Working in Canada

As an international student at the University of Alberta, you may be eligible to work during and/or after your studies. Understand working hours, requirements, and permits.

Social Insurance Number

A Social Insurance Number (SIN) is required for anyone working in Canada. International students must have a valid study permit and meet work eligibility requirements to apply for a SIN. 

Apply for SIN

Working while you study

You may work while you study, depending on your registration status and employment location. If you plan to work while you study, you do not need a work permit. However, your study permit should include remarks allowing you to work. It must state "May accept employment" or "May work."  You are allowed to work off campus up to 24 hours per week without a work permit. 

You may be able to work either on-campus and/or off-campus if you:

  • Have a valid study permit with the remarks "May accept employment" or "May work"
  • Are enrolled full-time in an academic, vocational, or professional training program that leads to a degree, diploma, or certificate
  • Are studying in an eligible program
  • You have started studying. You cannot work before you begin your full-time studies
  • You have a social insurance number

Can I work while studying if I am a part-time student?
No, part-time international students cannot work on or off campus in Canada. If your registration status changes to part-time, or if you take a leave from studies or an authorized leave of absence, you must stop working immediately—both on and off campus.

Exception: If you are part-time only in your final term and you have previously studied full-time, you may continue working on and off campus, as long as you meet all other eligibility requirements.

Working on-campus
Working off-campus

If your program has a mandatory internship component, you must apply for a co-op work permit. A co-op work permit allows you to engage in part-time or full-time, paid or unpaid placement. 

Apply for the co-op work permit

Working after you complete your studies

Undergraduate Students

If you are eligible to work during your final semester, you can continue to work 24 hours per week off campus until you receive the program completion letter. Once your completion letter is issued, you must stop working.

Your completion letter will not be automatically issued. You should request your completion letter once all your final grades are posted to your Beartracks account.

Graduate Students

If you are eligible to work during your final semester, you can continue to work 24 hours per week off campus until you receive an email from the Faculty of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies (FGPS) that confirms the completion of your program.

Your completion letter will not be automatically issued. You will need to submit the Completion Letter Request Form.

After completing your program, you may be eligible to work full-time. You need to apply for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP). Understand the rules for transitioning from student to worker status.

  • After program completion: If you apply for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP), from inside of Canada, within 90 days of completing your program, while holding a valid study permit, you may work full-time after applying.
  • If you do not apply for a PGWP, you must stop working off-campus as soon as you receive your completion letter.
  • You may work part-time off-campus and full-time on-campus if you have completed the requirements for your program but have not yet received official confirmation of program completion (completion letter, final transcript).
  • If you completed your program and you have a letter of acceptance for a new program of study, you may work full-time until the start of your new program or for up to 150 days.

Apply for PGWP

Working On-Campus

“On-campus” work refers to employment facilities within the boundaries of the University of Alberta's campuses. You can work on campus as a teacher or research assistant, and you can be located off-campus at a library, hospital, or research facility affiliated with the institution, permitted if work is strictly related to the student’s research grant.

Who can be your on-campus employer?
On-campus employers may include one or more of the following:

  • The University of Alberta
  • Faculty
  • Student organization
  • Yourself (if self-employed and operating on campus)
  • Private business located on campus
  • A private contractor providing services to the U of A

Can I work on campus?
You can work on campus without a work permit if you:

  • Are a full-time student at the U of A
  • Have a valid study permit with the remarks "May accept employment" or "May work"
  • Have a Social Insurance Number (SIN).

You must stop working on campus if you no longer meet these requirements such as if you stop studying full-time or your study permit expires.

Where can I work on campus?
You can work at any employment facility located within the boundary of the University of Alberta's campuses including the North Campus, Enterprise Square, Campus Saint-Jean, and South Campus. For more details, refer to the North Campus map

How many hours can I work on campus?
There is no maximum limit on the number of hours you can work on campus. However, your work hours must comply with Alberta's provincial labour standards.

Can I work on campus during the academic break?
You are eligible to work during the regularly scheduled break if the following applies to you:

  • were a full-time student in the term before your break
  • and you will be a full-time student in the term after the break or a part-time student in the term after the break and it is your final semester of study

Working off Campus

Many international students are eligible to work off-campus without a separate work permit. 

Who is not eligible to work off-campus?
If you are enrolled in any of the following programs:

  • English Language School
  • French as a Second Language
  • Academic Upgrading
  • Programs that are shorter than 6 months

How many hours can I work?

IRCC | Working off campus

Find out if you are eligible

English Language School Students

  • On campus: Eligible if enrolled full-time (9 credits or more) and have a valid study permit with work conditions.
  • Off-campus: Not eligible as the program does not lead to a degree, diploma, or certificate.

Exchange and visiting students

  • On campus and off-campus: Eligible if enrolled full-time, and have a valid study permit with work conditions.

Fresh Start and Special Students

  • On campus: Eligible if enrolled full-time (9 credits or more) and have a valid study permit with work conditions.
  • Off-campus: Not eligible as the program does not lead to a degree, diploma, or certificate.

Teaching or Research Assistant

  • On-campus: Eligible if work is directly related to a research grant.
  • Off-campus: Eligible at libraries, hospitals, or research facilities affiliated with the University of Alberta.

Graduate Students

  • On-campus: Eligible to work an unlimited number of hours per week if you have a valid study permit with work conditions
  • Off-campus: Eligible to work 24 hours per week off-campus during regular academic terms.

Thesis-based graduate students are permitted to work 24 hours per week off-campus year-round and full-time during certain regularly scheduled breaks (reading breaks and winter break).

Course-based graduate students are permitted to work 24 hours a week off-campus during academic sessions and full-time during regularly scheduled breaks (reading breaks, winter break, and Spring and Summer may also be considered scheduled breaks for some course-based students - Check with your program for confirmation).

You can work remotely for an employer outside Canada as long as you still meet the conditions of your study permit. This type of work doesn’t count towards your 24 hours per week off-campus work limit.