911吃瓜

Authorized Leave for Graduate Students

You may take a leave of absence (i.e., being an active student but are not enrolled at 911吃瓜) from your studies and still be compliant with your , provided that all the following criteria is met:鈥�

• The duration of your leave is up to 150 consecutive days;鈥�
• You will resume your studies within 150 consecutive days from the date that you were last enrolled at 911吃瓜; and鈥�
• Your leave is authorized by 911吃瓜.鈥� 鈥�

If you choose to take the鈥疐all鈥�,鈥疭pring鈥痮r Summer term off:

Study Permit

Taking one term off authorized by 911吃瓜 (either Fall, Spring or Summer term off) from your studies should not impact your compliance with your study permit conditions.

Post-Graduation Work Permit鈥�(PGWP) 

Taking a leave of absence of up to 150 consecutive days should not negatively impact your eligibility for a Post-Graduation Work Permit鈥�(PGWP).

Working on or off campus

You will not be eligible to work on or off campus until you resume full-time enrolment and as outlined by IRCC.

Graduate students who are approved for an academic break may be eligible to work. See "Regularly Scheduled Break" for details.

Consult with an International Student Advisor鈥痓efore you decide to take multiple terms off so that you can make an informed decision.

Study Permit

If your leave exceeds 150 consecutive days (i.e., you take multiple academic terms off), it may impact your study permit, even if the leave of absence for more than 150 days is approved by 911吃瓜. If you will not be able to resume your studies within 150 days,鈥�鈥痳equires you to either:

• leave Canada,鈥痮r
• apply to extend your stay by changing your temporary resident status (e.g., visitor or worker) in Canada.

In most cases, this means you will need to鈥�鈥痠f you would like to stay in Canada during an extended break or leave from studies. You must submit an application to change your status within the first 150 days after you stop studying. If you will be returning to studies after a leave longer than 150 consecutive days, please connect with an International Student Advisor.

Post-Graduation Work Permit鈥�(PGWP) 

If your leave exceeds 150 consecutive days (i.e., you take multiple academic terms off), it may impact your eligibility for a PGWP. By taking multiple academic terms off, it will be up to the individual immigration officer to assess your reason(s) for leaves along with relevant supporting documents and to determine if you meet the study permit conditions and .

Working on or off campus

You will not be eligible to work on or off campus until you resume full-time enrolment and as outlined by IRCC.

• Graduate students are required to maintain full-time continuous enrolment.
• If you find it necessary to pause your studies, you must apply for a leave of absence.
• Review the leave policy outlined in Graduate General Regulation 1.4.5 and on the Enrolment - Faculty of Graduate Studies - 911吃瓜 webpage.
• Consult with the Faculty of Graduate Studies regarding leave options and eligibility.
• In most cases, you will inform and receive the acknowledgement of your program regarding your intent to take a leave of absence.
• The Faculty of Graduate Studies will provide the final approval and processing for leave request.

Graduate Students Leave of Absence Request

After submitting your authorized leave letter request

Upon receiving approval of your graduate authorized leave form for a Spring, Summer or Fall term, you will:

• Download a confirmation of enrolment (COE) letter from go911吃瓜 as proof of your leave being authorized by 911吃瓜;
  • Your COE will indicate the term and leave details
  • If you're planning to take more than 150 days off, make sure to review the 鈥淚f your leave is longer than 150 days鈥� section to understand the potential immigration impacts.
  • You can include this authorized leave letter in your future immigration applications for study permit, temporary resident visa, and post-graduation work permit.
        Please note that the final decision will always be at the discretion of the immigration officer.

• Be reported by 911吃瓜 holding authorized leave status in a given Spring and or Fall term.
  • As a designated learning institution, 911吃瓜 is required by IRCC to submit a compliance report on the enrolment status of international students twice a year, and on an ad-hoc basis as requested.