Work and Study in Canada - Opportunities in Canada

 You can gain valuable work experience and supplement your spending allowance with part-time student jobs for international students.

While you must supply sufficient evidence that you can pay for your tuition and living expenses before you arrive in Canada, there are a number of work permit programs for international students and their spouses/common law partners that make working in Canada possible.

Working in Canada can go a long way towards helping you establish business contacts for the future and can even help you immigrate after graduation.

Jobs for International Students in Canada

On-campus Jobs

As an international student, you are able to work on campus without a work permit while completing your studies if:

• You have a valid study permit.
• You are a full-time student at a post-secondary public school (college or university, or CEGEP in Quebec), or at a private college-level school in Quebec that operates under the same rules as public schools and is at least 50% funded by government grants, or at a Canadian private school that can legally award degrees under provincial law.
• You have a Social Insurance Number.

Off-Campus Jobs

As an international student, you are able to work off-campus without a work permit  while completing your studies if:

• You have a valid study permit;
• You are a full-time student in a designated learning institution (a post-secondary program, or in Quebec at a vocational program at the secondary level as well);
• Your study program is academic, vocational or professional, it lasts at least six months and leads to a degree, diploma or certificate.
• You are only working up to maximum 20 hours per week during regular academic sessions, and full time during scheduled breaks (for example, winter and summer holidays or spring break).

Certain study programs include work requirements such as co-op or internships. In such cases, a work permit is required in order for the foreign student to be able to complete the work. 

Travel and Work in Canada

You are able to travel and work in Canada for up to 1 year through the International Experience Canada if:

• You are between the ages of 18 – 35.
• Your country of origin has an agreement with Canada.

Embrace your future and let Immigration.ca become the choice for your study in Canada experience that will last a lifetime! Begin your study in Canada, experience NOW!

What are the Benefits of Studying in Canada?

Canada is now one of the world's leading destinations for international students with over 600,000 students from all over the world. Research shows that international students are attracted to Canada for the following reasons:

• High quality of education offered by Canadian schools
• Canada offers international students with opportunities to work during and after their studies, and transition to permanent residence
• Opportunities to study in English and/or French
• Safety and security
• Multicultural society
• Canada welcomes immigrants and international students from nearly 200 different countries each year
• Canada is affordable compared with other popular international student destinations. Consider also that the Canadian dollar is weaker than major currencies such as the USD, GBP, and EUR

About Canada’s Universities and Colleges

There are over 1,500 universities, colleges, and other educational institutions that are authorized by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to welcome international students. These educational institutions are called designated learning institutions (DLIs) and they exist to help international students learn in Canada and stay in the country after graduation. The list of DLIs that are authorized by IRCC is constantly growing. Please verify that the university, college, or other institution you wish to enroll in is authorized by IRCC by visiting the Canadian government’s official website.

Ontario and Quebec are Canada’s largest provinces by population, and hence, they host the most number of DLIs in the country (nearly 1,000 combined).

Given the large number of DLIs across Canada, you are very likely to find an educational program that meets your needs.

Generally speaking, universities across Canada offer comparable levels of high-quality education. The reason for this is that Canada promotes equity within its education system, meaning that it strives to ensure all students get the best possible education possible, irrespective of which institution that they go to.

Canada also has some 150 community colleges which also offer good quality education. Whereas universities specialize in providing theoretical knowledge and career training in certain professions (e.g., medicine, engineering, law), community colleges offer more applied training to help students quickly integrate into the labour market. College programs are more practical, with the knowledge provided to students meant to help them find work within their area of study.

Just like universities, colleges across Canada tend to offer similar levels of education. International students should take comfort at studying at a Canadian college, since the credential that they gain will support their professional and immigration ambitions upon graduation.