About working on campus

By working on campus, you will expend your social and professional networks and enhance your learning through working in an academic setting. You will meet mentors and set foundations for successful integration into the Canadian labour market.

You can only start working on-campus when you start your study program. You can’t work before your studies begin.

What is considered “on-campus” work

“On-campus” is defined as employment facilities within the boundaries of the campus.

  • The students are only allowed to work on the campus of the educational institution at which they are registered in full-time studies.
  • If an institution has more than one campus, the student can work at different locations on those campuses provided they are within the same municipality.
  • If an institution has campuses in different cities, the student is restricted to working on the institution's campus where they are registered as a full-time student.
  • Students may work on campus as teaching or research assistants and may be located at a library, hospital, or research facility affiliated with the institution but located outside the physical boundaries of the institution's campus. This is allowed provided that the work is strictly related to the student's research grant.

Who your employer can be

The employer can be any of the following:

  • the institution,
  • a faculty,
  • a student organization,
  • the students themselves (self-employment taking place on campus: e.g. private tutors),
  • a private business,
  • a private contractor providing services to the institution on the campus.

On-campus employers include those whose businesses serve the general public, as long as the place of business is located on the institution's campus. Where to look for on-campus jobs? 

How many hours you can work on campus

IRCC does not limit the number of hours or jobs students are permitted to work on campus. However, it is every student's responsibility and expectation to put studies first before work and be conscious of work-school balanace. 

Eligibility

You may work on campus without a work permit if you have a valid study permit and are registered as a full-time student at USask. Before you begin working, you must make sure that you are meeting the eligibility criteria.

Maintained status during processing (implied status): If IRCC receives your renewal application before your current study permit expires, you have implied status. Implied status ends when a decision is reached on your study permit application. Implied status exists only so long as you remain in Canada.

Working while on maintained status during processing (implied status): With implied status, you continue to enjoy the benefits associated with your previous study permit as though you still hold it. This includes the authorization to work under the same conditions of your previous study permit.

It continues to be very important that you monitor the expiry date of your study permit and apply for a study permit extension well in advance of the expiry date.

What is considered "full-time" at the U of S

Full-time undergraduate students are registered in 9 or more credit [DB1] units per fall term 1 (September to December) and winter term 2 (January to April) semesters. Graduate students must be registered in at least 6 or more credit units per term. For more information about graduate student registration requirements, please contact your respective academic unit.

The information on this page may change

The immigration information on this page has been reviewed and prepared by Regulated International Student Immigration Advisors (RISIAs) in compliance with the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and Regulations. However, this is not a legal document and information may change without notice. Always refer to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for the most up-to-date information.