WORK ON CAMPUS
On November 6, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced several changes to the International Student Program for 2026:
- PAL Exemption: Starting January 1, 2026, incoming graduate students (Master’s or PhD) studying/attending at public institutions will be Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) exempt. Further details are available on IRCC's graduate student website. Applications submitted before January 1, 2026, must still include a valid PAL. Learn how to receive your SFU PAL.
- Faster Processing for Doctoral Students: PhD students and their accompanying family members applying from outside of Canada may qualify for expedited study permit processing, if they apply within the same application. Applications may still be subject to background checks, which may delay processing times.
- 2026-2028 Immigration Levels Plan: IRCC has set a target of 155,000 new international student arrivals for 2026. This target applies to study permit applications made from outside Canada and does not include study permit extensions or in-Canada applications. Learn more about the 2026 provincial and territorial allocations under the international student cap here.
- Life as a Graduate Student: Prepare yourself for life in Canada by learning about housing options, study costs, employment opportunities, and more.
We encourage students to monitor IRCC’s website for the most up-to-date information and will update our News and Updates page as additional details become available.
You may work on campus without a work permit if you meet both of the following requirements:
- you hold a valid study permit that includes a condition stating you may work on campus
- you are enrolled as a full-time student*
*If you are studying part-time in your final term of study, you may be eligible to work on campus in that term provided that you meet the specific criteria outlined by IRCC. To review the criteria for working on campus if you are studying part-time in your final term, please visit the IRCC website here.
Where you can work
“On campus” is defined by IRCC as employment facilities within the boundaries of the campus.
SFU students are permitted to work at any of the three SFU campuses (Burnaby, Vancouver or Surrey).
Who you can work for
Your employer may be:
- SFU (temporary assignments)
- a faculty member
- the Student Society
- yourself (e.g., private tutoring)
- or a private business or private contractor providing services to the institution on the campus.
You may also encounter the term “Work Study” - these positions are restricted to students who have demonstrated financial need (see the Financial Aid website for details). Not all on-campus jobs are Work Study.
How many hours you can work
You can work as many hours as you want, in addition to working off campus, as long as you continue to meet the eligibility requirements for working on campus.
Get help with the job search process
If you are seeking a job on campus, SFU Career and Volunteer Services offers a variety of resources and services to assist you, including job postings, resume help, advice on the job search and interview process, and more.