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.
- Notify IRCC if changing schools (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
If you are a study permit holder and you wish to change your designated learning institution (DLI), you must notify Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) of the change before you start your new program at a new DLI.
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.
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/Co-op work permit
If you are an international student registered in a program of study with a mandatory work-integrated learning (WIL) component, such as a co-op, internship, clinical practice, practicum or field placement, you must obtain a co-op work permit prior to participating in this course.
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)
- Arts and Cultural Management (Diploma)
- Bachelor of Child and Youth Care
- Bachelor of Commerce (co-op majors)
- Bachelor of Communication Studies
- Bachelor of Early Childhood Curriculum Studies
- Bachelor of Fine Arts, Arts and Cultural Management Major
- Bachelor of Fine Arts, Music Theatre Performance Major
- Bachelor of Psychiatric Nursing
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing
- Bachelor of Social Work
- Child and Youth Care (Diploma)
- Correctional Services (Diploma)
- Emergency Communications and Response (Certificate)
- Library and Information Technology (Diploma)
- Massage Therapy (Diploma)
- Office Assistant (Certificate)
- Paralegal Studies (Diploma)
- Police and Investigations (Diploma)
- Psychiatric Nursing (Diploma)
- Public Relations (Diploma)
- Social Work (Diploma)
- Speech Language Pathologist Assistant (Diploma)
- Educational Assistant—formerly, Special Needs Educational Assistant (Certificate)
- Physical Therapist Assistant and Occupational Therapist Assistant (Diploma)
- Travel (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 and receive a Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) before coming to Canada.
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). You can commence your studies once you have submitted your study permit application—as long as your application has been submitted before the expiration of your visitor status. However, if your study permit application is denied, you must discontinue your studies.
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.