In March 2025, the Government of Canada revised a key component of the post-graduation work permit (PGWP) program’s eligibility criteria. This update will make it easier for international students who finish bachelor’s degree or master’s degree programs at Canadian colleges to gain valuable work experience.
Read on to learn what changed and how this update can help international students thrive.
How Did PGWP Eligibility Criteria Change?
Late last year, the Canadian Government added new language and field of study requirements to PGWP program eligibility. Both requirements have varied criteria, depending on which type of institution students are attending, and what kind of program they’re in.
A key difference is that starting on November 1, 2024, college students in any program type (certificate, diploma, or degree) must be enrolled in a program in an in order to apply for PGWP after graduation. However, international students in degree programs at universities do not have field of study requirements for PGWP.
As of March 2025, this criteria has been further updated. Now, international students pursuing a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree鈥攁t Canadian colleges or universities鈥攁re not subject to when applying for PGWP.
Note: International students who graduate with a degree must still meet the when applying for PGWP.
Do PGWP Field of Study Requirements Apply to Other Students?
Yes. Students pursuing any non-degree program at a college, university, polytechnic, or other academic institution in order to apply for PGWP. They must also meet or exceed the required level of language proficiency.
One exception to this rule is for flight school students. PGWP language and field-of-study criteria do not apply to flight school graduates, if they either:
- Graduate from a flight training course at a DLI training centre with a Canadian commercial pilot’s license or
- Have/are getting an instructor’s rating and have a job offer as a flight instructor at a DLI training centre
How Can I Learn Which Study Programs Are PGWP-Eligible?
For an official list of which fields of study are eligible for PGWP, .
In general, PGWP-eligible fields of study fit into six larger categories:
- Agriculture and agri-food
- Education
- Health care
- Science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM)
- Trade
- Transport
The 天美麻豆 platform also shares which programs are eligible for PGWP at a glance. When searching for study programs on our platform, click on the “All Filters” button at the top of the page. In the filter list, you’ll see a box you can check to show only programs which are PGWP-eligible:
Want to customize your search even more? From high job demand to quick turnaround times, the 天美麻豆 platform’s Program Tags can help you search in seconds for your dream study program.
International students bring new ideas, approaches, and innovations to Canada both during their studies and after them, through programs like PGWP. Enabling students to pursue a wider range of degree programs at college and universities is an encouraging step towards welcoming a diversity of talent鈥攚hile also helping tomorrow’s students build a strong, global network.
Curious about studying in Canada? Find a program that matches your skills and goals on the 天美麻豆 platform today!
