- A study permit authorizes study, not open-ended work.
- The label "on-campus work" isn't only about where you physically sit — it's about who's employing you and how that employment relates to your institution.
- - [ ] Confirm your study permit is currently valid and doesn't prohibit on-campus work.
Graduate students in Ontario are often offered teaching assistant (TA) or research assistant (RA) positions as part of their program — sometimes even as a condition of their funding. A common worry follows quickly: does taking that position mean applying for a separate work permit? For most students in a genuine on-campus role at their own institution, the answer is generally no — but the details of why matter, because not every arrangement that looks like "on-campus work" is treated the same way.
The General Framework: Study Permits and Work
A study permit authorizes study, not open-ended work. That said, Canada's immigration rules have long recognized that international students working for their own institution, on campus, is different from working for an unrelated employer — and eligible full-time students at a designated learning institution (DLI) have generally been able to take on-campus work without needing to obtain a separate work permit, provided they continue to meet their study permit conditions.
TA and RA positions typically fall within this framework because the employer, in practice, is the institution itself (or a body closely tied to it, like a student union or a campus-based ancillary organization, depending on how your school structures things).
Why "On-Campus" Isn't Just About Location
The label "on-campus work" isn't only about where you physically sit — it's about who's employing you and how that employment relates to your institution. Two TA-sounding roles can be treated differently depending on structure:
| Factor | Generally supports on-campus treatment | May require closer review |
|---|---|---|
| Employer | The DLI itself, a faculty department, or a closely affiliated on-campus body | A private company operating a service on campus (e.g., a leased retail outlet) |
| Nature of the role | Teaching, research, or academic support tied to your program | Work unrelated to your studies, arranged informally through a campus contact |
| Your enrolment status | Full-time, in good standing, at the DLI issuing the position | Reduced course load, leave of absence, or lapsed full-time status |
| Location of duties | Performed on the institution's campus or through the institution | Performed off-site for an employer with no direct DLI connection |
If your situation doesn't clearly match the left column, don't assume you're covered — confirm with your institution's international student office and, if it's genuinely unclear, get independent advice.
Before You Accept a TA or RA Position: A Quick Checklist
- [ ] Confirm your study permit is currently valid and doesn't prohibit on-campus work.
- [ ] Confirm you're maintaining full-time enrolment (or otherwise meeting your permit's study conditions).
- [ ] Confirm the position is being offered and paid through the institution itself, not a separate unrelated employer.
- [ ] Ask your international student office to confirm, in writing if possible, that the specific role qualifies as on-campus work under current rules.
- [ ] Keep your offer letter and any correspondence about the role's employment structure.
What Doesn't Change
Taking a TA or RA position under the on-campus work framework doesn't expand what your study permit otherwise allows. It doesn't, for example, authorize unrelated off-campus employment, and it doesn't change your obligations to maintain your enrolment and study conditions. If your funding package also includes off-campus components, or if your role shifts partway through the year to something less clearly tied to the institution, revisit whether the same treatment still applies.
Frequently asked questions
Does a TA or RA position count against any off-campus work I'm also allowed to do?
Historically, on-campus work and off-campus work have been treated as distinct categories with their own conditions. Confirm current rules with your institution, since how the two interact can be adjusted by IRCC over time.
What if my RA position is funded by an external research grant, not the university directly?
This is exactly the kind of structural detail that can matter — confirm with your school whether the employment relationship is still considered to be with the institution. Don't assume based on where the funding originates.
Do undergraduate students get the same on-campus work treatment as graduate TAs and RAs?
The general on-campus work framework isn't limited to graduate students, but eligibility still depends on meeting the applicable full-time enrolment and permit conditions. Confirm your own situation rather than relying on what applied to someone else.
What happens if I take on a TA role while on a reduced course load?
This is worth checking carefully, since full-time enrolment is often a condition tied to on-campus work eligibility. A reduced course load, even an authorized one, can change the analysis.
This is an immigration question
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