Academic Success & Integrity (How to Keep Your Visa)

🚫 1. The "Plagiarism" Trap (Read This Twice)

In India, memorizing and writing definitions is "good studying." In Canada, it is "Plagiarism."

• What is Plagiarism?
• Using 3 or more words from a source (book, website, friend) without putting them in "quotation marks" and giving a citation.
• Self-Plagiarism: Submitting the same essay for two different classes. This is illegal in Canada.
• The "Group Work" Trap:
• If you and your friend submit similar assignments for an individual project, BOTH of you get a zero. It doesn't matter who copied whom.
• The "Chegg / CourseHero" Trap:
• Professors upload their exams to these sites as "bait." If you use an answer from there, they know immediately. You will be expelled.

🤖 The AI Rule (ChatGPT/Gemini)

Universities now use AI-detectors (like Turnitin).

• The Rule: Unless the professor explicitly says "You can use AI," assume it is BANNED.
• The Risk: If you submit an AI-written essay, you will likely get a "0" and a permanent mark on your transcript.

💼 2. Work Rules (2025 Update)

Don't break the law for a few extra dollars.

• The Limit: You can work 24 Hours per week off-campus while classes are in session (New Rule verified Nov 2024).
• The Exception: You can work Unlimited Hours ONLY during "Scheduled Breaks" (Summer/Winter holidays).
• The "Cash Job" Warning:
• Employers might say: "Work 40 hours, I'll pay you cash for the extra 16."
• The Risk: If IRCC finds out (and they do check bank deposits vs. reported income), your Study Permit will be cancelled. Do not risk your future for $15/hour.

🏫 3. Classroom Culture Shock (Don't Be "That" Student)

Canadian professors are different.

• The Name Game:
• India: "Yes Sir," "No Ma'am."
• Canada: Call them "Professor [Last Name]" or even their First Name (if they say so). Calling them "Sir/Ma'am" constantly is seen as awkward or even rude.
• Participation Marks (20% of Grade):
• In Canada, sitting silently means you get a 'B'. To get an 'A', you must speak up in class. Ask questions, debate, and share opinions.
• Email Etiquette:
• Bad: "Sir I need marks. Please help."
• Good: "Dear Professor Smith, I had a question about the assignment rubric. Could we discuss it during office hours?"

🎓 4. The PGWP Safety Net (Post-Grad Work Permit)

Your goal is the PGWP. Here is how you lose it.

• Rule #1: Must be Full-Time.
• You must remain a Full-Time Student in every semester (except the final one).
• Danger: If you drop a course because it's "too hard" and become a Part-Time student, you become ineligible for the PGWP.
• Rule #2: No Gaps.
• You cannot take a "semester off" just to work. Unauthorized leaves = No PGWP.
• Rule #3: Don't Fail.
• If you fail a prerequisite course, you might have to extend your studies by a semester. This complicates your visa extension.

🆘 5. TVT’s "Academic Survival" Toolkit

• RateMyProfessors.com: Check this before choosing your classes. Avoid professors with "Tough Grader" ratings in your first semester.
• The "Writing Centre": Every college has a free Writing Centre. Take your essay there before submitting it. They will fix your grammar and citations for free.
• The "Golden Rule" of Grades:
• "A 'C' grade is better than an 'F' for Cheating."
• If you are running out of time, submit a bad essay. Do NOT copy one. You can recover from a bad grade; you cannot recover from an expulsion.

TVT’s Final Message to the Student:

"You are the CEO of your own life now. Mom and Dad aren't there to wake you up. We aren't there to check your homework. Be smart. Be honest. Make us proud.

Welcome to the Family.- The Visa Tales Team"