PGWP eligibility of 2-Year Master's Degree with 1-year online course

[avantlaube]

Hi, I am an international student with a problem regarding my eligibility of obtaining PGWP (and the length). My program is a 2-year master's degree, with 1-year conducted completely online - not as a result of COVID, but the course design specifies that the first year of the study will be conducted entirely online.
I read somewhere that as long as one completes the first stage of study-permit application, then the first year will still be included in the determination of the PGWP length. But I'm not sure whether this only applies to exceptions due to COVID. Basically I guess my question is for my case, will I be eligible for a 3-year PGWP?

 

[canuck78]

Hi, I am an international student with a problem regarding my eligibility of obtaining PGWP (and the length). My program is a 2-year master's degree, with 1-year conducted completely online - not as a result of COVID, but the course design specifies that the first year of the study will be conducted entirely online.
I read somewhere that as long as one completes the first stage of study-permit application, then the first year will still be included in the determination of the PGWP length. But I'm not sure whether this only applies to exceptions due to COVID. Basically I guess my question is for my case, will I be eligible for a 3-year PGWP?

No you would qualify for PGWP at all if your course is designed to be done partially by distance education and not due to Covid.

 

[avantlaube]

No you would qualify for PGWP at all if your course is designed to be done partially by distance education and not due to Covid.

I found this on IRCC's website regarding distance learning:
Distance learning
Distance learning can be considered online learning. Students who complete a program of study exclusively by distance learning (outside or within Canada) are not eligible for a post-graduation work permit.

Officers should use the following guidelines to assess an applicant’s post-graduation work permit eligibility when the applicant has taken distance learning in Canada at an eligible DLI:

• If more than 50% of the program of study’s total courses are completed by distance learning, the program may reasonably be considered a distance-learning program, and the applicant is ineligible for a post-graduation work permit.
• If less than 50% of the program of study’s total courses are completed by distance learning, a post-graduation work permit may be issued. The validity should be based on the length of the program, as confirmed by the eligible DLI, including credits earned from both in-class and distance-learning courses.

Note: If the distance-learning courses are completed outside Canada, they must be excluded from the time accumulated toward the length of the post-graduation work permit.

And my program is a two-year program with 50% of the coursework done by distance learning, and the other half in-class.

 

[canuck78]

I found this on IRCC's website regarding distance learning:
Distance learning
Distance learning can be considered online learning. Students who complete a program of study exclusively by distance learning (outside or within Canada) are not eligible for a post-graduation work permit.

Officers should use the following guidelines to assess an applicant’s post-graduation work permit eligibility when the applicant has taken distance learning in Canada at an eligible DLI:

• If more than 50% of the program of study’s total courses are completed by distance learning, the program may reasonably be considered a distance-learning program, and the applicant is ineligible for a post-graduation work permit.
• If less than 50% of the program of study’s total courses are completed by distance learning, a post-graduation work permit may be issued. The validity should be based on the length of the program, as confirmed by the eligible DLI, including credits earned from both in-class and distance-learning courses.

Note: If the distance-learning courses are completed outside Canada, they must be excluded from the time accumulated toward the length of the post-graduation work permit.

And my program is a two-year program with 50% of the coursework done by distance learning, and the other half in-class.

The issue is you are at exactly 50% so no guarantees of PGWP.