WORK ON CAMPUS
Effective April 1, 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) updated the requirements for co-op work permits. Eligible international students at post-secondary institutions are no longer required to obtain a separate co-op work permit to complete co-op terms, internships, or practicums. Eligible students may use the on-campus work authorization on their SFU study permit to participate in an SFU-approved work placement.
Work placements must still constitute no more than 50% of the total study program and be an essential component of the program. There is no limit on the number of hours students can work for their work placement. For additional details and eligibility requirements, please visit the IRCC – Work in a student work placement webpage.
Working on campus
- Requirements
- Part-time course load in final academic term
- Where you can work
- Who you can work for
- How many hours you can work on campus
- Student work placements
- Resources
Requirements
In order to work on campus, you must meet all requirements:
- You must meet SFU’s definition of full-time enrolment status in the term you wish to work on campus,
- You hold a valid study permit that includes a condition stating you may work on campus, and
- You have a social insurance number (SIN).
Part-time course load in final academic term
If it is your final academic term at SFU and you only require a part-time course load, you may still be eligible to work on campus if you maintained full-time enrolment status throughout all previous academic terms*. For more information, please refer to IRCC’s Operational Instructions & Guidelines.
Note: It is your responsibility to check with your department advisor to confirm that the term you would like to work is indeed your final term.
* Academic Terms
- Undergraduate students: Spring and Fall terms
- Graduate students: Spring, Summer, and Fall terms
Where you can work
“On campus” is defined by IRCC as employment facilities within the boundaries of the following:
- campus locations
- SFU students are permitted to work at any of the three SFU campuses (Burnaby, Vancouver or Surrey).
- student work placements
- research locations
Who you can work for
Your employer may be:
- SFU (temporary assignments),
- a faculty member,
- the Student Society,
- yourself (e.g., private tutoring or any self-employment),
- a private business or private contractor providing services to the institution on the campus, or
- an SFU-approved employer for student work placements
You may also encounter the term “Work-Study,” which are positions that are restricted to students who have demonstrated financial need. Note: Not all on-campus jobs are Work-Study. For more information on Work-Study, contact SFU's Financial Aid & Awards office.
How many hours you can work on campus
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.
Student work placements
If you meet the requirements above to work on campus, you may participate in SFU-approved student work term, such as:
- co-op work terms
- internships
- practicums
- mentorship programs
In addition, the student work term must also meet the following conditions:
- the student work term is an essential part of your program at SFU, and
- the student work term totals 50% or less of your study program.
For more information on student work terms, review the following webpages:
To know how to participate in co-op, please contact SFU’s Co-op office.
Resources
Review our Working On and Off Campus handout for more information on the definitions, permitted hours, and eligibility requirements.
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.