WORK ON CAMPUS
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has announced changes to the International Student Program starting January 1, 2026, including new rules for Provincial Attestation Letters (PALs).
Graduate students (Master’s or PhD) at public institutions will be exempt from the PAL requirement starting January 1, 2026. In addition, PhD students and their accompanying family members may also qualify for expedited processing, if they apply within the same application. Please note that applications may still be subject to background checks, which could affect processing times.
For full details on PAL requirements and other updates, please review our 2026 PAL Requirement News Post.
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.