Are you planning to study in Canada and you are quite low on funds? Are you planning on working to help out your financial constraints? For many international students, the concept of having to work and study at the same time can be frightening – rightfully so, because it can be very stressful having to do both at the same time.
It takes a lot of planning and time management to pull it off. I will be listing the pros and cons of studying while working in Canada. Anything that is advantageous obviously has disadvantages as well.
Firstly, let’s look at the positives of studying while working in Canada.
- a) Your future employer may have already interviewed you for a job before they receive your grades.
- b) When applying for postgraduate programs or job placements in Canada, having some professional experience in the country may prove useful.
- c) Work permits are easier to get than if you were doing only one degree at a time.
- d) When studying abroad, there is no worry about paying back student loans and financing for accommodation.
- e) With this information, it becomes much easier to obtain a student visa for Canada and apply for your studies.
Next, let’s look at the negatives of studying while working in Canada
- a) Finding work when you’re a foreign student is much harder than if you were Canadian.
- b) Because you are not Canadian, your work experience can only be 3 months maximum per year. Once your three months are up, you have to move on to something else or leave the country.
- c) Because you are not Canadian, it will be hard to apply for postgraduate programs or work placements in Canada after graduation.
- d) While most Canadians understand that being an international student can be tough, sometimes they take advantage of your naivety. The difference between working here as a foreign student and an immigrant is one thing – immigration requires residency status while studies require just an invitation letter from your host university.
They also allow more people to stay on their benefits program than those who do not need them. This means more competitive competition. You need to ensure that you meet all criteria and pay taxes on any earnings from working during your studies.
After learning about the pros and cons of studying while working in Canada, what should you do?
First of all, ensure that you meet all eligibility criteria and deadlines before applying for any immigration programs or scholarships. Find out which program best suits your background and requirements. For example, students with international English certificates may have better success with postgraduate programs or universities than those without such certificates. Make sure you check if your undergraduate institution offers distance education programs so that you can continue working full-time while pursuing a master’s degree or doctoral degree in Canada.
Finally, meet with an immigration advisor who specializes in international students to learn about how to successfully integrate yourself into Canadian society while studying here. In some cases, this might involve transferring your academic credentials from one Canadian university to another. Some schools also require that students graduate with honors before entering a Ph.D. program.