In support of social distancing during the COVID-19 outbreak, the Centre for Student Involvement and Careers has transitioned all services to online delivery. If you have any questions regarding the Work Learn program, please contact our office at work.learn@ubc.ca.
Please read the following FAQs that have been developed to assist you in navigating your Work Learn appointment during COVID-19 disruptions: WL Summer 2020 FAQ related to COVID-19 disruptions
Work Learn Winter 2020 positions are now open! Work Learn Winter 2020 positions will be available on CareersOnline between August 4th to September 3rd. If you have any questions regarding the Work Learn program, please contact our office at work.learn@ubc.ca. For help preparing your application, please see the following resources
The Work Learn Program supports and subsidizes meaningful work experiences on campus that offer current UBC students the opportunity to develop your professional skills and learn in a work environment. From these experiences, you will gain mentorship opportunities, an expanded network, ownership and responsibility of work, self-awareness and reflection, as well as a chance to apply your knowledge in practical settings while progressing with personal learning goals.
There are many different kinds of Work Learn positions. Examples include Aboriginal Admissions Research Assistant, Project Assistant to the Division of Inner City Medicine, Oral Microbiology Project Assistant, Arena Operations Staff, Informal Learning Space Steward, Shelving and Circulation Assistant, UBC Farm Marketing and Education Assistant, and many others. You can expect Work Learn positions to provide you with an opportunity to work in a professional environment while achieving your own learning goals, building a professional network and supporting your development of professional skills.
All current UBC-Vancouver students are eligible. For the purposes of this program current UBC students are defined as students who are currently registered in credit courses at UBC-Vancouver and have a valid UBC student number. A student must be registered in courses in the term(s) they hold a Work Learn position. All students (domestic and international) must have a valid Social Insurance Number (SIN) before they can be paid by UBC.
Please note: Students are only eligible to hold one Work Learn position at a time. Students are not eligible for Work Learn positions when research is based on their own thesis work or if they are conducting research as part of a NSERC Undergraduate Student Research Award (USRA), Work Learn International Undergraduate Research Award, or Canada Summer Job. Typically students are not eligible to hold a Co-op and Work Learn position concurrently. However, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, Canadian Co-op Accreditation Council has adjusted its minimum work hours to meet academic requirements for Co-Op Programs for the Summer Work Term and it may be possible for students to use a Work Learn appointment for Co-op credit. These requests will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. If you are wanting to explore this possibility, please email work.learn@ubc.ca.
Summer Term (May - Aug)
Registered in courses in the previous term (Winter Term 2) OR registered in summer courses (in either Summer Term 1 or 2).
Winter Term (Sep - Apr)
Registered in courses in both Winter Terms 1 & 2 to be eligible to hold a Work Learn for the full duration of the winter session.
Summer Term (May - Aug)
Either registered in courses or registration continuing and paying tuition fees. Graduate students on a leave of absence are eligible to hold a Work Learn position.
Winter Term (Sep - Apr)
Either registered in courses or registration continuing and paying tuition fees. Graduate students on a leave of absence are eligible to hold a Work Learn position.
Summer Term (May - Aug)
Registered in summer courses (in either Summer Term 1 or 2).
Winter Term (Sep - Apr)
Registered in courses in the term(s) they hold a Work Learn position.
Summer Term (May - Aug)
Registered in summer courses (in either Summer Term 1 or 2).
Winter Term (Sep - Apr)
Registered in courses in the term(s) they hold a Work Learn position.
Summer Term (May - Aug)
Registered in summer courses (in either Summer Term 1 or 2).
Winter Term (Sep - Apr)
Registered in courses in the term(s) they hold a Work Learn position.
Eligible only for the academic term directly following the completion of your courses (regardless of your graduation date).
Students who finish their courses in the summer term (August) and graduate in the fall (November) will be eligible to hold a Work Learn in Winter Term 1 only.
Students who finish their courses in Winter Term 1 (December) and graduate in the spring (May) will be eligible to hold a Work Learn in Winter Term 1 and Winter Term 2 only.
Students who finish their courses in Winter Term 2 (April) and graduate in the spring (May) will be eligible to hold a Work Learn in the Summer term only.
Summer Term (May - Aug)
You must:
You must also have a valid Social Insurance Number (SIN), which in some cases can take weeks to obtain.
Winter Term (Sep - Apr)
You must:
You must also have a valid Social Insurance Number (SIN), which in some cases can take weeks to obtain.
You must:
You must have a valid study permit and be a full-time student in the term(s) you hold a Work Learn position. See UBC's definition of "full time for immigration purposes" to learn more.
You must also have a valid Social Insurance Number (SIN), which in some cases can take weeks to obtain.
You are eligible to work only for the academic term directly following the completion of your courses (regardless of your graduation date):
Additional Requirements:
Important: If you have questions about your eligibility, please speak with an International Student Advisor.
Employers within the Work Learn Program are faculty, staff, and affiliates with UBC-Vancouver Payroll accounts with which to pay the student(s). Employers pay your full hourly wage as you incur hours.
For more information on the employer side of the Work Learn Program, please see our Faculty & Staff Work Learn page.
Work Learn positions are part-time and must fit within the rates as outlined in the Position Classification Guide. When employers submit their proposal for the program, they choose a wage from the Position Classification Guide that matches the level and type of work outlined in their proposal.
There are two sessions of the Work Learn program:
Keep in mind that the weekly and total hours are maximums - not all positions will offer the maximum number of hours. Employers request how many hours they anticipate they will need for each position in their proposal to the program (and are approved for a certain amount), and this number can vary greatly; be sure to inquire how many hours the employer actually needs you to work when you are interviewing for a position so that you can budget your time and finances accordingly. Please ensure the hours reported on your timesheets are accurate and reflect the hours worked for that particular period.
All jobs within the Work Learn Program are posted on CareersOnline; you will be applying directly to the employer through whichever means they have indicated in the posting (most positions can be applied for directly through CareersOnline).
You can create your own Work Learn job by connecting with eligible faculty or staff members and asking them if they might be willing to hire you. Make sure you have a good idea of what you are looking for in a position and try to match it up to a need that you see that a potential supervisor might be willing to hire you to fill. Also, be sure that you know and understand the parameters of the Work Learn program, in particular from the supervisor's perspective, so that you can give this information to your potential supervisor. You and the supervisor would still need to meet all program requirements and meet the same deadlines as other program participants, and the supervisor would need to submit a proposal for funding within the program (note that the proposal timelines for supervisors are very different than the job application timelines for students). This can be a great option for students who can see opportunities for work in areas of campus that may not have considered hiring a Work Learn student in the past.
The best work environment is one where civility, diversity, opportunity, and inclusion are valued. Learn about how UBC provides a safe and respectful environment for faculty, staff, and student employees:
BC Website on general mental health: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/careers-myhr/all-employees/safety-health-well-being/health/mental
Mental Health Commission of Canada: https://www.mentalhealthcommission.ca/English/what-we-do/workplace
Canadian Mental Health Association: https://cmha.ca/programs-services/workplace-mental-health
CMHA mental health & work resources: https://cmha.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/CMHA-MHCC-Toolkit-QuickReference_EN.pdf
UBC HR resource: http://www.hr.ubc.ca/wellbeing-benefits/living-well/mental-health/
1. Have a specific resume and cover letter for each job you apply to. Generic cover letters rarely get looked at, so find particular jobs you are interested in and make sure to mention why you are interested in that particular job, as well as the skills and experience that would help you be successful in that position.
2. Ensure you have a valid study permit and a SIN number. A social insurance number (SIN) is necessary for working in Canada. Visit the Government of Canada website for information on how to obtain a SIN if you do not already have one. If you have any questions about working while you are a student, visit International Student Advising as soon as possible.
Visit the Government of Canada website
3. Prepare for your interview. A little preparation goes a long way in job interviews. Be sure to read the position description carefully and be prepared to speak to why you are interested in the job, as well as what you hope to learn. Anticipating what questions you might be asked will help make you feel more confident for your interview.
Telephone: 604 822 8278
