International Students
Note: The information on this page is geared toward incoming and returning Regent students. If you're interested in applying to Regent as an international student, you'll find more information about submitting an application and getting a student visa in the International Student Admissions section of this site.
Student Life & Community
You Are Welcome Here
International students have been part of the Regent community from the very beginning—the four students who graduated in 1971 represented three different countries! Our international student body is part of what makes Regent special: every year, students tell us that learning alongside classmates from different geographic, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds is one of the things they appreciate most about studying here. We're glad you're here!
We also recognize that studying away from your home context also presents particular challenges, from navigating immigration to experiencing culture shock to reading and writing in a new language. The Regent community wants to support you however we can.
Practical Resources: This page includes information that we hope will help you navigate the logistics of living and studying in Canada. Other pages in the Students section of our site contain a more information and resources that can help.
Building Community: You are warmly invited and encouraged to participate in community life at Regent. New Student Orientation will help you get started—it includes special sessions especially for international students. Take a look at our Activities & Events page, and watch for Weekly Announcements emails that will tell you what's happening in the community. We appreciate that participating in group activities can take extra energy for international students, especially if English isn't the language you're most comfortable in. But please know that there are many people at Regent who are excited to get to know you and have you get to know them!
Get In Touch
If you could use support or would appreciate a listening ear, please don't hesitate to get in touch with the Dean of Students Office. Associate Dean of Students Claire Perini, an alumna originally from Sydney, Australia, has been an international student herself and would love to get to know you. You can find Claire at the top of the stairs, or email [email protected].
The Dean of Students Office also has a student employee dedicated to International Student Care. This is a fellow international student who will also be glad to connect.
In addition, the RCSA Council has an international student representative. Email [email protected] to get in touch.
Newcomer Guides
The Government of Canada and the Province of British Columbia both publish guides for newcomers to Canada. While not all of the information will be relevant for international students, these guides are a reliable source for information about many aspects of daily life in Canada.
- Welcome to Canada: Publications for Newcomers – A menu of resource pages from the Government of Canada. Topics include housing, health care services, money and finances, and consumer protection.
- Start Your Life in BC: Daily Life – A web-based publication with information about various topics such as emergency services, driving, childcare, and postal services.
- BC Newcomers Guide – Links to a downloadable booklet from the provincial government, available in several languages. Topics include transportation, shopping, children's education, help for families, and many more.
At Orientation, you'll also receive a list of "Tips for Living in Vancouver"—helpful pieces of advice from current students about life in this area.
Working with a Study Permit
Your study permit will allow you to work up to 24 hours per week during the regular academic sessions, and full-time during academic breaks such as winter break, spring break, and summer holidays, provided you meet the following criteria:
- you have a valid study permit,
- you are a full-time student (see below)
- you are studying in a program that leads to a degree, diploma, or certificate that is at least six months in duration.
Note: You can also work remotely for an employer located outside of Canada, so long as you comply with the terms of your study permit. Such work does not count toward your 24 hours per week off-campus work limit. An example of this type of work would be translating or editing text.
If you plan to work in Canada, you will need a Social Insurance Number (see below).
For more information on working in Canada, visit the IRCC website.
For work opportunities at Regent College, check our Student Employment page.
Defining Full-Time Study
Regent College offers full-time graduate studies programs. Students on study permits are expected to take a minimum of 9 credits per term in the Fall and Winter terms, unless otherwise permitted by the Registrar’s Office due to exceptional circumstances, an internship placement, or enrollment in a final project.
Students on study permits enrolled in the ThM program are expected to take a minimum of 6 credits per term in the Fall and Winter terms or be enrolled in a final project.
Students on study permits enrolled in the MALTS program are considered full-time. However, since MALTS is a low-residency program, international students should not normally reside in Canada for the duration of the program.
Note: The information provided above applies specifically to international students who want to work while residing in Canada on a study permit. Be aware, however, that "full-time study" may be defined differently in different contexts or for different purposes. For further information, please see the Full-Time Status section of our academic catalogue.
Getting a Social Insurance Number
You need a Social Insurance Number (SIN) from Service Canada to work in Canada or to receive benefits and services from government programs.
You must have one of the following conditions or remarks printed on your study permit in order to apply for a SIN for off-campus work. When you first enter Canada, please ask the border guard to write the statement that applies to you on your study permit):
- May work 24 hrs per week off-campus or full-time during regular breaks if meeting criteria outlined in section186(v) of IRPR
- May accept employment on or off campus if meeting eligibility criteria as per R186(f), (v) or (w). Must cease working if no longer meeting these criteria.
If your study permit does not have one of the above conditions or remarks, you must submit a request for an amendment to your study permit before you can apply for a SIN. There is no fee for this request.
If your study permit has "This permit does not permit the holder to engage in off campus employment in Canada" printed on it and you have changed your program of study, you must apply to change the conditions of your study permit and pay the applicable fee.
Learn more on the Government of Canada's Social Insurance Number page.
Extending Your Study Permit
Your study permit can be extended. You need to start the process 3-4 months before your study permit expires. You are also advised to visit the IRCC website for current processing times. Before you apply to extend your study permit through IRCC, you will need to fill out the Request for Study Permit Renewal Letter from Regent College. Your renewal request letter will then be ready for pick-up at Reception one week after we receive your form.
Once you’ve picked up your Study Permit Renewal Letter, you must complete the Application to Change Conditions or Extend Your Stay in Canada found here.
Note: Your study permit renewal requires you to renew your BC Medical Services Plan (MSP) and Social Insurance Number (SIN). If you have further questions, please see the Associate Dean of Students or e-mail [email protected].
