IRCC announces programs eligible for PGWPs

IRCC has released updated details on which programs are eligible for a Postgraduate Work Permit (PGWP).

Under new guidelines announced in September, some international graduates at various levels of study who apply for a PGWP after November 1 will now need to meet additional area of ​​study requirements to be eligible for a work permit.*.

*Observation: Area of ​​study requirements do not apply to bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral university graduates.

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What areas of study are eligible for PGWPs?

Fields of study eligible for the PGWP can be categorized by fields that reflect the occupation-based Express Entry categories introduced by IRCC in 2023 (which are linked to national labor market needs).

These are:

• Agriculture and agri-food;
• Medical assistance;
• Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM);
• Replacement; and
• Transport.

Programs eligible for a Graduate Work Permit (PGWP) in these areas are grouped and listed using the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP), Canada’s system for describing and categorizing instructional/educational programs in the country; similar to the National Occupation Classification (NOC) system for jobs in Canada.

The table below provides some examples of teaching programs eligible for a PGWP for each area of ​​study, with the corresponding CIP code:

The table above does not provide a complete account of PGWP-eligible education programs. Interested newcomers can check out the Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) page here.

How to find your CIP code

Newcomers who know the title of their instructional program and would like to find the corresponding CIP code can follow these steps:

• Navigate to the Statistics Canada page for the 2021 CIP here;

• • Newcomers can search for keywords related to their program in the search bar above the table section or browse the field of study links available in the main table.
  • Through either method, newcomers will be directed to a second table that presents subcategories for each area of ​​study.

• Choose the subcategory relevant to the program you are looking for. Those who are unsure which subcategory is relevant can use the “view definitions” button above the table to read more about each category.
• Click on the relevant subcategory.
• Navigate to the final table page, which now details specific teaching programs in your chosen category. Those who are unsure can also use the “display settings” function to read more about each program.
• Click to access the relevant program.
• The final page will detail information about each program, including examples and exclusions. Please note that program titles must be broad and therefore program descriptions are highly relevant to choosing the correct CIP code.

New language criteria introduced for PGWP candidates

In addition to the new area of ​​study requirements, IRCC has also implemented language requirements for PGWP eligibility, which vary depending on international graduates’ level of study. Both changes are summarized in the table below*:

*Students applying for a PGWP before 1 November this year have no area of ​​study requirements, but will still need to meet the language criteria listed above.

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