬ÁÏÍø International students, visit Enrollment status for International students page.
Here are some resources to help you understand your enrollment status and working eligibility as a ºÚÁϱ¬ÁÏÍø student.
Note: Students enrolled in the ELLA (English Language Learning and Acquisition) program are not eligible to work off-campus. Students enrolled in the Academic Foundations Certificate program and who are completing courses to meet admission requirements of another academic program are not eligible to work off-campus.
- After arrival
- First semester
- Winter semester
- Summer semester
- Fall semester
- Study break
- Break between semesters
- Last semester
| Period | Program | Enrolment | Off-campus working eligibility |
| During the time before you start your studies at ºÚÁϱ¬ÁÏÍø | Academic programs | N/A | No work allowed |
| Period | Program | Enrolment | Off-campus working eligibility |
| The semester when you started your studies at ºÚÁϱ¬ÁÏÍø or the first semester you are enrolled in a new program if you changed your program | Academic programs | 9 credits minimum | Up to 24hrs/week |
| Period | Program | Enrolment | Off-campus working eligibility |
| January - April | Academic programs | 9 credits minimum | Up to 24hrs/week |
| Period | Program | Enrolment | Off-campus working eligibility |
| May - August | Diplomas, Associate Degrees, Bachelor's Degrees, Post-Baccalaureate Diplomas, Early Childhood Education Certificate | Scheduled break & | Full-time |
| Post-Degree Diplomas, Certificates (excluding the Early Childhood Education Certificate program) | 9 credits minimum | Up to 24hrs/week |
Optional enrolment means there is no enrolment requirement and you are allowed to take the summer semester off, be part-time enrolled or be full-time enrolled.
You must be enrolled full-time in the semester before and after the Summer semester in order to work full-time. Full-time work means you can work more than 24 hours/week. Check for more information.
Please note that Summer semester cannot be your scheduled break if it is your first or last semester in the program that you are currently enrolled in.
Note: You may work off-campus on a full-time basis in the Summer regardless of the course load if:
- you have maintained full-time enrolment status for the duration of your program, and
- you are in the program that is eligible for a Summer scheduled break, and
- you maintained your full-time status in the preceding Winter semester, and
- you have a part-time course load left in the following Fall semester as your final semester.
For more information please visit .
| Period | Program | Enrolment | Off-campus working eligibility |
| September - December | Academic programs | 9 credits minimum | Up to 24hrs/week |
| Period | Program | Enrolment | Off-campus working eligibility |
| Check "dates and deadlines" for the specific week in February* | Academic programs | Scheduled break & No courses | Full-time |
You need to be full-time enrolled in the Winter semester in order to work full-time in the study break. Full-time work means you can work more than 24 hours/week. Check for more information.
*, a scheduled break must be at least 7 consecutive days, including weekends and holidays. If the break between semesters or the study break is less than 7 consecutive days, students are only permitted to work up to 24 hours per week, provided they maintain their full-time status and meet all other eligibility working requirements.
| Period | Program | Enrolment | Off-campus working eligibility |
| From the day after the last day of ºÚÁϱ¬ÁÏÍø's exam period to the day before the first day of the following semester* | Academic programs | Scheduled break & No courses | Full-time |
In order to work full-time in the break between two semesters, you need to be enrolled full-time in those two semesters. Full-time work means more than 24 hours/week. There is no set number of hours per week that counts as 'full-time' work. Check for more information.
The last day of your final exams is not the same as the last day of the college's exam period. Please check our dates and deadlines for more information.
*, a scheduled break must be at least 7 consecutive days, including weekends and holidays. If the break between semesters or the study break is less than 7 consecutive days, students are only permitted to work up to 24 hours per week, provided they maintain their full-time status and meet all other eligibility working requirements.
| Period | Program | Enrolment | Off-campus working eligibility |
| The semester when you complete your studies at ºÚÁϱ¬ÁÏÍø | Academic programs | Part-time enrolment allowed if only part-time course load needed | Up to 24hrs/week |
| From the last day of exam period to the first written notification of program completion | N/A |
You may work off-campus on a part-time basis, only if you have maintained full-time status during each academic semester of your study program. This does not include your final semester, which can be part-time.
For more information about on-campus working eligibility in your last semester, please .
The first written notification refers to the date you receive either: 1) Completion Letter or, 2) An email confirming all graduation requirements are met, whichever comes first.
Documents needed for working
1. Study permit - In some cases, your study permit also act as your work permit. Your study permit must say one of the following:
- May work 24 hrs per week off-campus or full-time during regular breaks if meeting criteria outlined in section of IRPR, or
- May accept employment on or off campus if meeting eligibility criteria as per . Must cease working if no longer meeting these criteria.
2. Social Insurance Number (SIN) - A Social Insurance Number is required in order to work in Canada. , bring your valid study permit and passport and to the nearest .
If you study permit does not specify working conditions, you may your study permit with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) at no cost. If you are an ELLA student moving into an academic program, you may also apply for a .
Working on-campus
You may work on-campus without a work permit if you:
- are a full-time student enrolled at ºÚÁϱ¬ÁÏÍø
- have a valid study permit
- have a valid SIN
"On-campus" is defined as employment facilities within the boundaries of the campus. Students are only allowed to work on the campus at which they are registered as a FT student. Students cannot work at OTHER campuses affiliated with the College. For example, if you are enrolled full-time at the New West campus, you can only work at the New West campus.
The employer can be the institution, a faculty, a student organization, the students themselves (self-employment taking place on campus), a private business, or a private contractor providing services to the institution on the campus. IRCC does not regulate the amount of hours you can work on-campus.