Who can work?

You are eligible to work on campus and/or off campus in Canada if:

1. You are a full-time student at McGill
   1. If you are an undergraduate or Masters Non-Thesis student, you are considered full-time only ifÌýyou areÌýattempting at least 12 credits in every mandatory academic term, with the exception of your final term only.
      1. For most undergraduate students, Fall and Winter are mandatory terms and Summer registration is optional.
      2. For Master’s Non-Thesis students, Fall and Winter are mandatory terms. Depending on the program, Summer registration may be mandatory. Confirm with your department whether Summer registration is optional or mandatory.
   2. If you are a thesis student (Master’s Thesis or PhD), you are considered full-time in every registered term regardless of the number of credits you are attempting. Thesis students are continuously registered in all terms – Fall, Winter, and Summer – there is no summer break.Ìý
   3. If you are doing a mandatory work experience (co-op, internship, practicum, clinical, stage, etc.) on a full-time basis, youÌýare considered full-time for immigration purposes regardless of how many credits you are attempting that term.
2. You have a valid study permit or maintained student status.
3. Your program has started and you are studying.
4. You have a social insurance number (SIN).

How can you get a social insurance number (SIN)?

You need a social insurance number (SIN) in order to work in Canada. To get your 9-digit SIN, your study permit must include one of the following remarks or conditions authorizing you to work on-campus and off-campus:

1. May accept employment on the campus of the institution at which registered in full-time studies
2. May work xx hrs off-campus* or full-time during regular breaks if meeting criteria outlined in section 186(v) of IRPR
3. May accept employment on or off-campus if meeting eligibility criteria as per R186(f), (v) or (w). Must cease working if no longer meeting these criteria

If your study permit does not include one of these remarks, you must:

1. , and then
2. Apply for a SIN from Service Canada.

You must obtain a SINÌýbeforeÌýyou can start working in Canada.

How many hours can you work?

1. During a regular academic term, eligible students are authorized to work:
   1. Full-time or unlimited hours on campusÌýand,
   2. Up to a maximum of 24 hours per week off campusÌý

2. Immigration Canada does not limit the number of hours of on campus work allowed per week.Ìý

3. Students working off campus can work a maximum of 24 hours in any given week (i.e., you cannot work 26 hours one week and 22 hours the next week and then average it out). You can, however, work both on campus and off campus as long as you respect the 24 hour per week maximum for off campus work.

The number of hours eligible students are allowed to work off campus during an academic termÌýincreased from 20 hours to a maximum of 24 hours per week as of November 8th, 2024. For more details, see the announcement from .

What jobs can you work in?

1. You can work in most jobs unless
   1. Your study permit includes any conditions or restrictions or
   2. If you want to work in an and you did not include proof of an immigration medical exam in your study permit application.
2. Check your study permit to see if there are any conditions or restrictions on the types of jobs or industries you can work in.
3. If you did not include proof of an immigration medical exam (i.e., a medical exam doneÌýby a panel physician) inÌýthe study permit application linked to your current study permit, you are not authorized to work in jobs in which public health must be protected.
   1. Your study permit should include a condition that prohibits you from working in any jobs in which public health must be protected, such as jobs in the childcare andÌýhealthcare sectors or in the agriculture sector.ÌýFor examples of jobs that require a medical exam, seeÌý.
   2. The condition on your study permit may say:Ìý

      Not authorized to work in childcare, primary/secondary school teaching, health field occupations.

   3. If your study permit has this condition, you cannot work in certain occupationsÌýuntil the condition has beenÌýremoved. To remove the condition, you must undergo a medical exam by a and .

If your study permit was issued without any condition prohibiting work in certain occupations and you did not include proof of an immigration medical exam with your study permit application, you must undergo a medical exam by a and before starting to work for which a medical exam is required.

Part-time students

Students who are part-time (i.e., students who are attemptingÌýless than 12 credits during an academic term), are not authorized to work.

1. If you began the term with 12 or more credits but end up reducing your course load to less than 12 credits at any point in the term due to course drop/course withdrawal, you are no longer considered a full-time student for immigration purposes, regardless of what it says on your transcript.
   1. If you worked before becoming part-time, you were authorized to do so.
   2. You are no longer authorized to work as of the date you are attemptingÌýless than 12 credits.
2. You can be part-time and work only if:
   1. You are part-time in your final term of studies and you have been full-time in every term prior to your final term; or
   2. You are working during a regularly scheduled break and you are full-time immediately before and after the break.

If you are a thesis student (Master’s Thesis or PhD), you are considered full-time in every registered term regardless of the number of credits you are attempting.

Working in your final semester

Exceptionally, you can be part-time in yourÌý of studies and work as long asÌýyou have been continuously enrolled full-time in every other term of yourÌýprogram.Ìý

If you have been less than full-time in a semester other than your final term (e.g., part-time, leave of absence, or gap in registration), you can only work in your final term if you are enrolled full-time in your final term.

Working during a scheduled break in your program

1. In order toÌý in your program, you must be enrolled full-timeÌýbefore and after the break.
   1. For example, if you are attempting less than 12 credits in the Winter term, you are not authorized to work during the summer breakÌýimmediately after the Winter term.Ìý
   2. Exceptionally, students who are part-time in a Fall term may be authorized to work during the summer break preceding that Fall term as long as the Fall term is their and they were full-time in the Winter term immediately preceding the summer break.Ìý
2. If you are a Master’s thesis or PhD student, you doÌýnot have any scheduled breaks. You are therefore restricted to working a maximum of 24 hours per week off campus during your studies.

3. Depending on your program, a summer term may not be considered a regularly scheduled break. If you are unsure whether or not you have a regularly scheduled break in the summer, contact your department/faculty.

Depending on your program, a summer termÌýmay not be considered a regularly scheduled break. If you are unsure whether or not you have a regularly scheduled break in the summer, contact your department/faculty.

Have a question? Contact UsÌýfor more information!