Enrolment Status and Scheduled Breaks
KPU Immigration Purpose Document
You can view and download the latest version of the KPU Immigration Purpose Document here:
Full-Time Status
A student who is enrolled in nine or more credit hours in a semester (including graduate, undergraduate, and preparatory courses) is considered to a full-time student at KPU.
Part-Time Status
A student who is enrolled in fewer than nine credit hours in a semester (including graduate, undergraduate, and preparatory courses) is considered a part-time student at KPU.
Withdrawing from courses
A student can withdraw from courses at KPU and remain on the student record with a "W" grade. The "W" is not calculated in the student's term or cumulative GPA. Once withdrawn, the student will be considered part-time for immigration purposes if they have fewer than 9 credits in a term. Students who remain registered in 9 credits or more maintain full-time status.
NA: Never Attended
A Student that registered in a course but did not attend or officially withdraw will receive an "NA." The "NA" is not calculated in the student's term or cumulative GPA. If students receive an 'NA,' they are no longer considered enrolled in the course for the term. They may be considered part-time for immigration purposes if fewer than 9 credits are enrolled in a term.
Scheduled Breaks
- Break between academic semesters
- The day after posted full-term final exam period until the day before the start of the next semester.
- Reading break in the Spring semester
- KPU's Scheduled Break
- One of the Spring (January to April), Summer (May to August), or Fall (September to December) terms in a calendar year (January to December) provided the student remains enrolled full-time at KPU in the term preceding the break and in the term following the break.
- If your employer needs proof of your Scheduled Break, you can click here to obtain a customized scheduled break letter.
* During a scheduled break term (Fall, Spring, or Summer) a student who is eligible for off-campus work may choose to take full-time studies, part-time studies, or a break from studies and may work up to full-time hours. If a student withdraws from a course(s) during this semester, their scheduled break does not change.
* Please note that a student who is on the scheduled break needs to be covered by valid medical insurance.
* According to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, to be considered a regularly scheduled break, the break must be part of the DLI's academic calendar (for instance, winter and summer holidays, Reading Week). Each regularly scheduled break should not be longer than 150 days. The maximum cumulative duration of scheduled breaks is 180 days per calendar year (date modified: 2021-06-09).
* How many hours you can work off-campus during scheduled breaks (IRCC)
FAQs - KPU Scheduled Break
Will taking scheduled breaks have a negative impact on my study permit or future PGWP application?
No, IRCC allows international students to take scheduled breaks if they follow the university’s policy.
Am I eligible to work full-time during my scheduled break?
REGULARLY SCHEDULED BREAKS:
• Must be noted in the institution’s academic calendar.
• Students must be enrolled full-time both before and after the break.
• This does not include labour actions (strikes).
• Choosing to take courses during the scheduled break does not impact eligibility to work.
• Right to work full-time off-campus can be no longer than 150 consecutive days and no more than a total of 180 days each year.
Full-time off-campus work is allowed only during regularly scheduled breaks, as long as the student is enrolled full-time both before and after the break. Regularly scheduled breaks must be noted in the institution’s academic calendar. On-campus work authorization during a scheduled break is not defined in the Regulations, but since students who qualify to work off campus can work unlimited hours, they can also work on campus as part as their off-campus work hours.
Labour actions at the institution (such as a strike) do not automatically count as a scheduled break. Therefore, a student unable to attend classes due to a strike is limited to 24 hours of work per week unless the strike occurs during a regularly scheduled break.
Students who take courses when their program has a regularly scheduled break remain eligible to work full-time.
Eligibility to work during a regularly scheduled break is limited to 150 consecutive days—the right to work ends after 150 days if a break is longer. Students can work full-time off-campus for no more than 180 days each year.
Can I work full-time during a scheduled break with a part-time or full-time enrolment status, for example with one or two courses registered?
Yes, you can. However, you may want to balance your studies and work to maintain a good academic standing.
Can I study full-time/part-time during a scheduled break?
Yes, you can. However, you may want to balance your studies and work to maintain a good academic standing.
Do I need approval to take a scheduled break?
No.
Do I still need to pay for tuition and fees during a scheduled break?
No, if you do not register for any courses.
Can I take a break in Spring or Fall term, instead of in Summer?
Yes, please see the definition of a scheduled break.
When does the scheduled break start and end?
A scheduled break starts the day after the posted full-term final exam period of the term preceding the break until the day before the start of the term following the break.
The current semester is my last semester. Can this semester be considered a scheduled break?
No.
If my enrolment status are changed from full-time to part-time in either preceding or following the proposed Scheduled Break, will it negatively impact my PGWP application?
You must maintain full-time status in both preceding and following terms. In the event you become a part-time student in either semester, there will be a negative impact on your future PGWP application, as you will have two consecutive part-time semesters.
Can I take a scheduled break and then an authorized leave in the next semester if needed, or vice versa?
Please see the information in the Authorized Leave section. You must meet with an International Student Advisor for further assessment.
Do I need to explain to IRCC when applying for a PGWP that I have taken some scheduled breaks in my study at KPU?
It’s not mandatory, but we recommend attaching a self-explanation letter with the KPU Immigration Purpose Document.
Authorized Leave
Under an extenuating or unforeseen circumstance that adversely affects the student's academic progress, an international student may request and be approved to take an authorized leave after a review of the request and any supplementary documentation. If the request is approved, the student will receive a Letter for Authorized Leave. The student does not become exempt from their obligations to comply with IRCC policies and requirements by receiving the Letter for Authorized Leave.
Last updated: November 19, 2024