ENROLLMENT REQUIREMENTS: STUDYING AND WORKING IN CANADA

On January 22, 2024, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship (IRCC) announced a number of updates and measures to the International Student Program. The complete details can be found on the IRCC website on our News & Updates page.

Working on campus: Requirements

In order to work on campus you must meet two requirements:

  1. You must be enrolled full time (see Full Time Status, below) in the term you wish to work on campus 
  2. IRCC’s work eligibility requirements for working on or off campus

The definitions, permitted hours, and eligibility requirements differ for working on or off campus. You may be eligible to work only on campus, off campus, or both. Review our detailed handout for more information.

i IRCC defines on campus as "employment facilities within the boundaries of the campus." Visit the IRCC website for more details.

Questions about working on campus? Contact an International Student Advisor, Immigration Specialist.

Full Time Status

SFU students are considered full time for immigration purposes in a given term if they are:

Undergraduate Students (including post-baccalaureate programs)

  • enrolled in a minimum of 9 units in the Spring, Summer and Fall term

Graduate Students in one of the following categories

  • Graduate students enrolled in per term fee programs
  • Graduate students enrolled in a thesis, project, capstone course or field exams
  • Graduate students enrolled in 6 or more units per term in per unit fee programs  

OR any one of the following:

  • Undergraduate and Graduate students enrolled in a full time Formal Exchange Program (“FEP”) or Field School (outbound exchange and field school), or
  • Undergraduate and Graduate students enrolled in a full-time co-operative education placement (“Co-op”), approved internship or practicum as per program requirements, or 
  • Undergraduate students enrolled in a total minimum of 9 units as part of the Dual Degree partnerships between SFU and Langara, Douglas and Kwantlen or
  • Graduate students enrolled full time under the Western Deans Agreement in any given term, or 
  • Visiting International Graduate Research Students ( see more information) enrolled in “Grad 800”, or
  • Visiting International Undergraduate Research Students (see more information) enrolled in "UG 400", or
  • Students for whom the Centre for Accessible Learning has approved full-time equivalency, despite their carrying a reduced load