Working off-campus

What is considered off-campus work?

Off-campus work is work that takes place on any location outside the boundaries of UBC Okanagan.

Volunteer positions and internships (paid or unpaid) may be considered work by IRCC. For example, if you volunteer for a job that is normally performed by paid employees (photocopying, customer service, etc.), it is considered work regardless of whether you are paid or not. If your volunteer position or internship is considered work, you must have the appropriate work authorization before you start.

It is important to review the meaning of work according to the IRCC definition to determine what is considered work.

Make sure you’re eligible to work off-campus

You may work off-campus starting the first day of the term you begin studies at UBC if you meet all of the following requirements:

• You have a valid study permit, or you have applied to extend your study permit and have maintained status;
• You are enrolled a full-time for immigration purposes during academic terms international student in a degree, diploma, or  certificate program, or a full-time exchange program student at UBC., or you are eligible to work during a scheduled break 
• Your study permit includes conditions allowing you to work on campus, such as “May accept employment on or off campus if meeting eligibility criteria, per paragraph R186(f), (v), or (w) and must cease working if no longer meeting these criteria”
• You have a valid Social Insurance Number, or you had a SIN and are on maintained status.

You should also consider the following:

• If you plan to work in jobs which require a medical exam, such as working with children or in health-care settings, you must have taken a medical exam and have the right conditions on your study permit before starting.
• If work is required for your program, you must have applied for a co-op work permit and receive it before starting your position, be eligible to work while you are waiting under the temporary co-op policy, or be eligible for the temporary exemption from the co-op work permit. Review the FAQ for details. 
• If you are doing volunteer or unpaid work, this might still be considered work in Canada work in Canada.
• If you are enrolled in a UBC graduate program or the Diploma in Accounting, you must be enrolled full-time in the summer session to be eligible to work on or off campus

Note: International visiting, unclassified and Visiting International Research Students (VIRS) are not eligible to work off campus but you might be eligible for on-campus work.

Full time has many definitions at UBC. Visit UBC’s definitions for immigration purposes.

How many hours can you work off-campus per week?

Undergraduate programs

If you are studying in an undergraduate degree, certificate and diploma program or on exchange and meet UBC’s definition of “full-time” for immigration purposes, you may work off campus up to a maximum of 20 hours per week during the regular academic year (September to April).

You may work full-time during academic scheduled breaks (summer session, Reading Week, and breaks between terms) if you are eligible to work during a scheduled break. Please refer to UBC’s definition for immigration purposes.

Graduate programs

If you are studying in a graduate degree and meet UBC’s definition of full-time for immigration purposes, you are considered to have an ongoing, full-time relationship with the university and therefore may work off campus up to a maximum of 20 hours per week during academic terms, including summer.

You may work full-time during Reading Week and academic scheduled breaks between terms if you are eligible to work during a scheduled break. Please refer to UBC’s definition for immigration purposes.

If you are in your final term

If you are studying in a degree, certificate, or diploma program and are in your final term, regardless of when the final term occurs, you may work off-campus up to 20 hours/week until your letter of completion becomes available.

Once your letter of completion becomes available, you must stop working on your study permit immediately. If you meet the requirements outlined in the “if you are completing your UBC academic program” section, you may work full-time.

If you plan to work on-campus

Your study permit gives you permission to work on-campus at the same time as working off-campus if you meet UBC’s definition of “full-time” for immigration purposes.

If you plan to work off-campus during your Co-op/Internship

You must have a co-op work permit if your work (e.g. co-op placement or internship) is integral to your program of study. Your co-op work permit can only be used for this kind of work and you may simultaneously hold a co-op work permit and work off-campus if you meet the criteria for each.

If you are completing your UBC academic program

You may work full-time once your letter of completion becomes available if you meet the following:

1. You have a valid study permit and have applied for a work permit (such as a post-graduation work permit) within 90 days of completing your program at UBC.
2. You have an official letter of acceptance in a new eligible academic program and you have a valid study permit or applied to extend your study permit before your old study permit expired. You may work full-time for 150 consecutive days from the date the letter of completion becomes available until the new program begins or the end of the 150 days, whichever comes first.

Important: An eligible academic program refers to a program offered by a post-secondary Designated Learning Institution as per IRCC’s website.

Important: Your study permit will automatically become invalid within 90 days of completing your first program, regardless of the expiry date on your current study permit. If you plan to pursue further studies, you must extend your study permit before it becomes invalid from within Canada. Learn more about study permit extensions.

Transferring to UBC?

If you are transferring between educational institutions within Canada, either in or out of UBC, you need to login to MyCIC to tell Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) that you have transferred. See IRCC’s website for more information.

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.