Important TWU definitions

Enrolment status for immigration purposes clarify when international students are in active pursuit of studies, and when you are eligible to work on and off campus or post-graduation.

Importance of enrolment status

No minimum number of credits is required to have “part-time” status.

Part-time students are considered actively pursuing studies but cannot work on or off campus. Work refers to work which is authorized by a study permit. Students who also hold work permits may be able to work additional days/hours in addition to work authorized by their study permits.

Part-time studies (except during a final term) also impact eligibility for the Post-Graduation Work Permit.  

Program Scheduled Break

This definition is for immigration purposes to denote students who are not required to be enrolled during program breaks. Students are ‘actively pursuing studies’ while on a scheduled break.

The scheduled break must be part of the TWU's academic calendar (for instance, winter and summer holidays, reading week). The break is a firm and TWU-scheduled break, not a break that a student chooses to take for example.  Each regularly scheduled break should not be longer than 150 days. 

• For undergraduate students at TWU: Please check the TWU Academic Calendar Dates to find your program scheduled breaks. Your required semesters are Fall Semester and Spring Semester. The Summer semester is not a required semester for your undergraduate program, thus, you can take Summer semester as your program scheduled break.
• For graduate students at TWU: You can obtain the document to confirm your course arrangement academic schedule from your program area. As long as the period between two courses was part of the planned program structure and not a result of you missing or skipping a course, it can be considered a scheduled break.

Authorized leave

For undergraduate students at TWU:

• Based on the current school policy for all undergraduate  students: if you take a leave from your required semester (Fall and/or Spring Semester), TWU does not issue any school letter to authorize your leave.  You are not considered a TWU student anymore.  When you come back, you need to re-apply for your current program. "Re-apply" means you are not a student for that program anymore, so you need to apply again.

• This means that if you take a leave during a required semester (Fall or Spring), you will be considered not enrolled at the school anymore. The school will not issue any official letter approving your leave. This type of leave is a personal decision to withdraw from studies, and during this period you are not considered a TWU student.

• If you must take time off from your undergraduate program, we encourage you to do so during the Summer semester or any program scheduled breaks on  the TWU Academic Calendar Dates , as it is not a required academic dates for you. Taking time off in program scheduled breaks is generally considered safe for study permit holders who taking undergraduate programs at TWU. 

For graduate students at TWU:

• Each graduate program has its own standard form for the program approval letter (or "letter of absence").  Contact your own program area to discuss and find out who is responsible for issuing program approval letter for your current program.  You need to coordinate with that staff directly to check whether he/she approves your personal arranged leave, and how to issue a program approval letter or confirmation. 
• If your leave is short, just a few days or up to a week, you do not need to drop courses, and then you may not need to obtain a formal letter from your program. A confirmation email from your course instructor approving your leave can also be considered a supporting document.

There are a few cases where graduate students may be able to take a leave of up to a maximum of 150 days from your program of studies and still be considered to be actively pursuing your studies.

You don’t need to report to IRCC if you’re taking an authorized leave. However, if IRCC ask for it, you must provide proof that your leave is

• authorized by TWU AND
• no longer than 150 days

It counts as authorized leave if

• school has authorized a leave from your study program for
  • medical reasons or pregnancy
  • family emergency
  • death or serious illness of a family member
  • any other type of leave your school authorizes
• school has closed permanently or because of a strike
• you’ve changed schools
• you or your school deferred your program start date
  • In this case, you must start your studies the next semester, even if it starts sooner than 150 days, and get an updated letter of acceptance.

You cannot work on or off campus during an authorized leave from your study program, even if your study permit says you’re allowed to work in Canada.