Co-op or student work placements
IRCC Co-op work permit update : Read the latest announcement for students participating in a Co-op, practicum, or internship.
About student work placements
For students who are accepted to one of UBC’s Co-op, internship, practicum, or work-integrated learning programs (also known as a student work placement), the activity is considered to be an essential component of their program requirements. The successful completion of a minimum of practical hours or work terms (depending on the specific student work placement requirements) is mandatory for all students to complete the program requirements.
These can be paid or unpaid positions or volunteer opportunities, and cannot make up more than 50% or your program of study.
In most cases, you are enrolled in a formal Co-op, practicum, or work-integrated learning course or term in order for the student work placement to be considered authorized.
If you are not sure whether your work is required for your academic program, please contact an Academic Advisor from your faculty or, for graduate students, your graduate program advisor (choose your graduate program – scroll to the bottom of the program page for your program coordinator/advisor)
You will need a letter from your faculty or program to prove that the work placement is a program requirement. Learn more about UBCO co-op programs by faculty:
What’s not considered a student work placement
A work placement or internship is not considered a student work placement for immigration purposes if all of the following is true:
- It is arranged independently by the student.
- It isn’t a mandatory requirement of the academic program.
- It does not appear on the student’s transcript.
Changes to the Co-op work permit requirement
As of April 1, 2026, you do not need a work permit for required student work placements, such as a UBC Co-op, internship, or practicum, provided you meet the eligibility requirements below.
While a work permit is no longer required, you still need to be admitted into a Co-op program or registered in a formal required practicum term, work-integrated learning course, or similar program-required student work placement course or term.
If you submitted an application for a Co-op work permit before April 1, 2026, IRCC will likely withdraw your application and provide you with a letter stating that a Co-op work permit is not required.
Confirm your eligibility for a student work placement
To be eligible for a student work placement, you must meet all of the following requirements:
- You are enrolled as a full-time student and not currently on leave from your studies.
- You have a valid study permit, or you applied to extend your study permit before it expired.
- You have conditions printed on your initial study permit that indicate you are allowed to work on campus.
- You have a UBC letter from your Co-op office or program indicating that the work is a requirement for your program of study.
- Your employer is approved by your Co-op office or program.
- You are registered in a UBC-approved Co-op, practicum, work-integrated learning course, or another similar program-required student work placement course or term, in which case you are considered .
- Your program of study is at least 6 months in duration, and will lead to a degree, diploma, or certificate from UBC, unless you are a visiting or exchange student who will not receive a credential from UBC.
- You are not studying as an Access or Unclassified student.
- Your primary program of study is not English or French as a second language.
If you’re not eligible for a student work placement, you may be authorized to work on and off campus during your studies for other types of employment, based on your study permit’s work authorization if you meet the eligibility requirements.
Usually, off-campus work is limited to 24 hours per week during academic terms.
Complete a medical exam, if applicable
If you will be working in jobs which require a medical exam , such as working with children or seniors, in healthcare settings, clinical laboratories, or in agriculture, you must complete a medical exam and have the right conditions on your study permit before starting your position.
Even if you do not work directly with vulnerable populations, you might require a medical exam based on your place of work, no matter what your position is. Examples include in-person positions in a hospital (even if you do not directly care for patients, such as research, administrative, or janitorial positions) or in a daycare (even if you do not directly care for children, such as administrative positions).
If you will likely work in these kinds of positions, or you would like to keep your options open, it is best to complete the medical exam before you apply for your study permit. Include a brief explanation letter with your study permit application stating that you would like proper conditions on your study permit to work in restricted occupations.
It’s also possible to take the medical exam after you’ve received your study permit, then apply to change the conditions on your permit afterwards. However, you will not be able to start the position until you have received a study permit with appropriate conditions.
When you can start working
You can only start your UBC student work placement once you meet all of the following requirements:
- You fulfill the eligibility requirements listed above.
- You have received a UBC letter of acceptance or approval from your Co-op office or program. Keep it for your records as you may have to provide it to IRCC later.
- You are enrolled in a UBC-approved Co-op term, internship, practicum, work-integrated learning course, or similar.
- You have completed a medical exam and have a valid study permit with proper conditions on it, if applicable.
- Your student work placement term has begun.
When you must stop working
You must stop working immediately in any of the following situations:
- You no longer meet the eligibility requirements for a student work placement.
- Your study permit expires and you did not apply to extend it.
- Your Program Completion Letter becomes available.
On-campus and off-campus work eligibility
Student work placements or Co-ops are separate from the eligibility to work on and off campus and refer only to work required to complete your program.
If you are eligible for a student work placement, you can work for any employer that is approved by your Co-op office or program, even if the work takes place off campus. There is no weekly hour limit while participating in student work placements, but your work placement cannot make up more than 50% of your program of study.
If you are enrolled in a UBC Co-op, internship practicum ,or work-integrated learning course, you are considered full-time for immigration purposes.
. You may work on a UBC student work placement and, at the same time, work on and/or off campus in another type of employment if you meet the requirements for each.
International Student Guide
Find everything you need to know about life as an international student at UBC’s Okanagan campus.
If you have questions
You can connect with International Student Advising for questions related to immigration, health insurance, and life as an international student in Canada.
The information on this page may change
The immigration information on this page has been reviewed and endorsed by Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants (RCICs) or Regulated International Student Immigration Advisors (RISIAs) in compliance with the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and Regulations. However, this is not a legal document and information may change without notice. Always refer to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for the most up-to-date information.
