Full-time status

DLIs set the number of hours and credits toward a degree, diploma or certificate that are required for a student to hold full-time status. Officers will defer to DLIs on the determination of a student’s status.

Students must stop working off campus as soon as their full-time status becomes part-time during a regular academic session (for instance, a student may begin a regular academic session on a full-time basis and become part-time during the same session as they drop courses). In this case, they are no longer authorized to undertake off-campus work.

Co-op students

If the DLI considers a co-op student with a co-op work permit to have full-time status during the “work experience” portion of their program, and if the student continues to comply with the eligibility requirements under the co-op work permit program, the student may be eligible to work off campus, pursuant to paragraph R186(v), on top of their co-op work hours.

Conditions for work

Maximum working hours permitted

Students eligible to work under paragraph R186(v) can do the following:

• work up to 20 hours per week during academic sessions once they have commenced their program of study
• work full time during regularly scheduled breaks between academic sessions regardless of their course load

Students may not work until they have commenced their program of study. They must actually commence studies in Canada at a DLI before being eligible to work off campus.

Intensive programs

Some intensive programs may not have regularly scheduled breaks. Students participating in such programs may work a maximum of 20 hours per week during the entire program of study.

Full-time students with a part-time course load in their final academic session

Students who have maintained full-time status for the duration of their program of study, and who only require a part-time course load in their final academic session in order to complete their program of study, are allowed to work full-time during the regularly scheduled break before their last semester and are allowed to work off campus up to 20 hours per week during their final academic session.

Working on campus in addition to working off campus

There are no restrictions on the number of hours students can work on campus [as per R186(f)] in addition to working off campus, provided they continue to meet the applicable eligibility requirements.