Ready for School: Check-in, Orientation and the First Two Weeks
1. Complete the digital check-in
Within the first day, open the student portal and complete any “International Student Check-in” or “Arrival Confirmation” task. Upload the Study Permit or proof of entry only through the school’s official secure system. Update the Canadian address, telephone number and emergency contact. Activate the school email, multi-factor authentication, learning platform and official safety app. Read every message marked “action required,” “hold,” “deadline,” “orientation,” “registration” or “residence.”
Treat academic registration, international-student check-in and residence check-in as three separate tasks. Open the housing portal once more and confirm the residence status is active, the correct room or building appears, the next fee instalment is scheduled and no housing document is outstanding. Add the room-condition-report deadline, residence orientation, meal-plan activation and future residence-payment dates to the same calendar used for classes.
2. Contact the International Student Office first
Unless the school says otherwise, the best first contact is the International Student Office, sometimes called International Centre, International Education or Global Engagement. Ask whether the original Study Permit must be checked, whether online check-in is complete, which health insurance is active and which orientation sessions are mandatory. Use the school’s authorized international-student immigration adviser for immigration questions.
Then use the Registrar or Enrolment Services for tuition, registration holds and student records; the academic adviser or program coordinator for courses, prerequisites and timetable conflicts; IT for account and Wi-Fi problems; Housing for residence matters; and Accessibility Services for academic accommodations.
3. Remove every registration blocker
Pay required tuition or residence fees only through the official payment channel. Confirm there is no financial, document or advising hold. Verify every course code, section, campus, building, room, delivery mode and time zone. Put orientation, the first class, tuition, add/drop, withdrawal and residence-payment deadlines into one calendar with reminders.
Complete only the requirements assigned to the student, such as placement tests, prerequisite evidence, laboratory safety training, co-op documents or medical clearance. The school portal and program coordinator decide what applies.
4. Collect the student card and rehearse the campus
Obtain the student card using the identification required by the school. Test the card, campus Wi-Fi, email, learning platform and library access. Download the campus map, then physically walk from the transit stop or entrance to the first classrooms, International Student Office, library, security desk and clinic. If a course is missing or displays the wrong section, contact the Registrar and program adviser that day.
5. Use orientation to learn the system
Attend the general, international-student, program and residence orientations that apply. Learn how attendance is recorded, where assignments are submitted, what academic integrity means, how to contact instructors, and where to find writing, tutoring, counselling, career and emergency support. Introduce yourself to at least one student in the same program. Residence students should also record the RA’s contact, fire procedure and guest rules.
6. Prepare the night before class
Check the timetable again because rooms can change. Open each course page, download the syllabus, note required materials, charge the phone and laptop, pack the charger, notebook, water and student card, set two alarms and plan to reach the building 15–20 minutes early. Follow the instructor’s directions before buying expensive optional books, but do not delay required access codes, lab items or safety equipment.
7. During the first class and first two weeks
On the first day, confirm the room and section, then record attendance rules, office hours, assignment and exam dates, group-work rules and the preferred contact method. Attend every class and lab, read each syllabus fully, place all deadlines in the calendar and start the first task early. Check the school email daily.
If the course load feels wrong, speak with both the academic adviser and an authorized international-student adviser before dropping, withdrawing or changing schools. Study Permit holders must remain enrolled at a DLI and actively pursue their studies; changes affecting full-time status may also affect work eligibility or future immigration applications. Save evidence of registration, tuition, attendance and any approved leave.
Important notice
This article and its flowchart provide general practical suggestions only. Canadian immigration requirements and school registration, course, residence and academic policies may change at any time. Readers must independently check and follow the current official documents and instructions issued by IRCC, the relevant authorities and the student’s school. If this guide differs from an official requirement or school deadline, the current official requirement or deadline prevails.
Official links to check before acting: IRCC—Study Permit conditions
