INTERNATIONAL CURRENT STUDENTS
STUDYING IN Canada
If you plan to study in Canada for more than six months, you need a valid study permit for the duration of your studies. You are responsible for ensuring your study permit is valid at all times which means following all rules for compliance and applying for appropriate extensions.
If you are studying in Canada for less than six months, you do not require a study permit, as long as your program is completed within the authorized stay period granted upon entry into Canada.
New study permit applications from outside Canada
You should apply for your study permit as soon as you receive your IRCC Letter of Acceptance and the Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) from MacEwan University. Refer to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for detailed information about the application process. Do not travel to Canada before your study permit application has been approved.
IRCC // STUDY IN CANADA: GET A STUDY PERMIT
Information and guides from MacEwan International
Study permit compliance
Compliance with study permit conditions is crucial to maintaining student status in Canada. Failure to comply with these conditions may result in the loss of student status and potential deportation from Canada.
As a study permit holder, you must:
- Be enrolled at a designated learning institution (DLI).
- Actively pursue studies.
- Maintain full-time enrollment during each regular term if you want to be eligible for a post-graduation work permit (PGWP) or work in Canada. Additionally, international students at MacEwan University are charged for a minimum of nine credits during fall and winter terms.
- Have authorization to work on/off campus per IRPR186(f)(v)(w), if you are planning to work in Canada
- Have a Co-op Work Permit if your program has a mandatory work-integrated learning component
- Have a valid medical exam if you will work in certain jobs.
- Respect any conditions imposed on your study permit. Always check your study permit conditions, remarks and expiry date.
- Apply for a new study permit when changing DLIs.
- Leave Canada at the end of your authorized stay. You must apply to extend your stay before your study permit expires. If you fail to do so, you will not be eligible to continue your studies.
- Not engage in any unauthorized work or study.
- Not engage in any criminal activity.
Compliance procedures
Staring November 8, 2024 if you are a study permit holder at the post-secondary level and you wish to change your designated learning institution (DLI), you need to apply for a new study permit.
IRCC // Change your post-secondary school - Canada.ca
Book an advising appointment with an International Student Specialist if you have any questions.
If you are an international student in Canada, an authorized leave refers to a period of time when you are permitted to temporarily suspend your studies and remain in Canada without being considered non-compliant with your study permit conditions. This leave is granted by your designated learning institution (DLI) and must be authorized before you take the leave.
You can’t work on or off campus during an authorized leave from your program. If your leave from the university is longer than 150 days you may need to apply for a visitor’s record. Please talk to an international student specialist.
Eligibility
You may be eligible to request an authorized leave from your studies at MacEwan International if you meet one of the following:
- Medical reasons or pregnancy
- Family emergency
- Death or serious illness of a family member
- Other reasons that you will have to discuss with an international student specialist at MacEwan International
Authorized leave for international students procedure
Request process
- Book an appointment to discuss your request for authorized leave with an international student specialist.
- Bring the following documents to your appointment:
- An authorized leave request (Request from MacEwan International)
- Doctor’s note
- Other supporting documents, if applicable
If you plan to travel outside of Canada as an international student and then return, you must meet certain criteria to re-enter Canada. Re-entry is not guaranteed. Review the re-entry checklist and be ready to show a border services officer that you meet all requirements before attempting to re-enter Canada.
Study permit extensions
International students studying in Canada may apply online to extend their study permit within Canada. Since processing times at Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) vary, you should apply for your new permits three months before the expiry date.
Valid passport
Your passport must be valid in order to renew your study permit. If your passport is expiring, you must first renew it because your new permit will not be issued beyond the expiry date of your passport.
Study permit extension letter
Request a study permit extension letter from MacEwan International or the School of Continuing Education.
documents from MacEwan University
Co-op work permit letter
Request a co-op work permit letter from MacEwan International.
documents from MacEwan University
Proof of financial support
You need to provide evidence of adequate funds. Your documents must be in English or French; if they aren’t, provide the English or French translation done by a certified translator.
Official transcripts
Starting November 2024, you must show proof of academic standing when you submit an application to extend your study permit.
Follow the process to request official transcripts from MacEwan University. Select the option to send a digital/electronic copy to MyCreds.
Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL)
Some students may require a PAL when applying to extend their study permit. Please talk to the International Student Specialist to clarify if you need one. If they determine you need one, they will request it on your behalf.
If you apply for a study permit extension before the expiry date of your current study permit, you can continue to study in Canada under the original/current study permit conditions until IRCC makes a decision on your study permit extension application as per subsection R183(5) and paragraph R189. This period is called “maintained status.”
If you leave Canada during this time, you will lose this maintained status. When you re-enter Canada, you cannot resume study until you have received your new study permit.
If you are in your last term, you must make sure that your study permit is valid for three months after you complete your program. This will allow you to apply for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) and start working after you submit your PGWP application as per subsection R186(w).
Important
If your study or work permit expires, you must stop studying or working immediately. You have a limited time to apply for restoration of status. Remember, if your permit expires, other documents tied to your permit, such as your Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan or Social Insurance Number (SIN) will likely expire too.
Restoration of temporary resident statusWork-integrated learning and co-op work permit
International students may participate in both mandatory and non-mandatory work-integrated learning (WIL); however, different immigration rules apply to each.
Mandatory WIL is a required component of a student’s academic program and is listed in the official program curriculum (such as a practicum, clinical placement, co-op or internship). In these cases, students must hold a valid study permit and obtain a co-op (work) permit before starting the placement.
Non-mandatory WIL is optional and is not required to complete the program. Students may participate in non-mandatory WIL only if their study permit includes authorization to work on and off campus and they remain eligible to work in Canada. During regular academic terms, students are limited to 24 hours per week of off-campus work. Any hours worked in non-mandatory WIL count toward this limit. Students may combine WIL hours with a part-time job, but the total off-campus hours must not exceed 24 hours per week.
In all cases, students must remain actively enrolled and fully compliant with their study permit conditions before beginning any WIL activity.
A co-op work permit is an open work permit which can be issued with MacEwan listed as the employer for work related to your studies. In cases where several work periods are required throughout your program, the work permit will be issued for the validity of your study permit. A co-op work permit does not authorize you to work off campus unless the placement was arranged by MacEwan University.
A co-op work permit is required for any work-integrated learning (WIL) regardless of whether it is paid or unpaid.
More information on the co-op work program is available from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
- You must have a valid study permit.
- You must be accepted into a program with a work-integrated learning component.
The following programs have a work-integrated learning component at MacEwan University.
- Acupuncture diploma
- Bachelor of Child and Youth Care (and diploma exit)
- Bachelor of Commerce (co-op majors)
- Bachelor of Communication Studies
- Bachelor of Early Childhood Curriculum Studies (and diploma exit)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts, Arts and Cultural Management major (and diploma exit)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts, Music Theatre Performance major
- Bachelor of Fine Arts, Theatre Production major (and diploma exit)
- Bachelor of Physical Education Transfer
- Bachelor of Psychiatric Nursing (and diploma exit)
- Bachelor of Public Safety and Justice
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing
- Bachelor of Social Work
- Bridge to Canadian Nursing certificate
- Community Justice and Corrections diploma
- Educational Assistant certificate
- Emergency Communications and Response certificate
- Library and Information Technology diploma
- Massage Therapy diploma
- Office Assistant certificate
- Paralegal Studies diploma
- Perioperative Nursing for Registered Nurses and Licensed Practical Nurses
- Physical Therapist Assistant/Occupational Therapist Assistant diploma
- Police and Investigations diploma
- Social Work diploma
- Speech Language Pathologist Assistant diploma
- Travel and Tourism diploma
If you are a new student accepted into a program with a work-integrated learning component, you will receive an email in your myMacEwan student Gmail account with the “Evidence of the Work Requirement in Study” document attached. Include this document with your application.
Apply for a co-op work permit through Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). Apply at the same time you apply for a study permit or at the same time you apply to extend your study permit. If you do not need to extend your study permit, apply at least six months before your field placement/practicum/co-op begins.
Information for exchange or visiting students
You are permitted to attend a course or program of study that lasts for six months or less without a study permit, according to section R188(1)(c). The program of study may be full-time or part-time and must be completed within the authorized entry period of up to six months.
If you are an exchange or visiting student who is planning to study at MacEwan University for more than one term, you must apply for a study permit before coming to Canada. You are exempt from the requirement to provide a Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL).
If you are an exchange or visiting student already in Canada in your first term and decide to extend your studies for one more term, you will need a study permit. You are eligible to apply for a study permit from within Canada under section R215(1)(f).
Information for refugees or protected persons
Convention refugees and Protected Persons who have applied for permanent residence status and most refugee and Protected Person claimants whose notice of decision is pending require a study permit to pursue post-secondary studies. You should consult with an international student specialist at MacEwan International before applying to the university to discuss study permit requirements while awaiting a decision on your application or claim.
IRCC // STUDY PERMITS: REFUGEES AND PROTECTED PERSONS
A refugee or Protected Person claimant whose notice of decision is pending is deemed to be an international student when enrolled at the university and is subject to all policies and regulations applicable to international students. If your status changes, you must notify the university and provide supporting documentation.
Foreign Nationals: Short-term study requirements
Many international visitors, workers and newcomers are interested in taking short courses or professional development programs at MacEwan University’s School of Continuing Education (SCE).
Whether you need a study permit does not depend on how many hours you study — but on what you study, how it is structured and how long it takes to complete.
This page explains how Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) considers short-term and non-credit programs to determine if a study permit is required or not.
Under Canadian immigration regulations (IRPR 188(1)(c)), a foreign national may study without a study permit only if all of the following apply:
You may be exempt from requiring a study permit if your course is:
- Six months or less in total calendar time
- Completed within your initial authorized stay since arrival in Canada
- A single, standalone course
- Not part of a certificate or program
- Not designed as a structured professional or academic program
- Is fully delivered in an online format
Study permit exemptions are narrow and are meant for true short courses or personal-interest learning.
Examples of individual classes that are often exempt:
- Photography
- Art and illustration
- Personal enrichment or hobby courses
- Mindfulness and wellness workshops
- Short workplace safety or first-aid training
A study permit is required if any of the following apply:
- The course leads to a certificate or credential.
- Courses are stacked or bundled toward a certificate.
- You enroll in multiple courses that together exceed six months.
- The program is professional, academic, or career-focused.
- The course is part of a language training program that is longer than 6 months.
- The program is designed for international students.
- There is no clear end date within your initial authorized stay.
IRCC looks at calendar time, the structure and outcome of the learning process, not just the hours.
For example:
- A course that runs one evening per week over eight months is not exempt.
- A certificate you complete over two short terms is not exempt.
- Taking three short courses back-to-back over seven months is not exempt.
- An ESL program where the program admission offer is for longer than six months is not exempt.
If your learning stretches beyond six months on the calendar, a study permit is required.
At MacEwan SCE, most certificate programs are considered structured study by IRCC, even though they are non-credit.
These include programs in:
- Business and leadership
- Project management
- Human resources
- Digital design, UX and web development
- Data analytics and social media
- Health, education and early learning
- Professional communication
- Creative writing
If your course leads to a certificate and is not offered completely in an online format, a study permit is required.
Many SCE certificates are made up of multiple micro-credential courses. If the courses are designed to build toward a certificate, IRCC considers this a program of study — and a study permit is required, even if:
- Each course is short.
- You register one at a time.
A single micro-credential course taken on its own, not applied to a certificate, may qualify for a study permit exemption if it can be finished within six months and completed within your initial authorized stay in Canada – typically six months from entry.
To use the six-month study permit exemption, you must also:
- Have valid temporary resident status (visitor, worker, etc.).
- Complete the course before your initial authorized stay expires.
If you do not have valid status or a clear end date, you cannot rely on the exemption.
Refugee claimants and protected persons
Refugee claimants
Most refugee claimants do not have authorized temporary status. This means the six-month study permit exemption does not apply and a study permit is required to study for any length of time.
If a refugee claimant entered Canada with a valid visitor or work permit, they may study without a study permit only if the course:
- Is six months or less, and
- Will be completed before their temporary resident status expires
Protected Persons and Refugees with positive Notice of Decision
Protected persons/refugees still require a study permit until they have Confirmation of Permanent Residence Status.
Claimants and Protected Persons/Refugees who are not yet permanent residents may apply for a study permit from inside Canada and must meet normal study permit requirements.
Immigration rules for short-term study are applied conservatively by IRCC. If your study plans are not clearly exempt, the safest option is to apply for a study permit.
This protects you from:
- Being found to have studied without authorization
- Problems with future visa or work permit applications
- Issues at the border
Before enrolling, foreign nationals should always confirm their immigration eligibility.
Contact MacEwan International for an assessment before registering in SCE courses.