Work while you Study

Work on Campus

You may work on campus at the institution where you study without a work permit if:

you are a full-time student at:

• a public post-secondary institution, such as a college or university, or a collège d’enseignement général et professionnel (CEGEP) in Quebec or
• a private post-secondary institution that operates under the same rules and regulations as a public institution, and receives at least 50 per cent of its financing for its overall operations from government grants (currently only private college-level educational institutions in Quebec qualify) or
• a Canadian private institution authorized by provincial statute to confer degrees and

you have a valid study permit.

Work off Campus

Study permit holders in Canada may gain work experience by working off campus while completing their studies. You may qualify to work off campus without a work permit. If you qualify, your study permit will allow you to:

• work up to 20 hours per week during regular academic sessions and
• work full-time during scheduled breaks, such as the winter and summer holidays or spring break.

To qualify, you must:

• have a valid study permit,
• be a full-time student,
• be enrolled at a designated learning institution at the post-secondary level or, in Quebec, a vocational program at the secondary level, and
• be studying in an academic, vocational or professional training program that leads to a degree, diploma or certificate that is at least six months in duration.