WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Eligible students can work within specific rules; holding a study permit alone does not permit every job. Check your conditions before starting and keep a record of hours.
Confirm eligibility before accepting shifts
The current off-campus limit is 24 hours a week during regular academic sessions for students who meet the requirements. Eligible scheduled breaks have different rules. You cannot start work before your study programme starts.
Check enrolment, programme and permit conditions, and obtain the required Social Insurance Number. Language-only study or a break in enrolment can change your position. Ask the international office to resolve uncertainty before working.
Track the combined workload
Record hours across all relevant off-campus jobs. For example, 14 hours in one job plus 12 in another makes 26; two employers do not each give you a separate 24-hour allowance. Do not average an excessive week against a quieter one.
Use the official guidance for self-employment and other less straightforward arrangements. Keep pay records and a weekly schedule so you can explain how you stayed within the conditions.
Treat required placements separately
From 1 April 2026, eligible post-secondary students no longer need a separate co-op work permit for required student work placements. Conditions still apply, including suitable permit wording, a DLI confirmation letter and a placement making up no more than half the programme. Secondary students still need the relevant co-op permit.
An optional side job is not automatically a required placement. Check the arrangement with the school and any health-related work restrictions before accepting it.
Search around the course timetable
Use the university careers service and verified employer sites. Ask about duties, pay, location and shifts before accepting. Never pay an employer to release wages or hand over account credentials to process a job application.
Next action: confirm eligibility, then build a realistic weekly timetable including study and travel. Treat earnings as uncertain until hired; do not make essential tuition payments depend on finding maximum-hours work immediately.
Sources and further reading
Sources checked 2026-10-13. Examples and planning suggestions are Effikos editorial guidance.
Something needs a closer look? Send us a correction.
