Student work hours and co-op: the 2026 essentials.
Eligible students can work off campus up to 24 hours during regular terms, and some required co-op placements now have simpler permit rules.
✓ Checked: Aug 5, 2026
When planning classes, work and placements, check both the conditions on your study permit and your school’s program requirements.
Off-campus work hours
If you meet the eligibility rules and your study permit allows off-campus work, you can normally work up to 24 hours a week during regular academic sessions. Eligible students may work full-time during scheduled breaks.
The co-op change
From April 1, 2026, eligible post-secondary international students no longer need a separate co-op work permit for placements required by their program. The employer must be approved by the designated learning institution.
Check before starting
Conditions vary by permit, enrolment and program.
- Your study permit includes work authorization
- You remain eligible and enrolled full-time at a DLI
- Your school treats the period as a scheduled break
- For co-op, the school approves the placement and employer
The 24 hours cover all off-campus jobs together
If you have more than one job, the weekly limit is not separate for each employer. Track the hours actually worked across all off-campus jobs, including unexpected extensions to a shift, and keep the record with your pay statements.
Eligible students may work full-time during a scheduled break, but a personal absence from class is not automatically a scheduled break. If the academic calendar is unclear, ask the international student office before increasing your hours.
- Add hours from every off-campus job
- Keep a weekly record
- Confirm the school’s scheduled break
- Check permit wording and expiry
Confirm the co-op details before day one
A simpler process does not mean every placement is automatically eligible. Before starting, confirm with the school that the placement is a required part of the program, that the employer is approved and that your study permit meets the conditions.
Ask the employer to put the start date, hours, duties, pay status and supervisor in writing. If the school and employer give different instructions, connect them before the first day and agree on the document that controls the placement.
