CANADA LIFTS PGWP FIELD-OF-STUDY RESTRICTION FOR SOME PROGRAMS

Immigration law

28 Mar

The Canadian government has made a major move to make its education system more attractive to international students by lifting the field-of-study restriction for Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) eligibility for degree graduates from colleges. The restriction was initially implemented due to concerns that 

• International students were being disproportionately enrolled in business programs 
• To limit the number of newcomers 
• To reduce the population of temporary residents. 

New Eligibility Requirements for PGWP for Graduates of Degree Programs must hold a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree from a Canadian institution (college or university) and Meet the language requirement. 

The details are as follow:

LEVEL OF STUDY	LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY REQUIREMENTS
Bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, or doctoral degree	Bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, or doctoral degree Level 7 proficiency  Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) for English Niveaux de competence linguistique canadiens (NCLC) for French
University Program	Level 7 proficiency  CLB for English NCLC for French
College, polytechnic or non-university program	Level 5 proficiency CLB for English NCLC for French

The Benefits of this policy change offers: 

• More flexibility for international students when selecting their degree programs at public colleges or polytechnics. 
• More Work Opportunities for International graduates from college degree programs can now gain Canadian work experience.
• Better Appeal of Canadian Colleges as the policy change helps colleges become more competitive. 
• More Certainty and Clarity for Students planning to study in Canada can now make better decisions with more confidence. 
  
  

Graduates who meet all other requirements might still not be eligible for a PGWP if:

• Already received a PGWP
• Studied English or French as a second language
• Took courses just for general interest or self-improvement
• Got funding or a scholarship from Global Affairs Canada that requires them to return home after graduation
• Did more than 50% of their studies through online courses and not covered by COVID-19 distance learning rules
• Studied at a non-Canadian institution in Canada
• Completed a program that is not eligible for a PGWP (like certain licensed curriculum programs)
  
  

These educational categories match the job categories used by IRCC for selecting candidates in the Express Entry system and the field of study requirements aligns the issuance of PGWPs with trained workers in sectors categorized by IRCC in six board categories: 

• Agriculture and agri-food
• Education
• Health care
• Science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM)
• Trade 
• Transport
  
  

The old field-of-study rule created unfair differences between universities and colleges, with concerns that it discriminated against college programs. It is argued that requiring colleges to match national labor needs was unfair, as they focus on local job demands.

RRM Law can assist by providing expert legal guidance on immigration matters, such as navigating the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) process, ensuring compliance with field of study requirements, and offering support for individuals facing eligibility challenges. They can also help with appealing decisions, addressing complex immigration issues, and ensuring that clients meet all necessary criteria for work permits or permanent residency applications. If you would like us to represent you, please contact us.