Please Note: The below information is only applicable to current international students at KPU. While we do our best to ensure that the information provided is accurate and current, please be aware that these are not legal documents and all information provided is subject to change at any time. For updated policies and legal information, it is your sole responsibility to refer to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and Regulations, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, or other official direct sources, as applicable. If you have any questions or concerns, please check with an International Student Advisor.
Last updated: January 9, 2025
Scheduled Breaks & Enrollment Status
Scheduled Breaks
As an international student, maintaining full-time status is a key eligibility criterion for the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) program. However, there are times when taking a break from your studies might be necessary, whether for travelling back home, taking time off for self-care, or working off-campus full-time. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) allows each institution to define its own scheduled breaks. You do not need to apply for a scheduled break or inform anyone. As long as you adhere to KPU’s terms of scheduled breaks, your eligibility for the PGWP program should not be affected. If in doubt, always check with an International Student Advisor whether you qualify for a Scheduled Break.
When applying for your Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP), you are highly recommended to attach the KPU Immigration Purpose Document. This document includes official definitions of Academic Schedule and Student Status as set out by Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) for immigration purposes.
| Scheduled Break | Duration |
|---|---|
| Between academic semesters | The day after the full-term exam period end date as posted on KPU’s dates & deadlines page, until the day before the first day of classes for the term. |
| Reading break in the Spring semester | Reading break in the Spring semester - one week in February. For the exact start and end date of the reading break, check KPU’s dates & deadlines. |
| Scheduled Break Term | One of the Spring (January to April), Summer (May to August), or Fall (September to December) terms in a calendar year (January to December) provided that you maintain full-time status at KPU in the term before and after the break. Note: your first and last semester cannot be a scheduled break term. A student on a Scheduled Break must be covered by valid medical insurance. |
Please review the FAQs on Scheduled Break below.
FAQs on Scheduled Breaks
1. How do I apply for a Scheduled Break?
You do not need to apply for a scheduled break or inform anyone. As long as you adhere to KPU’s scheduled break terms, your student status or eligibility for the PGWP program will not be affected. If you are unsure whether you qualify for a scheduled break, please meet with an International Student Advisor.
2. How many hours can I work during a Scheduled Break?
During a scheduled break, you may work for unlimited hours if ALL of the following conditions are met:
- You hold a valid study permit (or are on maintained status),
- Your study permit has conditions allowing you to engage in off-campus employment,
- You have maintained full-time status throughout your studies (apart from scheduled breaks) and,
- You have always respected the allowable hours of work during your studies
If your employer needs proof of your Scheduled Break term, you can click here to obtain a customized scheduled break letter.
3. Can I take a part-time course load during a Scheduled Break?
During a scheduled break term, a student who is eligible for off-campus work may choose to take full-time studies, part-time studies, or a break from studies and may work full-time hours. If a student withdraws from a course(s) during this semester, their scheduled break does not change. You may refer to the IRCC Study Permits: Off-campus work page for more details.
4. Will taking scheduled breaks have a negative impact on my study permit or future PGWP application?
No, IRCC allows international students to take scheduled breaks provided that they adhere to their university’s Scheduled Break policy.
Kindly note: when you are applying for PGWP, we recommend students who have taken a Scheduled Break to include a Letter of Explanation.
5. Do I need to inform IRCC about the terms in which I took a scheduled break when applying for my PGWP?
It’s not mandatory, but you are highly recommended to attach a self-explanation letter along with the KPU Immigration Purpose Document.
Enrolment Status
| Full-Time Status | A student who is enrolled in nine or more credit hours in a semester (including graduate, undergraduate, and preparatory courses) is considered to be a full-time student at KPU. |
| Part-Time Status | A student who is enrolled in fewer than nine credit hours in a semester (including graduate, undergraduate, and preparatory courses) is considered to be a part-time student at KPU. |
| Withdrawing from courses | A student can withdraw from courses at KPU but it will remain on the student’s record with a ‘W’ grade and will not impact the student's term or cumulative GPA. Once withdrawn, the student will be considered part-time for immigration purposes if they have fewer than 9 credits for that term. |
| NA: Never Attended | A student who registers for a course but does not attend or officially withdraws will receive an 'NA' grade. The 'NA' grade does not impact the student's term or cumulative GPA. If a student receives an 'NA' grade, they are no longer considered enrolled in the course. This means, if a student is enrolled in 9 credits, and receive a ‘NA’ grade in one of the courses, then they will be considered part-time for that term for immigration purposes. |
Authorized Leave
- In cases of extenuating or unforeseen circumstances that significantly impact a student's academic progress, international students may request an Authorized Leave before the start of the term they wish to take off.
- To determine your eligibility, you must meet with an International Student Advisor and provide relevant documentation to support your request, such as a letter from a medical professional.
- If the request is approved, you will receive an Authorized Leave Letter.
- Please note that receiving this letter does not exempt you from complying with IRCC policies and requirements.
- Students on Authorized Leave are not permitted to engage in any on or off-campus work.
Off-Campus Working Eligibility
Note: International students who register for full-time can work up to 24 hours off-campus per week. You can work more than 1 job to make up these hours as long as you continue to meet the conditions of your study permit. For more details, please visit IRCC’s Work off campus webpage.
IRCC allows certain students to work off campus without a work permit. If students can work during their studies, it’ll be mentioned under the conditions section of their study permit as follows:
- May work 24 hrs. per week off campus, or full time during regular breaks, if meeting criteria outlined in section 186(v) of IRPR.
- 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.
* Click here to find out if you can work off-campus as an international student!
For off-campus working eligibility during your scheduled break, please refer to the Scheduled Break information above.
On-Campus Working Eligibility
International students may work on campus without a work permit if they meet the following eligibility:
- Have a valid study permit that states the condition allowing on-campus work, and
- Have a valid SIN (Social Insurance Number), and
- Are currently enrolled in full-time studies, or are studying part-time in their final semester but have been a full-time student in all previous academic semesters.
KPU students may work on campus at any of our KPU campuses, in addition to their off-campus work. IRCC does not regulate on-campus working hours, but the employer must follow provincial labour standards. For more information regarding on-campus working eligibility, please refer to the IRCC’s Work On Campus webpage.
FAQs – Working On/Off campus
1. What is a Social Insurance Number (SIN) and how can I apply for a SIN?
Students need a social insurance number (SIN) to work in Canada. Please review the information on the Service Canada website to learn about how to apply for a SIN.
2. Can my spouse or common-law partner work while I study in Canada?
The spouses and common-law partners of some international students may be eligible for an open work permit, which allows them to work in Canada. For detailed information on the eligibility criteria for an open work permit, please refer to the IRCC website.
3. How many hours can I work after landing in Canada and before starting my first semester?
You are not allowed to work on or off campus until your study program has started.
4. How many hours can I work off-campus during my regular academic semester?
If you’re eligible to work off-campus, you can work up to 24 hours per week while classes are in session.
5. Can I work off-campus if I am in a pathway program?
KPU Pathway students who are taking full-time course load, with at least one Undergraduate course registered, are eligible to work off-campus. Please discuss this with an International Student Advisor.
6. What can I do if there is an error on my study permit?
If you believe that an error has been made by IRCC when issuing your study permit, you may request an amendment to your study permit.
7. Can I work on campus in addition to working off campus?
There are no restrictions on the number of hours students can work on campus in addition to working off campus, provided they continue to meet the applicable eligibility requirements.
8. What can be considered full-time work?
There is no set number of hours per week that counts as ‘full-time’ work. However, your employer(s) must follow all provincial laws on overtime pay and time between shifts.
9. How many hours can I work in my last semester with a part-time course load?
Students who have maintained full-time status for the duration of their program of study, and who only require a part-time course load in their final academic session to complete their program of study, are allowed to work off campus up to 24 hours per week during their final academic session.
10. How many hours can I work after completing my studies and while waiting to graduate?
- If you were enrolled full-time in every term except your last term, and have always respected the allowable hours of work during your studies, you may continue to work up to 24 hours per week until you receive your written notification of program completion. Students may work until the first date they receive written confirmation of program completion from the KPU Graduation Office or the International Office, whichever comes first, provided their study permit remains valid during this period.
- If the study permit becomes invalid [as per R222] before the student receives the notification of program completion from their institution, the student must cease working the day the study permit becomes invalid.
11. How many hours can I work after receiving confirmation that I have graduated?
If you will not be starting another program of study, you must stop working as soon as your Credential/ Completion Letter is issued. You may work full-time once you have applied for your post-graduation work permit provided that you meet the following conditions at the time you submit your application:
- had a valid study permit,
- had completed your program of study,
- met the requirements for working off campus without a work permit under paragraph R186(v) (that is, did not take any unauthorized breaks in your studies)
- did not work off-campus more than 24 hours a week during academic sessions.
- applied for PGWP from inside Canada
12. If I am a part-time student in my last semester, can I take a scheduled break in the term prior?
No, as per KPU’s Scheduled Break policy students must maintain full-time status before and after their scheduled break term.
13. Can I work on maintained status after completing my studies and waiting to be graduated?
No, in order for students to work on/off campus during the time while they wait to graduate, they must hold a valid study permit.