New work rules for international students

PRINCE GEORGE – “The Federal government citing the labour shortage, the shortage of people, said international students could temporarily work up to 40 hours a week, and that is supposed to end at the end of this year, yet December 2023.”

That’s the President of the College of New Caledonia, Dr. Dennis Johnson outlining the new rules for international students who wish to work while they conduct their studies at any post-secondary institution in Canada. For the University of Northern BC, where the international student population isn’t as significant as they are at the College of New Caledonia, the new rules level the playing field a bit.

“Most of the feedback we have heard has been very positive. The 20 hours a week is very restrictive to the kinds of jobs they can accept,” explains Amy Beyer, the Associate Registrar for International Education. “Students are allowed to work 40 hours or full time if they are on campus. So this kind of equalizes the opportunities for students because it shouldn’t really be a difference for students working in a coffee shop on campus. One student can work more than 20 hours, but a student working on a coffee shop in town can’t.”