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You may have thought the paperwork was over in part two; unfortunately, you were wrong.  There is still much more paperwork to  do, but this next round of paperwork comes with financial rewards!  The first section of this lesson covers how to apply for Canadian work permits and a Social Insurance Number (SIN).  Remember, if your program includes a co-operative learning (commonly referred to as co-op) or internship placement you must apply for a work permit and a SIN number.  The next section of the lesson covers applying for financial aid and student awards.  Students often find applying for financial aid an extremely frustrating process, but one that is well worth the reward.



Applying for your Student Work Permit

First, you need to figure out what type of work permit you need.  Do you plan on working on campus, or off campus?  Does your program have a co-op or internship placement?  If you are bringing your spouse or common-law partner to Canada, will they be working while you study?


Types of Permits:

Student Work-On Campus Permit
When you first arrive as a student in Canada, you are only eligible for work on campus. Because the government wants to ensure that student work permit are sent only to full time students you must wait at least six months before you can apply for a student work off-campus permit and prove that you have been studying six of the last twelve months. You do no have to fill out any addition applications for a Work-On Campus Permit provided you meet the following requirements:

or

or

On campus jobs often include:  office assistants, research assistants, exam proctors, marking assistants,  food service workers, retail and customer service, learning assistants  and tutors.


Student Work-Off Campus Permit
As mentioned above you cannot apply for this permit until you have been in school at least six months and you must be attending an approved institution.  Ensure your school (and program) are eligible by checking the List of Participating Institutions on the Government of Canada's website.  This permit will allow you to work part time (up to 20 hours) during the academic year and full time during school breaks (this includes summer holidays).  If you cease to be a full time student while you have the permit it must be immediately returned to a Citizenship and Immigration Canada office.²


Co-op and Student Internship Program Permits
Many programs in Canada include a co-op or internship placement.  Some placements will come with financial compensation while other do not.  No matter the type of placement you participate you will need to apply for a work permit.  In order to be considered eligible for this permit:

Please note that Work Off Campus Permit and Co-op/Internships are not interchangeable.   If you intend to work off campus as well as participate in a co-op or internship program you must apply for each permit separately.
 
Applications for Work Off Campus Permits as well as Co-op and Internship work permit can be found online at the Government of Canada's Immigration website.  An accompanying guide to help you fill out the application correctly is also provided.  This guide also provides information for current students who wish to stay and work in Canada upon graduation from their program.


Open Work Permits
If you have a spouse or common-law partner that will be coming to Canada with you and plans to work while you attend school they must apply for an Open Work Permit.  This permit is valid for as long as your are a full time student, so when your Student Visa expires, their Open Work Permit also expires.  In order for for your spouse or partner to be considered for this permit you must:

or

If your spouse or partner wishes to apply for this permit, you will have to fill out an application as well as a  Statutory Declaration of Common-Law Union.  More information can be found in the Applying for a Work Permit - Student Guide.



Applying for a Social Insurance Number
If you will be working in Canada, or participating in a co-op/internship placement you will need a SIN number.  You can apply for this document in person at a Service Canada Centre, or by mail.  It is recommended that you apply for your SIN number in person as this will remove all chances of personal documents (such as a passport or birth certificate) being lost in the mail.  You'll also be issued a SIN number the very day you visit the centre instead of having to wait for your number to arrive by post.  However you choose to apply, you can find instructions, including forms and documentation needed, on applying for your SIN number on Service Canada's website.



Applying for Financial Aid
Studying internationally is undoubtedly one of the most expensive ways to pursue your education, and many students who wish to  study overseas will find themselves in need of financial aid.  The first place to seek assistance is your own country.  Is there a student aid program run by your home country's government?  Do students who study outside of the country still qualify for the program?

Personal loans or a Student Line of Credit can also be a source of funding for your post secondary education.  Many banks and credit unions have special rates and plans for students.  To discuss these options meet with a representative at your local bank.

Scholarships and bursaries from the institution you choose to attend can also provide a source of income, but be aware that there are limited student awards for international students and competition is often fierce.  There are three types of Student Awards available:

Entrance Scholarships
These awards are automatically granted to first year students who enter the institution with grades above a certain percentage.  For example, a school may give $500 to students who received 80-84% in their final year of high school; $750 to student who received between 85-89%; and $1000 to student with marks over 90%.  Both the dollar amount and the final grades needed to be eligible for the award often change so check with the individual institution for the most exact figures.

Scholarships
These awards are generally given based on academic performance while in school.  The criteria for the award may be very broad (for example, available to any science student in their final year) or extremely specific (for example available to international students from Ghana entering their second year of Economics).  Scholarships may also be recurring awards (say $1000 per year over 4 years) or single awards.  

Bursaries
Similar to scholarships, these awards usually require application and often have restrictions on what type of student can apply.  However, unlike scholarships, consideration is given to students who demonstrate financial need over students who have the highest grades.  You may be asked to submit a student budget when you apply for these awards.

Consideration for bursaries and scholarships most often require application.  The process may be a simple as filling out a form, or may require more work, such as a short essay on n how winning the award would impact your life.  Applications are often due at various times during the year, so do not automatically assume you have missed your change to apply for awards based on the time of year.

Please understand this has been a very general definition of  student awards.  Individual awards criteria can include many conditions like community involvement, student leadership, or even being first generation student (one who's parents did not attend post-secondary education).  No matter your grades or financial status it is an excellent idea to visit the Student Awards/Financial Aid department of your institution and speak to a staff member about awards you may be eligible for.