What happens if I need to take a leave from my studies?  

If you need to take a leave from your studies, you must contact International Student Services at international@ambrose.edu immediately. A study leave may affect your eligibility to apply for a post-graduation work permit (PGWP) after finishing your program. You will also no longer be able to work using your study permit.

Accompanying spouse and children

In order for your spouse or children to come to Canada with you, they will need a valid passport and a valid entrance document should they require one. They can apply for their entrance document at the same time as you apply for your study permit.

Can My Spouse Work In Canada?

Your spouse does not need to be a student in order to work in Canada as long as they apply for an Open Work Permit. They will need to indicate that they are the spouse of a full-time student in Canada.

Can My Kids Go To School In Canada?

Your children can attend school depending on their academic level and whether they are already in Canada. They may require a study permit. To find out more about enrolling your children in school, contact the Calgary Board of Education.

Does Ambrose University provide student housing?

Ambrose University has two residence buildings across the main campus. We offer different room options for our undergraduate students and there are senior pods dedicated to Seminary students. You can submit your residence application at Residence Application | Ambrose University.

At the moment we do not offer family style residence.

Where can I find off-campus housing?

There are a couple of options you can explore to find a place to stay during your studies.

1. You can have a look at our Housing Board, where landlords publicly advertise their properties that may appeal to Ambrose students. Typically, there are more posting towards the beginning of the semester.
2. You can also use one of the many available rental services in Calgary such as
   • Rentfaster,
   • Rentals
   • Rentseeker
   • Point2homes
   • Rent Spot

Once you find a place, please request for a copy of your contract as proof of living arrangements.

What is the difference between Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan (AHCIP) and Ambrose Health and Dental Plan?

The Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan (AHCIP) provides eligible Alberta residents with full coverage for medically necessary physician services. This includes hospital visits and stays, medical services offered by physicians and partial coverage of other services. Please visit Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan to learn more about services covered by AHCIP.

Ambrose Health and Dental Plan is an insurance plan that helps manage any medical expenses not cover under AHCIP. It includes medication, dental, vision, travel and accident coverage, and extended health such as psychologist, social worker, chiropractor and more. Please visit StudentVIP.ca to learn more about your coverage.

How do I know if I am eligible for Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan (AHCIP)?

If you are an international student, you are eligible if:

• You hold a valid study permit
• Intent to live in Alberta for 12 months or more

Note: Students under 18 years of age must be added to the AHCIP account of a custodian.

To apply for AHCIP please visit Alberta.ca. You will also need to provide supporting documents that prove:

• Alberta residency (i.e. your residence contract)
• Identity (i.e. passport)
• Legal entitlement to be in Canada (i.e. study permit)

How do I sign up for Ambrose Health and Dental Plan?

All international students are automatically enrolled in the Health and Dental Plan.

Access your benefits card by creating an account with StudentVIP at  Ambrose - Benefits Card. You can also learn about your coverage on the StudentVIP website: StudentVIP - Your Coverage.

Can my family be included on my Ambrose Health and Dental Plan?

Students may enroll their spouse and/or dependent children onto their benefits for an additional fee during the opt-in period in which they begin their studies. Find the opt-in period at Opting In deadlines.

Can I work off-campus while I am a student?

You can work off campus without a work permit if you meet all of these requirements:

• You’re a full-time student at a designated learning institution (DLI)
• You’re enrolled in either of the following a post-secondary academic, vocational or professional training program or a secondary-level vocational training program (Quebec only)
• Your study program is at least 6 months long and leads to a degree, diploma or certificate
• You’ve started studying 
• You have a social insurance number (SIN)

If your study permit does not have work conditions, you can ask to have these conditions added by requesting an amendment to your study permit.

Always refer back to the Government of Canada regulations in regards to working as an international student for any clarifications.

How many hours can I work off campus?

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has implemented a temporary change to the number of hours that international students can work off-campus. From November 15, 2022, until December 31, 2023, international students who are in Canada and who have off-campus work authorization on their study permit will not be restricted by the 20-hour-per-week rule. This means international students are no longer limited to only working 20 hours a week. However, international students must remain full-time students and continue to meet any conditions on their study permit.

Refer back to the official announcement on the temporary change on International students to help address Canada’s labour shortage - Canada.ca

Working conditions might change once again after December 31, 2023. Always refer back to the Government of Canada regulations in regards to working off campus as an international student.

How many hours can I work on campus?

You can work as many hours as you want, in addition to working off campus, as long as you continue to meet the eligibility requirements for working on campus.

An “on-campus” employer can be:

• the school
• a faculty member
• a student organization
• a private contractor that provides on-campus services to the school

Where can I look for a job?

Some available options include:

• Talk to your professors
• Visit our career resources page for career related services and online job boards
• Check the Ambrose Student and Alumni Job Board, job postings are added as they become available
• Keep an eye on the weekly Toilet Paper as on campus jobs are usually posted as they become available
• You can use third-party search engines such as Indeed and LinkedIn.
• The government of Canada has some programs designed for students looking for jobs: Youth and student employment - Canada.ca.
• The government of Alberta also offers some student positions throughout the year: Student - Government of Alberta Jobs.

Recruitment is usually done one semester in advance. So make sure you are applying ahead of time!

How can I apply for a Social Insurance Number (SIN)?

A Social Insurance Number is needed to receive an income in Canada. A SIN also makes you eligible to receive benefits and services from government programs. You can apply for your Social Insurance Number (SIN) either online or in person. For more information on how to apply for a SIN number please visit Social Insurance Number. You will need to provide supporting documents that prove:

• Alberta residency (i.e. your residence contract)
• Identity (i.e. passport)
• Legal entitlement to be in Canada (i.e. study permit)

If you do decide to apply in person, please have all of your supporting documents with you. We recommend scheduling an appointment as line-ups can be long.

Am I required to file taxes?

As stated by the government of Canada, if you are an international student in Canada with residential ties, you must file income taxes. Residential ties include but are not limited to:

• a home in Canada (i.e. own a home or have a rent agreement)
• a spouse or common-law partner or dependants who move to Canada to live with you
• a Canadian driver's licence
• Canadian bank accounts or credit cards
• Health insurance with a Canadian province or territory

Refer to our tax blog for webinar on how to file your taxes, free tax clinics and pay services.

Does Calgary has a public transit system? How much does it cost?

Calgary Transit is a public transportation provider in Calgary which operates Bus routes, light rail transit (the CTrain), and door-to-door transportation service for Calgarians with disabilities - Calgary Transit Access.

Calgary transit has many available options for ticket purchase. You can buy individual tickets, a booklet of 10 tickets, or a monthly pass. There are also different fares for youth and adults. Please refer to the Fares & Passes - Calgary Transit to learn about ticket pricing. You can also use the “My Fare” app to buy tickets and passes at anytime from anywhere; you can download the app at My Fare App.

Low Income Monthly Pass

If you need assistance with the monthly payment of a bus pass, Calgary Transit offers the Low Income Pass. This pass is designed to assist low-income individuals by reducing the price of the monthly pass based on your annual income. To access a low-income pass, you can either

1. Use your last year's income tax summary to prove low income, or
2. Request a letter from a social worker

The Ambrose Health and Dental Plan does cover social worker’s appointments. If you need more information about how the low-income pass works, please visit Low Income Monthly Pass or email international@ambrose.edu.

Where should I go if I have difficulty with one of my courses?

Ambrose University offers free tutoring for all academic courses during the fall and winter semesters. You can stop by Student Life on the second floor or visit Student Academic Success to book a one-on-one tutoring session.

How do I get a letter stating that I am a student at Ambrose University?

If you need a letter from the university stating that you are a current student and registered for the semester, you can access a confirmation of enrollment letter through your student portal. 

You must have no outstanding fees in order to request any official documentation from the registrar's office.

Are there activities for international students?

International students are welcome to participate in any activities organize by the university. We highly encourage international students to attend different events as it provides a great opportunity to get involved and meet people.

Additionally, Glocal Club is an international student-led club that focuses on providing unique opportunities for international students to explore Calgary and meet other international students.

Whom do I talk to if I feel anxious and depressed?

Ambrose University has a team that focuses on the well-being of our students. You can connect with one of our counsellors available throughout the week or reach out to our wellness coordinator at wellness@ambrose.edu. Do not forget to check out the Wellness page for more information and resources.

Can I get some help settling into life in Canada?

Resources are offered by numerous nonprofit groups to aid newcomers. To find out more about their services and how to access them, get in touch with them directly.

Centre for Newcomers (CFN)
Immigrant Service Calgary (ISC)
Calgary Immigrant Educational Society (CIES)
Calgary Catholic Immigration Society (CCIS)
Calgary Immigrant Women’s Association (CIWA)

Additional Resources

The Calgary Food Bank – If you are in need of food support, you can reach out to the food bank to schedule a food hamper.

Volunteer Connector – If you want to find meaningful opportunities to gain experience, volunteer connector is a great place to look for volunteering opportunities that align with your interests and area of studies.

Getting started in Calgary – The newcomers' guide to Calgary, which is available in several languages, gives important information to new residents.