Business Management Working and volunteering are great ways to gain Canadian experience while studying at Langara. As an international student, there are some restrictions on where you can work, and how many hours you can work while you are studying in Canada. It is important that you understand all regulations to avoid any impact on your status in Canada.
Working on campus
International students studying full-time (at least 9 credits per semester) with valid Study Permits are allowed to work on campus. However, there are very few job opportunities at Langara. You should not register at Langara with the expectation that there will be jobs available to supplement your income. Immigration Canada will expect you to have enough savings to be self-supporting as a full-time student.
Working off campus
International students with valid Study Permits may be allowed to work off campus via the Off-Campus Work Permit program. To be eligible to apply for an Off-Campus Work Permit, students must meet a number of requirements. The essential points are included below.
- Have a valid study permit.
- Be currently registered as a full-time student (9 or more credits) in an academic program (not ESL) at Langara.
- Have been registered as a full-time student in an academic program at Langara for at least 6 out of the last 12 months.
- Have maintained a GPA of 2.0 for at least 6 of the last 12 months (during the same months as the individual was a full-time student). The GPA has been set by Langara for the purposes of the off-campus work permit program.
- Attend an Off-Campus Work Permit Program Info Session at Langara.
For more information about the Off-Campus Work Permit Program for international students, visit:
British Columbia Ministry of Advanced Education international education website: http://www.learnlivebc.ca/
Citizenship and Immigration Canada website: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/study/work-offcampus.asp
Working as part of a Co-op program
International students are eligible for the Co-operative Education experience!
Employers want to hire graduates with education and experience. Co-operative Education is a proven educational model that allows you to combine your academic studies with curriculum-related, paid work experience to help you develop the skills you need to be successful in your future career.
If admitted to Co-op, you are required to apply for a Co-op Work Permit through Immigration Canada and obtain a Social Insurance Number. Visit the Co-op website to see how to qualify.
Co-operative Education is offered to international students in the following programs:
Undergraduate Degree Programs
- Bachelor of Business Administration
- University Transfer (Bachelor’s Degree Program)
Two-year Career Diploma Programs
- Computer Studies
- Financial Management
- International Business
- Marketing and Sales
At this time according to Canadian Immigration regulations, international students may not
add the Co-op option to their University Transfer studies.
For more information about Co-op Work Permits for international students, visit:
Citizenship and Immigration Canada website: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/study/work-coop.asp
Working after graduation
After graduation from a certificate, diploma or degree program at Langara College, international students are eligible to apply for a Post-Graduate Work Permit. Students are eligible to obtain an open work permit for a maximum of three years.
Please note that this is a once-in-a-lifetime work permit. Therefore, you should be selective about when to apply for it. If you are transferring to another institution (e.g. completing your degree at a university), you may wish to wait until after you have completed your program there before applying for the Post-Graduate Work Permit.
For more information about the Post-Graduate Work Program, visit:
Citizenship and Immigration Canada website: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/study/work-postgrad.asp
Social Insurance Number
A social insurance number (SIN) is required for everyone who works in Canada. Without a SIN, an employer cannot legally pay an employee.
Once you have been issued an off-campus work permit, post-graduate work permit, or been offered a job on campus, you must apply for a SIN from Service Canada. We recommend that students apply in person at a Service Canada office for the card and allow several weeks for processing. A SIN card, which will expire at the same time as your work permit (or your study permit if you are working on campus), will be issued.
You must show your SIN card, or proof that you have applied for the card, within three days of the start date of your employment, and you may work during the waiting period.
For information on how to apply for a SIN card and the Service Canada location closest to you, visit:
Service Canada website: http://www.servicecanada.gc.ca/en/sc/sin/
Volunteering
Volunteering can help you gain Canadian experience with a charity or non-profit organization. In most cases, you do not need a work permit to volunteer, as the work you do as a volunteer is unpaid. However, it is important to understand Citizenship and Immigration Canada’s regulations as they apply to volunteer work. Please visit the CIC website for more information about when a work permit may be required.
We also recommend that you attend the Finding Volunteer Opportunities Workshop offered by the IE office for information about volunteering in Canada.
Volunteer Opportunities at Langara
The International Education office manages the International Education Volunteer Program (IEVP), a group of student volunteers who are responsible for planning and assisting at events and activities for international students at Langara. Available positions are periodically advertised to international students via the weekly IE News email, posters on the IE bulletin boards in A and B buildings, and the IE Facebook page. Please note that selection for the IEVP is quite competitive and limited positions are available.
In addition, Langara College offers a student volunteer program called VOLT, which helps connect students with volunteer opportunities in the community. Please visit the VOLT website for more information.
