Working in Canada
Whether you are a current 蹤獲扞⑹ student looking for work or planning on working in Canada after graduation. It is important that you follow all the conditions of your study or work permit to ensure that you are working legally.
Immigration Working Requirements
Immigration Working Requirements
To without a work permit students must meet the following criteria:
- Must have begun your studies
- Students must have a valid study permit with work authorization
- Be full-time enrolled unless youre in your final semester
- Full-time enrolment is 9 credit hours for undergraduate students and 6 credit hours for graduate students
- Have a
- Your study program is at least 6 months long and leads to a degree, diploma or certificate
You are no longer eligible to work:
- on the day you stop studying full-time, unless youre in your final semester and you meet other requirements
- when your study permit expires
- if youre on an authorized leave from your studies
- if youre switching schools and arent currently studying
Working on Campus
Working on campus includes working in any of the buildings on the school campus in which you are studying. You can only work at different campus locations if your work is related to a research grant and you are working as a teaching or research assistant.
Please see the for the list of on-campus employers.
You can work as many hours as you want. These hours can be in addition to any hours worked off-campus.
Working off Campus
As of Nov. 8, 2024 eligible students during regular semesters.
A regular semester is any time that enrolment is required. For most undergraduate students regular semesters are Fall (Sept-Dec) and Winter (Jan-Apr). Some graduate and professional programs require students to have continuous enrolment and therefore Summer (May-Aug) is also considered a regular semester.
Regularly Scheduled Breaks
International students can work unlimited hours off campus during At 蹤獲扞⑹, the regularly scheduled breaks include Winter Break (December), Mid-Semester Breaks (February) and Summer Break (May to Aug). Some Master's, PhD and Professional programs require registration for the summer semester. If you are required to register in the summer semester it is not considered a regularly scheduled break.
During the Summer Break, international students are eligible to work full-time and may take courses part-time or full-time. Taking courses does not impact your ability to work unlimited hours during a break.
Important Notes:
- Regularly scheduled breaks do not begin until the day after the student has written their last exam
- Long weekends and Stat holidays
- To work during a regularly scheduled break, you must be enrolled full-time the semester before and the semester after the break
Co-op Work
If you are interested in participating in a co-op work program as part of your degree, please visit the 蹤獲扞⑹ Career Centre for more information. You will need to apply for a to participate in the program.
Who Cannot Work
You are not eligible to work on or off campus if you:
- Only enrolled part-time (except in your last semester)
- On an approved leave of absence
- In between programs and transferring schools
- If you have arrived early and not yet begun your program
Working after Graduation
蹤獲扞⑹ is a . International students graduating from a full-time in-person degree program at 蹤獲扞⑹ are eligible to apply for the . 蹤獲扞⑹ Certificate and Diploma programs are part-time or online and not PGWP eligible.
Once you have completed your studies, . You can only begin working again if you have applied for a work permit before your study permit expired, or youre starting a new study program.
Students applying for a PGWP must ensure they meet the eligibility requirements listed below.
PGWP Eligibility Requirements
The IRCC website contains the.
- maintained full-time enrolment for the duration of your program (except for their final semester, or during an approved leave of absence)
- received a confirmation of graduation letter as well as official transcript
- Applied for your PGWP within 180 days of confirmation that you completed your program of study
- have a study permit that was valid at some point during the 180 days after your graduated and before you submitted your application
- less than 50% of your program was completed online ()
Starting November 1, 2024, graduates from a bachelor's, masters or doctoral degree will need to include language test results with their application for PGWP. include CELPIP, IELTS, PTE- General and Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 7.
Students graduating from a 蹤獲扞⑹ bachelor's, masters, or PhD program at 蹤獲扞⑹ do not need to meet the requirement and are eligible to receive a PGWP for up to three years. The Field of Study requirement applies to students who submit their initial study permit application on or after November 1, 2024, if any other non-degree university program or college level program. Please see the for up-to-date information.
PGWP Duration
Graduates who have continuously studied full-time for two or more years may qualify for a work permit of up to three years. Students who complete a bachelor's, masters, or PhD program in any field of study will be eligible for a work permit of up to three years.
PGWP How to Apply
As of November 1st, 2024, PGWP applicants must
Students may apply online for the PGWP from inside or outside of Canada. Please see the IRCC website for and . The application must be submitted within 180 days of receiving your notification of program completion and not the day of convocation. If the applicant is in Canada, it is recommended to apply as soon as possible and within 90 days.
Applicants can work while waiting for PGWP approval if:
- The application was submitted withing 90 days of graduation
- The applicants study permit was valid at the time of application
A study permit is only valid for 90 days after program completion regardless of the expiry date. If submitting a PGWP application between 91 to 180 days while in Canada, students must change their status to visitor. As a visitor, the graduate cannot legally work in Canada until receiving PGWP approval.
Finding Work After Graduation
蹤獲扞⑹ can help you to prepare to enter the job market in Canada. The Career Centre offers Career Preparation Tools, Career Readiness Events including the Northworks Career Fair.
If you are looking to work in BC after graduation the WorkBC Website offers information on and a .
Information is Subject to Change
For the most up-to-date information always refer to the . This information is reviewed by Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants (RCICs) or Regulated International Student Immigration Advisors (RISIAs) but is not a legal document and is intended for general guidance. The content above may change without notice. If you have questions about your specific situation, please contact ie@unbc.ca.