Good news for international students! Canada has removed field of study restrictions for college bachelor’s graduates.
Before this change, university bachelor’s graduates could get a PGWP regardless of their major, but college bachelor’s graduates had to choose a program in a high-demand field to qualify.
As of March 2025, both college and university graduates can apply for a Post-Graduate Work Permit (PGWP) without worrying about their field of study.
What’s New?
- No More Field of Study Rules for college bachelor’s graduates (from March 2025).
- Still Applies to diplomas, polytechnics, and non-university programs.
New Language Requirements (From Nov 1, 2024)
- Bachelor’s, Master’s, or PhD graduates → CLB* 7 / NCLC* 7
- Diploma, polytechnic, or other college graduates → CLB* 5 / NCLC* 5
Who Can’t Get a PGWP?
You won’t qualify if you:
- Already had a PGWP before.
- Studied at a non-Canadian institution in Canada.
- Completed over 50% of studies online (except COVID-19 cases).
- Studied English/French as a second language or self-improvement courses.
- Got a Global Affairs Canada scholarship that requires you to return home after graduation.
Why This Change?
Canada is adjusting PGWP rules to reduce temporary residents and focus on job market needs in fields like:
- STEM
- Healthcare
- Education
- Agriculture & Agri-food
- Trade
- Transport
This change is being brought forward to increase job opportunities with easier permits.
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*CLB (Canadian Language Benchmark) and NCLC (Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens) are systems used by Canada to measure language skills in English (CLB) and French (NCLC).
They test four skills: Listening, Speaking, Reading, and Writing, and are scored from level 1 (beginner) to level 12 (advanced).
For a PGWP, students need:
- CLB/NCLC 7 → For Bachelor’s, Master’s, and PhD graduates (higher level required).
- CLB/NCLC 5 → For Diploma, polytechnic, or non-university graduates (lower level required)
Source: CIC News