PGWP Eligible Study Programs
Canada has changed eligibility criteria for Post-Graduation Work Permits (PGWPs), instituting new field of study requirements for certain international graduates to avail themselves of a work permit.
Now some international graduates will need to study in specific educational programs (related to in-demand professions in the country) to be eligible for a PGWP. Read on to learn more.
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Table of Contents
- Overview
- Whom do these field of study requirements apply to?
- What is the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP)?
- How can I check my eligibility?
- What happens if I choose the wrong CIP code on my PGWP application?
- About CanadaVisa and Cohen Immigration Law
Overview
Starting on November 1, 2024, international graduates in Canada studying outside of a university bachelor’s, master’s, or PhD program will need to meet specific field of study requirements to be eligible for a PGWP.
For those who apply after November 1, issuance of a PGWP will be based on if a student’s educational program provides training for a profession or occupation that is in demand in the Canadian labour market. This connection will be determined by aligning Classification of Instructional Program (CIP) codes to National Occupation Classification (NOC) codes.
Students outside of the specified levels of study who are not in a program with an eligible CIP code will not be eligible for a PGWP to work in Canada after their studies have ended.
The fields of study that are in demand include:
- Agriculture and agri-food;
- Healthcare;
- Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM);
- Trade; and
- Transport.
For each of these fields, there are many educational programs that are eligible for PGWPs. These are detailed below.
In addition, after November 1, 2024, students at every level of study will need to meet language requirements to be issued a PGWP. These changes are summarized in the table below:
| Degree Type | Language Requirement | Field of Study Requirement |
| College / University Bachelor’s, Master’s, or Doctoral Degrees | Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 7 in English or Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadien (NCLC) 7 in French (all 4 language areas) | All fields of study eligible |
| Other University Programs | CLB 7 in English or NCLC 7 in French (all 4 language areas) | Must graduate in an eligible field of study |
| College Programs or Other Programs | CLB 5 in English or NCLC 5 in French (all 4 language areas) | Must graduate in an eligible field of study |
For more information on meeting language requirements for Canadian immigration, visit our dedicated webpage here.
Whom do these field of study requirements apply to?
The mentioned field of study requirements will be a new condition for most students outside of a university bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral program. These include college programs and other non-degree university programs.
Some examples of each have been given below:
| Degree Type | Example programs |
| Other University Programs | - Associate degrees - Graduate certificates or diplomas - Non-degree programs (professional development) - Specialized diplomas (post-baccalaureate) |
| College Programs or Other Programs | - Diploma programs - Certificate programs - Trade programs (e.g., plumbing, electrical) - Apprenticeship programs - Continuing education courses - Adult education programs |
What is the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP)?
The CIP is Canada’s system for classifying and organizing educational programs in the country by field of study. The system works similarly to how Canada’s NOC system functions for jobs in the country.
Just like professions under the NOC, individual educational programs are ordered by their wider field of study and assigned a unique code to identify them. The first two numbers of this code correspond to the field of study that the program falls under.
How can I check my eligibility for a PGWP?
International graduates and students who need to meet field of study requirements can use the below table to find the relevant CIP code for their educational programs.
Use the search bar above the table to search for keywords relating to an educational program or field of study.
If further information is needed, definitions (including inclusions, exclusions, and examples) of each study program can be found on the official CIP page run by Statistics Canada (here). Definitions also continue to become more specific as you click through to different programs, and can be accessed at any time through the "display definitions" button at the top of the given table. Additionally, you can access the "display structure" button to get a better idea of how an educational program is classified in a wider field of study.
Note that (as with job titles in the NOC system) educational program titles vary widely—your program’s name may differ from the name associated with your program’s CIP code. In selecting the appropriate CIP code, match your program description with the closest CIP description on Statistics Canada's page.
What happens if I choose the wrong CIP code on my PGWP application?
Choosing the wrong CIP code can have serious consequences for your PGWP application.
While it can be easy to make mistakes with so much information, presenting incorrect or inaccurate information on your immigration application can constitute misrepresentation, which is a serious offense.
If you are flagged for misrepresenting something in your immigration application to Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), the department can take a number of steps against your application, including fines, penalties, and outright refusal of your application. Misrepresentation can result in a five-year ban on immigration applications, loss of visitor or permanent resident status status, and/or revocation of citizenship.
Contact the Cohen Immigration Law Firm for Assistance
Would you like to apply for a PGWP? The Cohen Immigration Law firm can help. Cohen Immigration Law offers over 45 years of expertise in assisting workers and employers navigate Canadian immigration regulations.