Working while studying

Work experience can help you prepare for your career, gain exposure to the Canadian workplace, earn extra money, and form a closer connection to the local community.

Before accepting a job, ensure that you are authorized to work in Canada and know the types of occupations and the number of hours you are authorized to work. Remember that your primary purpose in Canada is to study, and you should prioritize your academic success and personal well-being before choosing to work.

Working on campus

International students may work on NorQuest campuses if opportunities are available and if they are authorized to do so. The number of work hours on campus is not limited by IRCC. You may be eligible to work on campus while studying if you meet all of the following requirements:

• you have a valid study permit, and it lists a condition that says you may accept employment on campus; 
• or you applied to extend your study permit before it expired, and your previous study permit had the on-campus work authorization

If your study permit doesn’t include on-campus work conditions, you can request IRCC to amend it, if eligible. You will not be eligible to work until after your study permit is amended to include the work authorization.  

• you are enrolled full-time at NorQuest College in any program (including ESL/EAL (English as an Additional Language), Open Studies, and Academic Upgrading)
• except for the program’s official scheduled breaks or if you are in the last semester of your Diploma or Certificate program
• your program has already started
• you have a Social Insurance Number (SIN)

On-campus job opportunities are competitive; they include:

• Food Services: to apply for Food Services, please visit each company’s website for open positions
• Casual and part-time position openings at the college are posted on Careers at NorQuest
• SANQC: you can find job opportunities with the Student Association

Working off campus

You may be eligible to work off campus up to a maximum of 24 hours per week if you meet all of the following requirements:

• you have a valid study permit, and it lists a condition that says you may accept employment off campus;
• or you applied to extend your study permit before it expired, and your study permit had the work authorization

If your study permit doesn’t have work conditions on it, you can request IRCC to amend it, if eligible. You will not be eligible to work until after your study permit is amended to include the work authorization. 

• you are enrolled full-time in a post-secondary program at NorQuest College that leads to a diploma or certificate which is at least six months in duration.
• exceptions to the full-time status requirement:
• You are allowed to be enrolled part-time in the final term of your program and work off campus if you maintained full-time status for the full duration of the program except for the last term. 
• You are allowed to be enrolled part-time during the program’s official scheduled break.
• your program has already started.
• you have a Social Insurance Number (SIN).

Working during breaks

You can work unlimited hours during a scheduled break in your program if meeting the above requirements and you are a full-time student in the term before the break and are going to be a full-time student in the term after the break, unless the term after the break is your final term, which is allowed to be part-time.

Working unlimited hours during holiday closures and interim breaks (reading weeks) is permitted only if this break is part of the Academic Schedule and constitutes the full, 7-day week from Sunday to Saturday inclusive.

Career resources at NorQuest:

• CareerQuest Hub: check out our NorQuest student job board portal to help you get started on your job search.
• Career Centre: prepare yourself for finding off-campus employment and learn how to plan for career success.
• Career Coaching: you can meet with a NorQuest Career Coach for free while you are a student at NorQuest and up to 6 months after graduation.

Losing work eligibility

You must stop working on or off campus as soon as your situation changes, and you no longer meet the eligibility requirements.

Examples of situations resulting in losing work-while-studying authorization include the following:

• You are enrolled part-time in a mandatory academic term, which is not your last term in the program.
• You are currently on an authorized leave.
• You are withdrawn from the program.
• You have graduated (received your completion letter) and have not yet applied for a post-graduation work permit.
• You are changing programs within NorQuest or transferring to/from another DLI prior to completing the previous program and are currently not studying.
• Your study permit has expired, and you did not apply for an extension before its expiry.
• You have switched from a post-secondary to a preparatory program or Open Studies. You may still be eligible to work on campus, however, you will no longer be authorized to work off campus, even if this condition is printed on your study permit.

Important! It is illegal to study and work in Canada without appropriate authorization.

Working illegally could result in:

• inadmissibility and deportation
• refusals on future immigration applications
• mistreatment by your employer (you will have difficulty defending your rights as a worker and they could try to refuse to pay you, coerce you into accepting dangerous working conditions, etc.)

Employee rights

Your rights as a worker in Canada are protected under the same laws that apply to Canadian citizens and permanent residents. Learn more about your rights as a worker and what you should expect from your employer.

Below are NorQuest resources that may help you recognize and report unfair treatment at work:

• SANQC legal plan
• Norquest Career Centre
• Centre for Growth and Harmony

Volunteering

Volunteering is highly appreciated in Canada, and it is a great way to be involved in the community. It allows students to gain valuable work experience, strengthens their resumes, and enhances future employment opportunities. If you are interested to gain volunteering experience and expand your social network on campus, we encourage you to join NorQuest International Volunteer Program or International Peer Mentorship program.

If you volunteer off campus, some types of activities may be still considered working by IRCC, even if you are not being paid. Please review IRCC’s What is Work webpage to help determine if your planned volunteering may be deemed working and then you would need to count these as your work hours within the limit of your work hours eligibility.