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On- & off-campus work

You need to be a full-time student at UVic to legally work on or off campus. You must also have started your program of study before you can begin working.

Full-time definitions at UVic

The definition of full-time studies is different for  and graduate students.

• if you are registered with the UVic Centre for Accessible Learning (CAL), consult with your CAL adviser to confirm the full-time definition based on your academic accommodations
• the definition of full-time enrolment used for scholarships, bursaries, student loans and external providers may differ from the full-time definitions in the UVic Calendar
• there is a different full-time definition for undergraduate (e.g., JD and JID) students in the Faculty of Law

One way to check your enrolment status is to download a Verification of Enrolment letter via UVic Online Tools. The letter will state whether you are enrolled full time or part time.

Work on campus

Find out if you're eligible to .

Work off campus

Find out if you're eligible to . Off-campus work is normally restricted to a maximum of 24 hours per week during regular academic sessions.

Off-campus work during regularly scheduled breaks

There is no limit to the number of hours eligible students can work off campus without a work permit during . To legally work full time during a regularly scheduled break, you must be a full-time student immediately before and immediately after the break.

Inter-session breaks and the winter break are examples of regularly scheduled breaks at UVic.

• undergraduate degree-seeking students: the summer session can be considered a regularly scheduled break, as long as your program allows it, and provided you are a full-time studentduring the winter session immediately before and immediately after that summer session
  • consult with your academic adviser if you have questions about your program’s scheduled breaks
• graduate degree-seeking students: you must maintain continuity of registration in your program and therefore the summer session is not considered a regularly scheduled break

Other work options

• UVic work study program

Co-op, internship & practicum work

If your program at UVic includes a work component such as a Co-op, internship, or practicum, you will need a co-op work permit. The co-op work permit can only be used for work that is an integral component of your studies at UVic.

To apply for a co-op work permit, you will need a letter from your UVic Co-op, internship, or practicum program confirming that work is required for your program.

Visit the for more information on co-op work permits and how to apply.

Co-op work permit information session recording

Experiential learning

You may also have the opportunity to participate in experiential learning opportunities during your time at UVic. This could be a short internship or practicum incorporated into an academic course, a research award, or another type of hands-on experience. Some experiential learning activities may meet in which case you will need the correct work authorization to participate.

For advice on work authorization for your intended experiential learning activity, contact an ICS immigration practitioner.

Medical exam requirements

An is required to work in certain jobs or settings in Canada. This applies even if the work is unpaid, and regardless of the type of work authorization you are using (on-campus, off-campus, co-op/internship/practicum work permit, post-graduation work permit, etc.)

You will require a medical exam if: 

1. you will work in jobs that bring you into close contact with people, such as 
   • workers in health-care settings 
   • clinical laboratory workers 
   • patient attendants in nursing and geriatric homes 
   • medical students admitted to Canada to attend university 
   • medical electives and physicians on short-term locums 
   • workers in primary or secondary school settings, or workers in child-care settings 
   • domestics 
   • workers who give in-home care to children, the elderly and the disabled 
   • day nursery employees and 
   • other similar jobs  
2. you will work in agriculture and have visited or lived in a