Work Opportunities
Co-operative Education
Co-operative Education (Co-op) combines classroom study with supervised, professional, paid, off-campus work experience in Canada. Vancouver Island University offers five programs with a Co-operative Education component:
- Fisheries and Aquaculture Diploma
- Hospitality Management Diploma
- Recreation & Sport Management Diploma
- Tourism Studies Diploma
- Tourism/Recreation Management Degree
Co-op placements usually take place from May to October. Programs that include a Co-op component normally start in September.
Work after Graduation
After graduation from an academic program that is 8 months or longer, international students are allowed to work in Canada for up to 3 years.
VIU's Campus Career Centre provides assistance with finding work after graduation.
On-Campus Work
While studying at Vancouver Island University, international students who hold a study permit are eligible to work on-campus for up to 20 hours a week. Every semester the Campus Career Centre has listings for more than 300 on-campus jobs such as clerical assistant in academic faculties, library assistant, math centre support, computer lab monitor, research assistant, and gymnasium assistant. These positions are competitive and generally do not offer more than 10 hours of work per week for the successful applicants. The Centre for International Education also hires several international students every semester to work as international student activity assistants to help plan and organize events.
Off-Campus Work
While studying at Vancouver Island University, international academic students on study permits (not English language students, exchange or Malaspina International High School students) are eligible to work off-campus for up to 20 hours a week while studying. These students are also eligible to work full-time during scheduled breaks including the 4 month summer vacation and 3 week winter vacation. Students interested in the program are encouraged to read the 
Student Fact Sheet and the Employer Fact Sheet.
Further information for both students and employers can be found at:
www.learnlivebc.ca/off-campus-work/welcome.htm and further details for students at:
www.cic.gc.ca/english/study/work-opps.html.
Student Volunteers
International students are encouraged to do volunteer work. We have a large team of international student volunteers who help with activities on-campus. One example is our Peer Helper program that provides current international students with opportunities to welcome new international students to VIU and to Nanaimo, and to assist with orientation, tours of the campus, and preparing for studies at VIU.