Off-Campus Work

What does Off-Campus and Off-Campus work mean?

1. According to the Government of Canada:

   " Any location outside the boundaries of the campus of the educational institution at which the student is registered."

2. Refer to the official Immigration Canada website for detailed definitions and complete information on off-campus work.

Who is eligible?

1. Students registered in full-time studies McGill degree, certificate, diploma students, visiting/exchange students, and who have a valid study permit.
2. To work during scheduled breaks, students must be registered full-time before and after scheduled breaks with the exception of the last term.

Who is NOT eligible?

1. Students can't work off-campus in Canada if their study permit says that they aren't authorized to work off campus during their studies.
2. Students registered part-time (unless it's their final term of study) and they have otherwise maintained full-time status for the duration of the program of study).
3. We recommend consulting the Immigration Canada Website for a detailed list of circumstances that make a student ineligible for off-campus work.

What are Full-Time studies?

The definition of Full-Time studies depends on the type of degree program. The criteria for each are listed below:

1. For Undergraduate Students:

   1. Minimum Requirement: 12 credits per term.

   2. Exceptions:

      • Scheduled breaks (e.g., Reading Week, Summer).

      • Final term before graduation when you are permitted to register part-time and still maintain working privileges.

2. For Non-Thesis Masters Students:

   1. Minimum Requirement: 12 credits per term.

   2. Exceptions:

      • Department-scheduled breaks (confirm with your department, if unsure)

      • Final term before graduation when you are permitted to register part-time and still maintain working privileges.

3. For Graduate Thesis (Masters, PhD) students:

   1. Requirement: Registered full-time in every academic term, including Summer, regardless of the number of credits per term.

   2. Note: Thesis programs do not have scheduled breaks.

What documents do students need for off-campus employment?

1. A valid study permit:
   1. If a McGill degree-seeking student has a Study Permit, it will likely include conditions and/or remarks that clearly state that they are eligible to work on or off-campus if they meet the eligibility requirements. This will be necessary in order for a student to be able to apply for a Social Insurance Number.
   2. If a McGill degree-seeking student has a Study Permit that does not include a reference to their eligibility to work on or off-campus, they are allowed to submit a request for an amendment to their study permit in order to be able to apply for a Social Insurance Number.
2. Social Insurance Number

What if the student's Study Permit (or Work Permit) has expired?

As long as the student applied to renew their Study (or Work) permit before it expired, they are considered to have maintained status under which they have the right to continue working. As stated on the Immigration Canada website:

If a temporary resident applies for renewal of their work or study permit and their permit expires before a decision is made, R186(u) and R189 (the right to continue working or studying under the same conditions pending a determination of their application for renewal) apply only as long as the person remains in Canada.

How many hours can students work off-time?

1. up to 24 hours per week during regular full-time academic sessions
2. full-time during university-scheduled breaks given they satisfy the eligibility criteria.

What is a regularly scheduled break?

1. According to the Government of Canada , a break is considered a regularly scheduled break if:

   "It is a part of the Designated Learning Institution’s (DLI) academic calendar (for instance, winter and summer holidays, Reading Week)."

2. The academic calendar of the university highlights all the key dates in a given academic year.
3. For undergraduate and some non-thesis master programs the Summer term, reading week and the winter holidays are considered scheduled breaks. 
4. Thesis programs do not have any scheduled breaks.

Related Content: