NEW International Students Guide

• Once you’ve accepted your Letter of Acceptance and paid your tuition to DC, you should immediately begin the process of obtaining a study permit.
• After being approved for a study permit by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), you will receive a port of entry letter of introduction and will be automatically issued a temporary resident visa (TRV) if you are from a visa required country.
• Keep us updated using the Visa Status Update. This must be completed by Day 5 of the semester.
  • You must update your study permit status along the way, meaning you must use the above form when you apply for a study permit, when you receive your study permit approval, and when you receive your study permit.

• For all travellers entering Canada by air, land or marine mode, click here to stay up-to-date with the travel regulations.
• While making your travel plan, you can find the shuttle options from the Toronto Pearson airport here. You can also download iCent app for free and access all the resources available through the app as well as at the welcome desk at Toronto Pearson International Airport when you arrive.
• Register and join our “Arrive in Canada” workshops to learn about the resources and services available to you. These online sessions will also provide information on:
  • Travelling to Canada
  • Housing
  • Health insurance
  • Making new friends
  • Finding a part-time job
  • Budget basics
• When you arrive in Canada, you will meet a border services officer who will make sure you meet some basic requirements. To enter Canada, you must provide the documents listed here, including but not limited to:
  • A valid travel document (e.g. passport)
  • The port of entry letter of introduction (i.e. your study permit approval letter)
  • The Letter of Acceptance from DC
  • Any other documents the visa office told you to bring
  • Valid immigration medical exam results, if applicable
  • Proof that you will leave Canada at the end of your authorized stay
• As soon as you arrive in Canada, you should update your address and contact number through MyDC (see Step 5 for more information on MyDC).
  • Note that when you update your Canadian phone number on MyDC, area code is the first three numbers in your 10-digit phone number.
  • Your address on MyDC must always be the current address where you are living.

• You can choose to live on or off campus during your studies at DC. It is highly recommended that you start your search early and secure a place to live as soon as you can.
• You should consider finding a suitable place close to campus and easily accessible by regular and frequent public transit (Durham Region Transit).
  • Check your campus location here.
• Refer to our Housing Guide for housing options on and off campus. This guide also includes resources to support you when you make housing arrangements in the Durham Region.

International students are enrolled in a mandatory health insurance plan, with coverage beginning May 1, 2025.

Student VIP provides basic insurance coverage for illness, injury or medical emergencies, and extended insurance coverage for other medical services such as prescription medication, dental, vision care, travel coverage and other treatment providers (chiropractic, massage, physiotherapy, etc.).

If you are living in Canada with dependents (see here for more information), you may consider purchasing insurance for your family. To “opt” family in, you must contact the provider directly within 30 days of your enrolment to the plan.

For additional information, please contact the Durham College Student Association (DCSA) by phone: 905-721-1609 ext. 3988, by email: dcsa@durhamcollege.ca or through live chat.

• DC Connect is your online class homeroom. This is where you will access the online components of each of your courses, including your course material such as course outlines, lectures, assignments, grades and other content shared by your professors. Watch this video to learn more about DC Connect. To access DC Connect:
  • Go to DC Connect login page.
  • Use your student number as your username and network password to log into your account.
  • If needed, your network password can be reset here.
  • Contact Service Desk if you need assistance.
• DC Mail is your official email address used by DC to communicate with you. You are expected to use your DC Mail to reach out to your faculty or college staff. To access DC Mail:
  • Go to DC Mail login page.
  • Use your student number as your username and network password to log into your account.
  • If needed, your network password can be reset here.
  • Contact Service Desk if you need assistance.
• MyDC is a web-based portal for you to access important administrative and academic information as well as to manage your personal information. To access MyDC:
  • Go to MyDC login page.
  • Use your student number as your username and network password to log into your account.
  • If needed, your network password can be reset here.
  • Contact Service Desk if you need assistance.

• Click here to check when the web registration opens. The last date to register for a timetable is Day 5 of the semester.
  • You can register if you are still waiting for your study permit to be processed.
• You can refer to the tutorial on MyDC to learn how to select a timetable.

• International Student Orientation consists of two parts: Home@DC online orientation modules and International Student Welcome session.

• • Home@DC online orientation modules are offered through DC Connect. You are required to complete the modules before the first day of school. These modules include important topics like immigration responsibilities, arriving in Canada, health insurance and more. Here’s how to access the online orientation modules after you’ve registered for a timetable:

• • • Click on this link: www.durhamcollege.ca/dcconnect.
    • Login with your student number and network password. For details on logging into the network resources for the first time, see here.
    • “Spring/Summer 2025 - Home@DC International Student Orientation” will be there for you. Click into it and get started!

• • The International Student Welcome session, offered in person, is open to all new international students starting their first DC program. Come and join us for a fun-filled session and let us welcome you to your new home at DC. You can register here. Registration in advance for this in-person session is mandatory.
    
• Visit here for more orientation events, including Faculty Welcome, where you will get to know your faculty, fellow classmates and discover important details about your program of study.

• All students are required to have a campus ID, as it is needed to gain access to buildings and services. DC offers a digital campus ID card. To set up your digital campus ID, follow the steps here.
• The U-PASS program provides students with unlimited travel each semester on Durham Region Transit (DRT) and is paid for through the ancillary fees for all eligible, full-time students. To access your digital U-PASS, follow the steps here.

• Here’s how to purchase your books:
  • Navigate to “BOOKS FOR TERM” on MyDC.
  • Select Term using drop down list.
  • For further steps, refer to Online Ordering.
• It’s recommended that you wait until you have attended the first day of each class before removing the wrapping from your textbooks. Course textbooks cannot be returned once they have been opened.
• Click here to see options for purchasing e-textbooks.

• You can refer to the tutorial on MyDC to learn how to view/print your timetable before the first day of school. It is the timetable you have registered for, and it shows the room of a class, the name of your professor, and the length of the class.
• Check DC Connect regularly. Professors usually post announcements on DC Connect before the first class. If you can’t find your class information, send an email to your professors on DC Connect, and remember to use your DC Mail to communicate going forward.
• Student Academic Learning Services (SALS) is here to help you reach your academic goals. Schedule an appointment with them if you want to improve your computer skills, English language skills, writing skills, and more.
• Click here to learn what academic integrity means, what an academic integrity alert is, and what your rights and responsibilities are when you are studying at DC.

• A social insurance number (SIN) is a 9-digit number issued by Service Canada. You need a SIN before starting work in Canada, to file taxes, as well as to access government programs and benefits, if eligible.
• To be eligible for a SIN, you must have a study permit with at least one of the following conditions:
  • “May accept employment on or off campus if meeting eligibility criteria, per paragraph R186(f), (v) or (w) and must cease working if no longer meeting these criteria.”
  • “May work 20 hours per week off campus or full time during regular breaks if meeting criteria outlined in paragraph 186(v) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations.”
  • “May accept employment on the campus of the institution at which registered in full-time studies.”
• You can only get a SIN after you have arrived in Canada. To apply, click here.

• You may be eligible to work in Canada while studying as a full-time student, if your study permit includes a condition that says you can work on or off campus.
• You can only start working in Canada when you start your study program and you have a SIN.
• You can work as many hours as you want for on-campus work, in addition to working off campus, as long as you continue to meet the eligibility requirements for working on campus.
• You can work up to 24 hours per week for off-campus work during regular school semesters. You can work full-time if you are on a regularly scheduled break. You must be a full-time student both before and after the break to work full-time, unless the semester after the break is your final semester.
  

• Connect with the Career Development office to access the career supports and services available to you. You will learn about the job opportunities on or off campus. You will also receive guidance on writing your resume, preparing for job interviews and achieving success in the workplace.

• The International Peer Mentorship Program provides welcoming mentorship opportunities to first semester international students by matching them with an upper year mentor, who acts as a resource to answer questions, connects mentees with campus resources and services, and offers social support. A peer mentor can also be a first friend which will help you navigate homesickness and culture shock.
• Click here to apply to get a peer mentor. Mentees and mentors will be matched based on the program of study, common interests or both.

• Volunteering is an excellent way to give back to your campus or community, and can also help you gain valuable skills that will serve you well in your job search.
• Contact us to express your interest in becoming a volunteer with the International Education office. Our office will share volunteering opportunities on or off campus.

• In partnership with campus partners, the International Education office offers a number of events, activities and workshops each semester to help you navigate the student experience and have fun while doing so. Click here to see our upcoming events, activities and workshops. Follow us on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube.
• Durham College Student Association (DCSA) is your student association, providing high quality campus engagement and services for all DC full-time students. Read more about what DCSA has to offer here.
• Whether you want to unwind after a long day of classes, are simply looking to work up a sweat, or are a high performing athlete looking to compete, DC offers a wide variety of athletic and recreational services. Visit here to learn more.
• To get a glimpse into all the campus services, click here. To learn a wide range of services to support you in all aspects of life as a student, from academic and health support to finances and safety, click here.