Are you planning to study in Canada? Also, you are having trouble figuring out how to work while studying or work-study in Canada. Especially those who have half-time or no scholarship. Don’t worry. The government of Canada facilitates some work permits for PR students; thus, they can cover their budget study. Furthermore, here students can bear their student costs to attain their future goals.
However, if you are planning to work while studying or work-study in Canada, this is impossible without proper planning. Here are highlighted guidelines that will help to understand how to manage student costs and budget study, career courses, career growth, and future opportunities for careers in Canada.
Why work-study in Canada?
Just think: why did you choose Canada to study? What is the primary motive for work-study in Canada? It can be that you want to cover the budget study in Canada, bear your extra student costs like student aids, or become self-sufficient. At the same time, there is also the possibility of gaining practical experience by working, improving the CV for career growth, and staying ahead of the job competition to build a career in Canada. Apart from this, a big objective can be to enrich your career by increasing your skills.
Of course, students choose Canada to get a high-quality education, achieve good results, build career growth, and get the desired job in Canada or build a career in Canada. Additionally, it opens the door to endless opportunities in your career in Canada.
Let’s know and understand the facts.
1. Figure out and analyze the student work permit and specific rules for international students in Canada.
Off-campus work-study in Canada
The government of Canada facilitates study permits for students. Your valid study permit should state that you can work 24 hours a week during study and full-time during vacation. Then, you can work 24 hours a week and full-time during the holidays. If not, you have to apply for the correction of your study permit.
On-campus work-study in Canada
Generally, the university authority in Canada allows international students or PR students (permanent residents) to work on campus without any permit. Thus, the PR students can afford student costs or cover the budget study.
Co-op work permit in Canada
If your program requires work experience as part of the curriculum, you have to apply for a cooperative work permit as a student. This will allow you to work on your studies.
Post-graduation work permit (PGWP Canada)
Qualifications
If you are an international student, you can apply for a work permit or PGWP in Canada. But you apply after completing your studies. However, PGWP Canada will allow you to work for a certain period. If you graduate from a designated learning institution (DLI), you can work with those study programs for a maximum of three years.
The application process for PGWP in Canada
Students can apply for a post-graduation work permit (PGWP Canada) at a specific time of year. However, they have to apply online before the completion of the study permit. You can work full-time while waiting for approval from PGWP Canada. Check out the new rules for international students coming to Canada.
2. Fix study spots
It is important to find a good balance between affordable and quality education. Therefore, cities like Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, and Calgary are great study spots in Canada. There are excellent schools and a vibrant cultural experience, making it the best study spot. However, the cost of living in each city is different. Thus, choose a place that is budget-friendly and a nice to study spot too.
3. Search for an ongoing scholarship in Canada.
In Canada, you can notice various ongoing scholarships are available. You can choose a scholarship according to your preferences. The scholarships help to reduce extra expenses. Additionally, you can get study aids like student support, grants, and work-study programs. These study aids are all available in Canada to help students manage their study expenses. Furthermore, the study aids can help to remove the extra workload. Moreover, the study aids make it easy to study in Canada.
4. Setting goals for study and planning for work
With proper planning and setting goals, you can maintain a balance between work and study in Canada. Below is how you can do it:
- Identify important tasks such as completing assignments, preparing for exams, or achieving a certain grade.
- Determine what you want to accomplish at the end of the program, such as graduating with honors or preparing for a specific career.
- Set aside things to do to achieve each goal, such as reading books, making notes, or joining study groups.
- Determine how many hours per week you can work without harming your studies.
- Search for part-time jobs related to your studies or interests, such as internships or campus-based work.
- Make a good budget to manage the cost of education through work income. Include your rent, food, and tuition fees in the monthly budget. This way, you can manage your expenses.
- Create a weekly schedule so that you have enough time for classes, work hours, studies, and personal activities.
Additional tips
Step wisely like the SMART criteria
- Specify what GPA or results you want to achieve.
- Manage and set the priority based on the topic.
- Achieve your desired goals.
- Relate your ability and goals to attain the desired result.
- Timely study and work. Set a specific time limit to achieve the goals.
5. Time Management
It is necessary to manage time properly to maintain a balance between study and work. In Canada, here are some useful suggestions.
- Set aside time for work and other activities.
- Make use of an agenda, such as making a note of the due dates, planning the study time, and studying in the right study spots like the library, study lounge, or common area of the campus.
- Prepare everything in advance to avoid last-minute work.
- Set daily and weekly goals to keep you focused.
- Avoid distractions such as social media while studying.
- Review how your time is being spent and find ways to improve.
- Prioritize your work and decide what is most important and what needs to be done first.
- You can use applications such as Trello or Calendar to organize your tasks.
- Take time to rest and enjoy.
Additional tips
You can use some to manage your time effectively by
- Time-Blocking: Set a specific time for different tasks.
- Pomodoro Technique: Work for 25 minutes, then take a 5-minute break.
- Break down large tasks into smaller parts: Break down large projects into smaller, simpler parts.
6. Take advice from the right Mentor or advisor
Taking instructions or guidance can help you with your personal and academic growth. It is important to take an active role when asking for help. Then, work on the guidelines as soon as possible. Furthermore, the advice that you get in your studies, career growth, career courses, scholarships, and personal development should be used effectively. To ensure this, you need to set clear goals and have an open discussion in study spots with the mentor.
Moreover, expressing gratitude to your mentor and keeping in regular contact with them can pave the way for future support. Listen carefully to mentors, learn from them, and apply what you learn. At the same time, discuss your progress with the mentor and take their feedback. By following these steps, you will get the most out of the guidance. Overall, you can make significant improvements in your personal and professional life.
7. Join a career-focused program
You can get numerous programs in Canada. Choose the programs that meet your career goals. By joining this career-focused program, you can improve your skills. These programs facilitate various career courses and skills development in different fields. Additionally, they provide practical training and internships. Also, they teach how to manage time effectively and encourage students to achieve their desired goals and career growth in their chosen fields.
8. Apply for Permanent Residency for Students in Canada
To retain international talent, the immigration policies of Canada offer to apply for permanent residency for students (PR students). If you want to become a permanent resident (PR) after completing your studies, you have to follow some common pathways for transitioning to permanent residence. Such as the Express Entry system, the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), and the Canadian Experience Class (CEC). The experience gained through career opportunities helps students secure a future in Canada.
Tips for Achieving Career and Education Goals
- Apply for a work-study permit as soon as possible to cover your budget study.
- Apply for a post-graduation work permit (PGWP Canada) and plan your further work accordingly.
- Search for a scholarship, study aids, and work-study programs to reduce student costs.
- Maintain the balance between study and work to achieve your desired goals and build a career in Canada.
- Take advice from the right mentor for career guidance and additional support.
- Join career courses according to your preference and work field.
- Take permanent residency to establish in Canada.
Conclusion
Studying and working in Canada would mean financial independence and international experience. You would be able to maintain the right balance between studies and work by managing time, keeping finances in order, and maintaining mental strength. Canada’s diverse environment and rich educational system will enable you to build a brighter future.
Let’s go on this journey together, with the right planning and determination to make your dream of studying and establishing yourself in Canada a reality.