As of April 1, 2026, eligible post-secondary international students no longer need a co-op work permit to participate in a required student work placement, such as a co-op, internship, or practicum. To be eligible, you must have a valid study permit (or have applied to extend it before it expired) with a condition allowing you to work on campus.
What do I need to work?
International students in UBC Science Co-op must have the following condition(s) printed on their Study Permit to legally work in Canada:
“May accept employment on or off campus if meeting eligibility criteria as per R186(f), (v) or (w). Must cease working if no longer meeting these criteria.”
“This permit does not authorize the holder to engage in off campus employment in Canada. May accept employment only on campus if meeting eligibility criteria as per R186(f). Must cease working if no longer meeting these criteria.”
If you do not have either of these conditions on your study permit, you will need to request a Change of Conditions to your permit.
You will also need a letter from UBC confirming that the work placement is a requirement of their program of study. This letter will be provided once you are accepted into the Co-op program.
- Note: Your co-op or internship employment cannot form more than 50% (percent) of the total program of study. See Immigration Canada website for more details on this policy.
- You must remain a full time student in good standing with UBC
Do I need a medical exam?
The IRCC has extended the temporary public policy to exempt certain foreign nationals in Canada from the immigration medical examination requirement until October 5, 2029.
If you will be working in a job in agriculture related fields or public health or health sciences (e.g. health care workers, clinical laboratory workers, medical students, primary and secondary school teachers) and you will be in close contact with patients, children, the elderly, etc., you must have completed a medical exam. Please see the International Student Guide for more details or meet with an International Student Advisor to discuss your next steps.
Study Permit
If your study permit is set to expire before completion of your degree due to the additional Co-op terms, renew your study permit about three months prior to its expiry date. You should contact your advising office to receive an Enrolment Letter for this application (this is different from the Enrolment Letter from Workday Student). Please review these detailed instructions and tutorial on the International Student Development Website.
Social Insurance Number
Refer to UBC International Student Advising SIN Application Instructions to verify if your Study Permit meets the condition to be eligible for applying a Social Insurance Number (SIN). It is recommended to apply SIN at the earliest convenience. SIN is required to receive a salary in Canada.
To apply, go to the nearest Service Canada location.