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International Student Work Experience Program

Laurier's International Student Work Experience Program (ISWEP) is an on-campus work experience program for international students at the Waterloo and Brantford campuses. 

The goals of ISWEP are to:

  • Create opportunities for international students to develop skills and gain work experience on campus (or virtually).
  • Benefit the Laurier community with the global perspectives of our diverse international students.

Am I Eligible to Apply?

To be considered for ISWEP, students must fulfill the following requirements:

Summer Positions

  • Must be an undergraduate international student (Permanent Residents, Canadian citizens, exchange students and graduate international students are not eligible to participate in this program).
  • Must have a valid study permit that allows work in Canada (you will need to upload a copy of your study permit).
  • Must have a SIN card or be eligible to get one.
  • Must be either taking a scheduled break from classes or be registered as a full-time or part-time student on the Waterloo or Brantford campus during the spring term.
  • Must have been registered as a full-time student in the preceding winter term.
  • Must have completed at least one academic semester of study at Laurier.
  • Must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 7.0.
  • Must be available to work May - August.

Fall/Winter Positions

  • Must be an undergraduate international student (Permanent Residents, Canadian citizens, exchange students and graduate international students are not eligible to participate in this program).
  • Must have a valid study permit that allows work in Canada (you will need to upload a copy of your study permit).
  • Must have a SIN card or be eligible to get one.
  • Must be registered as a full-time student on the Waterloo or Brantford campus.
  • Must have completed at least one academic semester of study at Laurier.
  • Must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 7.0.
  • Must be available to work in both the fall and winter terms.

Note: Demonstrating financial need is not a requirement.

Meeting the eligibility requirements does not guarantee an on-campus position. Once you have been accepted into the program, you must apply to available job postings in Navigator and compete with other students. You must meet minimum job requirements, be interviewed and hired for a position.

Students are eligible for ISWEP positions for a maximum of two years. You may only accept one ISWEP position at a time.

What is the ISWEP Approval Process?

  • Ensure the eligibility criteria are met (see above). Only those applicants who meet the eligibility criteria will be considered.
  • Complete the ISWEP Approval Form (deadline for 2024/25 was February 29, 2024).
  • Students will be emailed to learn whether they have met the criteria and are approved for the program.
  • Students approved to the program will be notified by email and given instructions on how to access job postings.
  • Students approved for ISWEP will apply directly to the postings by submitting a resumé and cover letter on Navigator. 
  • ISWEP students will interview with the hiring departments. The department supervisor will make the hiring decision.

What is the Compensation?

The rate of pay is $17 per hour*. The maximum number of hours for each student is 70 hours per term.

*ISWEP wage may be higher pending changes to Ontario's minimum wage in Fall 2024.

How Can I Prepare to Apply for Positions?

We want you to be prepared to make a great first impression and to demonstrate your skills and abilities. Here are some things you can do to get ready to apply for ISWEP positions:

What Type of Jobs Will be Available?

ISWEP job titles in the past included:

  • Assistant, Intercultural Programming (Brantford)
  • ICT Support Student (Waterloo)
  • Office Assistant (Brantford)
  • Recruitment and Admissions Assistant (Brantford and Waterloo)
  • Research Project Assistant (Waterloo)
  • Event Assistant (Waterloo)

Questions?

If you have questions about the ISWEP program or application procedures, contact Jessie Eulenberg, career consultant (international programs) at jeulenberg@wlu.ca.