Best University Programs to Get Jobs in Canada – If you are considering studying abroad and you are confused about the country to study in, there are a million reasons you should choose to study in the Great White North.
READ ALSO: 10 Reasons to Study in Canada This Year
Whether you are pursuing a post-graduate degree program, trade certification, or even your master’s and Ph.D., Canada is the best place to be and one of the reasons is that Canada is the home of some of the top universities in the world.
Canada has been the top destination for a lot of international students in recent years and it is not only because of the top-quality education that Canada offers but there are some other reasons you get to enjoy studying in Canada like part-time jobs, multicultural environments, graduate employability, etc.
According to statistics by the Canadian Bureau for International Education (CBIE), there are currently over 500,000 international students studying in Canada and many of them stay back after completing their study programs and start working through the Post-Graduate Work Permit Program (PGWPP).
In this article, we are going to be looking at some of the top universities that offer wonderful work-study programs and also how you can apply for the Post Graduate Work Permit (PGWP).
Top 10 Canadian University Work-Study Programs
University of Toronto
Research shows that over 3,500 students take part in the University of Toronto’s work-study program every year and there are two intakes which are the fall and summer.
The program offers students the opportunity to develop their skills and also discover how their academic studies can help them find their first job in Canada.
The program also offers paid on-campus positions for students and for them to be paid, they would need a Social Insurance Number (SIN).
University of British Columbia
This university has an excellent work-study program that helps students gain valuable work experience that will prepare them for their future. There are a lot of job opportunities in the program like administrative jobs and also professional jobs too.
To be eligible for the program, you must be enrolled at the university and be entitled to only one work-study program job and be living in Canada for the duration of your study program.
McGill University
This university has a fantastic work-study program to help international students make extra cash to help them meet their needs while also developing their skills to prepare them for the future.
There are several job opportunities in the program like clerical jobs, research jobs, library jobs, and even jobs at the McGill-affiliated hospitals and organizations.
For you to be eligible for the program, you must meet the requirements which are:
You must have applied for and be receiving the maximum government aid that you are eligible for.
You must be registered full-time in a degree program
You must be in satisfactory academic standing
MacMaster University
This university has a work-study program that allows international students to work for up to 10 hours per week part-time on campus during the fall/winter terms and around 35 hours per week over the summer.
You will have the opportunity to choose over 1,250 jobs that are divided between over 100 departments and faculties.
You won’t need a work permit to take part in the university’s work-study programs as an international student but you will have to apply to take part in the program every term.
University of Alberta
This university is known for helping both Canadian and international students find jobs in Canada after graduation and so the university is said to have strong graduate employability.
The university was ranked 4th best university in Canada and it has over 200 programs to choose from. If you are an undergraduate student, you have several opportunities like Co-ops, internships, and also practicums in almost every faculty.
University of Waterloo
This university has an amazing work-study program that allows students to work part-time on campus. The program funds about 75% of the student’s salary for up to $2,000 per term.
The students that are eligible for the program are Canadian citizens, permanent residents or protected persons that are enrolled in a minimum 60% course load during the current study period and eligible for OSAP or another province’s student aid program, during the current study period.
University of Saskatchewan
This university’s work-study program allows the students to work on campus for any of the following employers:
The institution
A student organization
A faculty
Self-employed
Private business
Private contractors providing services to the institution on campus
One exciting thing about this university’s work-study program is that you don’t need a work permit.
Ryerson University
This university has a lot of work options for international students and the work-study programs allow students to work with various administrative and academic units, staff at the university, and faculties.
The Career Boost and Work-Study Research Assistant Programs allow full-time returning undergraduate students to work on campus.
The Career Graduate and Law Program provides jobs in Canada for full-time graduates or Faculty of Law students at Ryerson. Although the program is not available to international students it is a great option for Canadian citizens and permanent residents.
The Career and Co-op Centre supports Ryerson students looking for work in Canada through resources that promote innovative career development.
Carleton University
This university’s work-study program is offered on a first-come-first-serve basis because of the limited positions and you can work up to 192 hours for the work-study period and earn around $2,500 to $3,000 in various types of jobs.
For you to be eligible for the program, you must meet the following requirements which are:
You must be applying and receiving student assistance for the fall/winter session like the OSAP/loans or government student aids.
You must show financial need as determined by the Awards Office
You must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident although a limited number of international students can participate in the program.
You must be in an undergraduate degree program and remain registered in 60% of a fall course load (1.5 credits per term) or 40% of a full course load (1.0 credits per term) for students with disabilities registered with the Paul Menton Centre.
York University
This university has three work-study programs which are:
The Leadership, Engagement and Ambassadorship Program (LEAP)
Research at York (RAY) Program
General Work/Study Program.
The Leadership, Engagement, and Ambassadorship Program (LEAP) is for undergraduate students who want to work on campus to develop their leadership and mentorship skills.
The Research at York (RAY) Program is for research students who want to collaborate with faculty members and fellow students and receive hands-on experience in their field of study
The General Work/Study Program is for students who want to get on-the-job training, guidance, and mentorship in various jobs such as administrative and technical roles.
You will have to be a full-time student that is enrolled in a minimum of 18 credits for the winter term or 9 credits for the summer term.
Final Note
From all we have said so far, you can see that aside from getting top-quality education studying in Canada; you also get to work while you study so that you can earn extra cash to cater to yourself while in Canada.
We have talked about the best universities in Canada and their work-study program.
The visa application and immigration process can be daunting and overwhelming so it is advised that you go through a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) as they know everything about Canadian immigration and visa application and can help you will your application from start to finish.
The best time to start your application is now.