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Legendaddy

Newbie
Feb 26, 2026
2
0
Hello everyone,

I studied Administrative Information Management at SAIT in the winter of 2023. I am aware of the restriction of 50% in-person study to get a valid PGWP, but during my 3rd term, an announcement was sent to our academic email stating that we can now have 100% online until September 1.

To cut it short, I took 100% online learning in Canada for more than 12 months,

Q: Could it be the reason why I'm not getting t

Key Changes After August 2024:
  • Ending of Temporary Measures: The special COVID-19 facilitative measures for remote learning ended on August 31, 2024.
  • Return to 50% Rule: From September 1, 2024, onwards, students must complete at least 50% of their program in-class inside Canada.
  • Deduction of Online Time: Any time spent studying online from outside Canada after August 31, 2024, will be deducted from the total length of the
Responses

1. Has XXXXX finished high school or any higher education (including university, college or vocational training)? (required)
Yes

2.
Field of study (required)
Business/Commerce


3. Since what year? (required)
"Year" 2023
"Month" January
4. This is my current study (required)
No

5.
To (required)
"Year" 2024
"Month" September

6. Complete/full academic years (required)
2


7.
Full-time/part-time study (required)
Full Time

8.
Standing at the end of study period (required)
Certificate or diploma or degree awarded

9, Country of study (required)
Canada


10. Province or territory (required)
Alberta

11. City/town of study (required)
Calgary

12.
Postal code (required)
T2M 0L4

13.
Name of school/institution (required)
Southern Alberta Institute of Technology

14.
Level of education (required)
Two-year program at a university, college, trade or technical school, or other institute

15. Was xxxx awarded a Canadian degree, diploma or certificate for this period of study? (required)
Yes


16. Was this degree, diploma or certificate:
  • from a public post-secondary school, such as a college, trade/technical school, university or CEGEP (in Quebec)
  • from a private post-secondary school that operates under the same rules as public schools
  • a diplôme d'études professionnelles (DEP) or an attestation de spécialisation professionnelle (ASP) earned through a qualifying study program of at least 900 hours from a private school in Quebec, or
  • a Bachelor's, Master's or Doctorate degree from a Canadian private school that can legally award degrees under provincial law. (The student must have been enrolled in a study program that led to a degree as set out by the province.)
(required) Help - Was this degree, diploma or certificate:
  • from a public post-secondary school, such as a college, trade/technical school, university or CEGEP (in Quebec)
  • from a private post-secondary school that operates under the same rules as public schools
  • a diplôme d'études professionnelles (DEP) or an attestation de spécialisation professionnelle (ASP) earned through a qualifying study program of at least 900 hours from a private school in Quebec, or
  • a Bachelor's, Master's or Doctorate degree from a Canadian private school that can legally award degrees under provincial law. (The student must have been enrolled in a study program that led to a degree as set out by the province.)

No


17. Was more than half the study program English or French as a second language courses? (required)
No

18. Did xxx study in Canada based on an award that required them to go back to their home country to apply their knowledge and skills? This includes some awards from Global Affairs Canada. (required)
No

19. Did XXX at least 50% of the study or training program's courses through in-person learning? (required)
No

20. Did XXX study in Canada for at least 8 months in order to earn this degree, diploma or certificate? (required)
Yes

21.
Did XXX study full-time for at least 8 months to earn this degree, diploma or certificate? (required)
Yes
 
Hello everyone,

I studied Administrative Information Management at SAIT in the winter of 2023. I am aware of the restriction of 50% in-person study to get a valid PGWP, but during my 3rd term, an announcement was sent to our academic email stating that we can now have 100% online until September 1.

To cut it short, I took 100% online learning in Canada for more than 12 months,

Q: Could it be the reason why I'm not getting t

Key Changes After August 2024:
  • Ending of Temporary Measures: The special COVID-19 facilitative measures for remote learning ended on August 31, 2024.
  • Return to 50% Rule: From September 1, 2024, onwards, students must complete at least 50% of their program in-class inside Canada.
  • Deduction of Online Time: Any time spent studying online from outside Canada after August 31, 2024, will be deducted from the total length of the
Responses

1. Has XXXXX finished high school or any higher education (including university, college or vocational training)? (required)
Yes

2.
Field of study (required)
Business/Commerce


3. Since what year? (required)
"Year" 2023
"Month" January
4. This is my current study (required)
No

5.
To (required)
"Year" 2024
"Month" September

6. Complete/full academic years (required)
2


7.
Full-time/part-time study (required)
Full Time

8.
Standing at the end of study period (required)
Certificate or diploma or degree awarded

9, Country of study (required)
Canada


10. Province or territory (required)
Alberta

11. City/town of study (required)
Calgary

12.
Postal code (required)
T2M 0L4

13.
Name of school/institution (required)
Southern Alberta Institute of Technology

14.
Level of education (required)
Two-year program at a university, college, trade or technical school, or other institute

15. Was xxxx awarded a Canadian degree, diploma or certificate for this period of study? (required)
Yes


16. Was this degree, diploma or certificate:
  • from a public post-secondary school, such as a college, trade/technical school, university or CEGEP (in Quebec)
  • from a private post-secondary school that operates under the same rules as public schools
  • a diplôme d'études professionnelles (DEP) or an attestation de spécialisation professionnelle (ASP) earned through a qualifying study program of at least 900 hours from a private school in Quebec, or
  • a Bachelor's, Master's or Doctorate degree from a Canadian private school that can legally award degrees under provincial law. (The student must have been enrolled in a study program that led to a degree as set out by the province.)
(required) Help - Was this degree, diploma or certificate:
  • from a public post-secondary school, such as a college, trade/technical school, university or CEGEP (in Quebec)
  • from a private post-secondary school that operates under the same rules as public schools
  • a diplôme d'études professionnelles (DEP) or an attestation de spécialisation professionnelle (ASP) earned through a qualifying study program of at least 900 hours from a private school in Quebec, or
  • a Bachelor's, Master's or Doctorate degree from a Canadian private school that can legally award degrees under provincial law. (The student must have been enrolled in a study program that led to a degree as set out by the province.)

No


17. Was more than half the study program English or French as a second language courses? (required)
No

18. Did xxx study in Canada based on an award that required them to go back to their home country to apply their knowledge and skills? This includes some awards from Global Affairs Canada. (required)
No

19. Did XXX at least 50% of the study or training program's courses through in-person learning? (required)
No

20. Did XXX study in Canada for at least 8 months in order to earn this degree, diploma or certificate? (required)
Yes

21.
Did XXX study full-time for at least 8 months to earn this degree, diploma or certificate? (required)
Yes

Yes the 100% online study is the issue. The email was sent to anyone attending the program. As an international student you should have known that this was not a good option for you if you wanted to qualify for PGWP or other immigration programs where you want points for Canadian education.
 
Yes the 100% online study is the issue. The email was sent to anyone attending the program. As an international student you should have known that this was not a good option for you if you wanted to qualify for PGWP or other immigration programs where you want points for Canadian education.
Hello Canuck78,

I knew beforehand that this was a requirement, but due to the email, I opted to take a full 100% as I am working remotely for a Non-Canadian employer.

I am currently in a 3-year PGWP, which proves that the email thus applies the rule, else I will only be granted 1-year.

For curiosity/testing sake, I set all the values to the "Best Case" -- but still, I wasn't able to get the points.

Now, I am thinking, could it be because I have a higher education, a bachelor's degree in my home country? similar to Alberta EOI:

"Education points are awarded based on the highest level of education only, whether obtained in Canada or internationally.

  • Candidates do not get points for any lower credentials they also have, whether earned in Canada or outside Canada."
Btw, thanks for your response. Cheers!