UBC definitions have been updated in order to clarify your eligibility to work on and off campus [1]. The definitions below are effective as of September 7, 2016.
[1] Work refers to work which is authorized by a study permit. Students who also hold work permits may be able to work additional days/hours in addition to work authorized by their study permits.
Updated: April 2019
During your studies at UBC, there may be different definitions for different purposes, such as academic, tax, funding, financial aid, and more.
UBC's enrolment definitions for immigration purposes clarify when international students are in active pursuit of studies, and when you are eligible to work on and off campus.
Having a study permit comes with certain responsibilities—that is, to actively pursue studies and make reasonable progress towards completing your program.
Your enrolment status impacts whether you can:
Remain in Canada as a student (study permit)
Remain eligible for a post-graduation work permit (PGWP)
If you are considering or have taken time away from studies, learn about the impacts.
Twice a year or more, UBC is required to report on your enrolment status to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) based on the definitions below.
The record of your enrolment status is on the Student Information Service Centre (SISC), which is accessed by UBC staff. If you are unclear about your student status for immigration purposes, you can confirm with graduate studies staff, academic advisors, or your Enrolment Services Advisor to see what is on record in the SISC. The following definitions include the 4-letter code that is on your record as your enrolment status in the SISC.
This definition for immigration purposes describes the academic sessions during which you are expected to be engaging in full-time or part-time studies at UBC to be "actively pursuing studies":
This definition is for immigration purposes to denote students who are not required to be enrolled during program breaks. Students are considered to be ‘actively pursuing studies’ while on a scheduled break.
Dates are based on the UBC Vancouver and Okanagan Calendar
Scheduled breaks include:
|
Break |
Start Date |
End Date |
|
Midterm Break (Okanagan only) |
First day of mid-term break |
Last day of mid-term break |
|
Winter Break |
Day after posted final exam period for Winter Term 1 |
Day before the start of classes for Winter Term 2 |
|
Reading Week |
First day of Reading Week |
Last day of Reading Week |
|
Break between Winter Term 2 and Summer |
Day after posted final exam period for Winter Term 2 |
Day before the start of classes for Summer Term 1 |
|
Summer Session (not available for students in graduate programs or the Diploma in Accounting Program [DAP]) |
Start of classes for Summer Term 1 |
Last day of posted final exam period for Summer Term 2 |
|
Break between Summer and Winter Term 1 |
Day after posted final exam period for Summer Term 2 |
Day before the start of classes for Winter Term 1 |
If your academic program has start and end dates which differ from those specified in the applicable academic calendar, the program dates will apply.
Students in graduate programs or the Diploma in Accounting Program (DAP) are deemed to be on an academic summer session, not a scheduled break.
You might be eligible to work full-time on or off campus during a scheduled break. Work refers to work which is authorized by a study permit. Students who also hold work permits may be able to work supplemental days/hours in addition to work authorized by study permits.
Registered, eligible, or continuing students in UBC degree, diploma, or certificate programs are considered to be eligible to work while on a “scheduled break” if you meet all of the following criteria:
If you meet the above requirements, you are permitted to work full-time on or off campus during a scheduled break for a total of 180 days per calendar year, but not more than 150 consecutive days.
If you do not meet the above requirements, you are not eligible to work during a scheduled break.
Undergraduate students on a scheduled break who do not meet the above requirements may work up to 20 hours a week off campus and unlimited hours on campus during the summer session only if enrolled in a full-time course load. If you are enrolled in a part-time course load you are not eligible to work on or off campus.
International students eligible to work on a scheduled break can start work on the first day after the posted final exam period of the term as per the UBC Vancouver or UBC Okanagan academic calendar. You can work until the day before the first day of classes of the term that follows the break.
Exception: If your academic program has start and end dates which differ from those specified in the applicable academic calendar, you can start work on the first day after the posted final exam period of your program’s term. You can work until the day before the first day of classes of the term that follows the break.
This definition is for immigration purposes to denote students who are actively pursuing studies and who may be eligible to work on or off campus. Full-time status is the minimum requirement to work on or off campus.
Work refers to work which is authorized by a study permit. Students who also hold work permits may be able to work additional days/hours in addition to work authorized by study permits.
Students with full-time status can start work on the first day of the term as per the UBC Vancouver or UBC Okanagan academic calendar. You must stop work on the last day of the posted final exam period according to the academic calendar.
Exception: If your academic program has start and end dates which differ from those specified in the applicable academic calendar, you can start work on the first day of your program’s term, and you must stop work on the last day of your program’s term.
UBC students are considered by UBC to be “full time for immigration purposes” if they meet any one of the following definitions:
This category also includes Diploma in Accounting (“DAPP” on the SISC), Juris Doctor (JD), Unclassified (“UNCL” on the SISC), Access Studies (“ACES” on the SISC), Exchange (“EXCH” on the SISC), and Visiting (“VISI” or “VISO” on the SISC) students.
Students taking graduate-level courses but not enrolled in a graduate program also fall into this category.
Winter Term 1 or 2:
Summer (May to August):
Final academic term
Registered ("REGI" on the SISC) in any number of credits in the “final” term – “final” as determined by your academic advising office before program completion
If a final course spans two terms (e.g. 6 credits), each term may be determined to be a final term.
If final coursework is taken during the summer session (May to August), you can be registered for any number of credits during this period. Your full-time status continues until your letter of completion is available.
Visiting International Research Students (VIRS or VIRO) and Visiting Research Exchange Students are considered by UBC to be “full time for immigration purposes” if you are registered (“REGI” on the SISC). Please check with Go Global if you think this applies to you.
Students with academic accommodations are considered to be “full time for immigration purposes” if you are registered in 6 or more credits and have reduced course load accommodation as determined by the Centre for Accessibility (Vancouver), or the Disability Resource Centre (Okanagan) in line with Policy 73, Accommodations for Students with Disabilities.
UBC students away on exchange term(s) abroad are considered "full-time for immigration purposes” if you are registered (“REGI” on the SISC).
UBC students on a co-op work term, internship, practicum, or other program-required work are considered by UBC to be "full-time for immigration purposes” if you are registered (“REGI” on the SISC).
UBC students enrolled in the UBC Okanagan English Foundation Program are considered by UBC to be "full-time for immigration purposes”.
UBC students who have completed program requirements and whose program completion letter is not yet available are considered by UBC to be “full-time for immigration purposes”.
UBC students are considered by UBC to be “part-time for immigration purposes” if they meet both of the following criteria:
No minimum number of credits is required to have “part-time” status.
Part-time students are considered actively pursuing studies but cannot work on or off campus. Work refers to work which is authorized by a study permit. Students who also hold work permits may be able to work additional days/hours in addition to work authorized by their study permits.
Part-time studies (except during a final term) also impact eligibility for the Post-Graduation Work Permit.
UBC students are considered to be on an “authorized leave for immigration purposes” in a given term if you are:
Some authorized leaves can be considered "actively pursuing studies". Learn more about taking time away from your studies.
UBC students are considered by UBC to have “deferred enrolment” if they meet all of the following criteria:
Deferred enrolment is determined by Admissions, the Faculty, or program.
UBC students are considered to be on “academic suspension for immigration purposes” (with or without the option to return) as determined by your academic program.
UBC students are considered to be “no-shows for immigration purposes” if all of the following happen:
This status applies to students who, according to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, have “not started their program yet. This status is intended for students who have not entered the country as of yet but were issued a study permit at the DLI (Designated Learning Institution)”.
UBC does not use this status as it requires data not available to the institution.
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