Eligibility criteria
As an international student, you can participate in student work placements if you meet all of the following conditions:
- Have a study permit that includes conditions allowing you to work on campus.
- Have a letter from SAIT confirming that the work placement is a required part of your study program.
- Hold a valid study permit, or apply to extend your study permit before it expired (the initial study permit must have included work authorization).
- You must be enrolled full‑time at SAIT.
- Your program is at least 6 months in duration and leads to a degree, diploma, or certificate.
- The work placement accounts for 50% or less of the total program of study.
Where students can work
You may complete a work placement with any employer approved by SAIT’s work placement program, including employers located off campus.
Placements in healthcare, childcare, or elderly care settings
If your work placement takes place in a setting where the protection of public health is important such as a hospital, childcare centre, or elderly care facility, you must:
- have completed an immigration medical exam, and
- hold a study permit without restrictions that prevent work in public health‑sensitive environments.
Internship or co-op work opportunities that are not part of your SAIT study program
If you wish to participate in an internship or co-op activity that is not part of your SAIT study program, this would be considered off-campus work and you will need to use your study permit’s off campus work authorization to engage in this work activity.
Frequently asked questions
No, you do not need to take any action on your application. IRCC will withdraw any eligible applications that are currently under process.
Provide your employer with a copy of your valid study permit (which contains on campus work authorization remarks) as proof.
Refer to the response to question 2 above and share this webpage as a resource with your employer. If your employer still has concerns, please send an email to international.advising@sait.ca and copy your employer on this email.
Prior to taking part in a co-op or an internship opportunity, you must obtain a co-op letter from the International Centre.
To request this letter, submit a request using this form.
You must not engage in a co-op or internship opportunity prior to receiving this letter from the International Centre. Any co-op or internship work you engage in prior to receiving this letter will be considered unauthorized work. Engaging in unauthorized work can result in an enforcement action taken against you or the refusal of any future immigration applications.
There is no limit on the number of hours you can work in a co‑op or internship role. If your employer requires you to work more than full‑time hours, they are responsible for ensuring compliance with the employment standards in the province where you are working, including requirements related to overtime pay and mandatory rest periods.
Contact us
International Centre
AA206, Heritage Hall, SAIT Main Campus
- Phone
- 1.403.284.8852
- international@sait.ca
-
Monday - Friday | 8 am - 4:30 pm MT
Oki, Âba wathtech, Danit'ada, Tawnshi, Hello.
SAIT is located on the traditional territories of the Niitsitapi (Blackfoot) and the people of Treaty 7 which includes the Siksika, the Piikani, the Kainai, the Tsuut’ina and the Îyârhe Nakoda of Bearspaw, Chiniki and Goodstoney.
We are situated in an area the Blackfoot tribes traditionally called Moh’kinsstis, where the Bow River meets the Elbow River. We now call it the city of Calgary, which is also home to the Métis Nation of Alberta.