Please visit the career center website for information on current job opportunities

Working Off-Campus

The Off Campus Work Permit is an open work permit that allows a student to apply for a job in any location for any type of employer, however, CIC may impose restrictions and conditions.  There are no restrictions on the number of jobs as long as the total number of hours does not exceed the maximum hours allowed.  A student with an OCWP may work up to 20 hours per week in the academic year and up to 40 hours during breaks.  Those that are part-time because they are in the final session of completing their degree requirements must adhere to the maximum hours allowed. 

The OCWP may not be used for internship placements but you can hold both types of work permits.  It is possible to apply for an OCWP prior to finding a job.   An OCWP is required for non-approved “volunteer” work (volunteering is when it is part of a formally recognized volunteer program e.g. Red Cross).  You cannot “volunteer” while you are waiting for an OCWP. 

The primary purpose of a student in Canada on a Study Permit must remain their studies even while working off campus under an OCWP.

Go to: www.cic.gc.ca for more details on how to apply.

 Post-Graduate Work Permit:
International students upon graduation are allowed to work in Canada for up to two years in the field relevant to their degree. A work permit must be obtained through immigration authorities within Canada.

See Canada Citizenship and Immigration website for further information.

Social Insurance Number for tax purposes

Students with a scholarship, bursary, or those who intend to accept (on-campus) employment, will need a Social Insurance Number (S.I.N.). A S.I.N. distinguishes each individual from all other taxpayers in Canada. As of February 2003, the Government of Canada will issue temporary Social Insurance numbers only to those international students that have already received a job offer by an on-campus employer. For tax purposes, students will be assigned a temporary Social Insurance Number. Students that received their Social Insurance Number before February 2003 will have one year to renew their number.

See HRSDC website for further information

Income Tax and International Students:

     All international students who reside in Canada for 183 days or more of the previous year or who earned 90% of their total income that year in Canada, are required to file an income tax form. Any money you earn in Canada is subject to Canadian income tax. This includes employment, graduate teaching assistantships as well as scholarships, bursaries and fellowships from Canadian sources. Statement of earnings (T4 slips) are issued by March for the previous calendar year and tax forms must be filed by April 30th. In preparation for income tax time, it is wise to save your receipts for travel, eyeglasses, and UHIP.

     International students may also be able to apply for a GST tax credit. For more information, call the International Taxation Office (1-800-267- 5177). Students that have not received a Social Insurance Number, will be assigned a temporary number for tax filing purposes.

    TIP will hold an annual Income Tax information session each spring. Please refer to Canada Customs and Revenue for more information.