Canada is a country full of world-class academic institutions, but it also has tremendous economic potential. As such, working while attending university is feasible and ultimately beneficial. However, it can be a challenge to understand how to work while studying in Canada from a visa perspective and from a work/school/life balance perspective, so we’ve captured some key learnings below.
Can I Work While Studying in Canada?
The answer is YES. You don’t need a work permit to work on or off campus if you are enrolled full-time at a recognized institution. However, if you have a mandatory work placement or co-op through your study program, you will need a work permit.
Another restriction is that if you get your study permit after June 1, it will indicate whether or not you’re eligible to work off campus. If you’re eligible, you’re limited to working 20 hours a week while your program is in session or full-time during the breaks in the academic year.
For more information on applying for a study permit, please refer to the Government of Canada’s Immigration and Citizenship website.
Work-Life Balance while Studying in Canada
Now, if you’re eligible to work in Canada while studying, here are a few tips on how to balance it all.
Use a calendar tool
Use something where you keep track of all your time. This might be the simplest and most important thing to help you work while studying in Canada. As uncool as it may seem, we also recommend including all your personal appointments in the calendar. This ensures you never double-book yourself. While some people may prefer a paper agenda, we suggest an electronic version for a few reasons:
- If you lose your book, it’s gone. No backups.
- An e-version can be synced across numerous devices (phone, tablet, computer, etc.).
- You can receive alerts across all those devices.
Take a job with defined hours
As nice as it is to have flexible work hours, they can make it more of a challenge to commit to certain plans. With set hours, you know what you’ll be working on and when, and minimize surprises. In addition, try to secure a job that doesn’t require you to “bring your work home with you.” This ensures your time is fully segmented, which allows your mind to focus on the task at hand rather than trying to juggle work and school within the same time frame.
Plan for leisure
Sometimes when you are juggling work and school, having fun is an afterthought. The problem with that is leisure is required for good mental health. Therefore, even if it seems counterintuitive, taking time off will mean better coursework and a healthier mind. As such, make sure you schedule in your leisure time, otherwise, your calendar will likely keep getting booked up.
Plan for study
Similarly, use your calendar tool to ensure you schedule in some study time because otherwise, that leisure time might also begin to interrupt your study time. Remember: the calendar is your buddy.
Monitor your stress levels
Due to work and school, you can get too stressed out. Monitor that and push back on your work hours if you have to. Keep in mind you are there to study first, and work second. Unless there is a financial imperative, make sure your studies come first, and offload some hours if you can. Don’t forget to reach out to student services on campus, whether you need someone to talk to or need to access the campus food bank. We’ve all gone through rough times, and there’s no shame in asking for help.
Plan for your career
This is easier said than done, but don’t get a job simply for the sake of getting a job. Try to get a job that will not only give you money today, but will help give you money in the future by developing a strong resume now. This isn’t always possible but sometimes it’s worth taking a financial hit to get a better job. Again, unless there is a financial imperative, this is probably the most important consideration with regards to work while studying in Canada.
