Study Abroad in Canada: Starting in September, a new rule will limit international students, including those from India, studying in Canada, to work off campus for a maximum of 24 hours per week. This rule came into effect on Tuesday.
“The temporary policy allowing students to work more than 20 hours per week off campus will come to an end on April 30, 2024, and it will not be extended,” Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, said in a press release on Monday.
“This fall, we intend to change the number of hours students may work off campus per week to 24 hours,” he said as the Canadian government tightens regulations due to a surge in international student enrollments across the country.
Canada is one of the highly coveted destinations for Indian students, as highlighted in a 2022 report by the Canadian Bureau for International Education (CBIE). The report indicates a substantial presence of 3,19,130 Indian students in Canada. Among international students enrolled in both Canadian colleges and universities, Indians constitute the majority.
“Students who come to Canada must be here to study. As such, allowing students to work up to 24 hours per week will ensure they focus primarily on their studies, while having the option to work, if necessary,” reads the news release.
Recent studies carried out in both the US and Canada indicates a significant decrease in academic performance among students who work more than 28 hours per week. Moreover, there is an elevated risk of students dropping out of their programs when they work over 24 hours per week.
Study Abroad in Canada: Who Can Work Off Campus?
“The temporary policy allowing students to work more than 20 hours per week off campus will come to an end on April 30, 2024, and it will not be extended,” Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, said in a press release on Monday.
“This fall, we intend to change the number of hours students may work off campus per week to 24 hours,” he said as the Canadian government tightens regulations due to a surge in international student enrollments across the country.
Canada is one of the highly coveted destinations for Indian students, as highlighted in a 2022 report by the Canadian Bureau for International Education (CBIE). The report indicates a substantial presence of 3,19,130 Indian students in Canada. Among international students enrolled in both Canadian colleges and universities, Indians constitute the majority.
“Students who come to Canada must be here to study. As such, allowing students to work up to 24 hours per week will ensure they focus primarily on their studies, while having the option to work, if necessary,” reads the news release.
Recent studies carried out in both the US and Canada indicates a significant decrease in academic performance among students who work more than 28 hours per week. Moreover, there is an elevated risk of students dropping out of their programs when they work over 24 hours per week.
Study Abroad in Canada: Who Can Work Off Campus?
- Before beginning off-campus work in Canada, both you and your employer must ensure that you are eligible to work without a work permit. Failure to meet these requirements could result in having to leave the country.
- You are only permitted to commence working in Canada once your study program has commenced; working before starting your studies is not permitted.
- If you are authorized to work during your studies, it will be specified in the conditions outlined on your study permit.
- If you meet the criteria for off-campus work eligibility, a work permit is not required.
Expand
Study Abroad in Canada: Who Can’t Work Off Campus?Indian students in Canada can’t work off campus without a work permit in any of the following situations;
- Your study permit says you aren’t authorised to work off campus while you study.
- You are only registered in an English or French as a second language (ESL/FSL) program.
- You are only taking general interest courses.
- You are only pursuing courses required to be accepted into a full-time program.
- Your situation changes and you no longer meet all of the requirements to work off campus.
Check Press Release