Canada Eases PGWP Rules for College Bachelor’s Degree Graduates
Canada Eases Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) Rules for College Bachelor’s Degree Graduates
Background of the Policy Change
From March 2025 onwards, graduates from college bachelor’s programs will no longer need to meet these field of study requirements. This shift brings parity between university and college bachelor’s graduates, streamlining the PGWP application process for thousands of international students.
What is Considered a Bachelor’s Degree in Canada?
In Canada, a bachelor’s degree is an undergraduate-level academic qualification offered by post-secondary institutions, including universities and colleges. These programs typically require three to four years of full-time study to complete and must meet provincial education standards to be classified as a bachelor’s degree.
Updated PGWP Eligibility Criteria for International Graduates
1. Elimination of Field of Study Requirements for College Bachelor’s Graduates
- Prior to this change, graduates from college bachelor’s programs needed to have studied in fields linked to labor market shortages to qualify for a PGWP.
- This requirement has been removed as of March 2025, making college bachelor’s graduates equally eligible for PGWPs as university graduates.
- However, graduates of other college, polytechnic, or non-university programs must still meet field of study requirements to qualify for a PGWP.
2. New Language Proficiency Requirements for PGWP Applicants
While the field of study requirement for college bachelor’s graduates has been removed, new language proficiency criteria introduced in November 2024 remain in effect. All PGWP applicants must meet specific language benchmarks based on their level of study:
| Level of Study | Language Proficiency Requirement (CLB – English / NCLC – French) |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s, Master’s, or Doctoral Degree | CLB 7 or NCLC 7 |
| Other University Programs | CLB 7 or NCLC 7 |
| College, Polytechnic, or Non-University Programs | CLB 5 or NCLC 5 |
Graduates of flight schools and those who applied for their PGWP before November 1, 2024, are exempt from these language requirements.
3. Who Remains Ineligible for a PGWP?
IRCC has maintained ineligibility for the following graduates, regardless of their educational background or field of study:
- Graduates who have already received a PGWP.
- Students who studied English or French as a second language.
- Individuals who completed general interest or self-improvement courses.
- Graduates funded by Global Affairs Canada with return-to-home-country requirements.
- Students who completed more than 50% of their program online (except during COVID-19 distance learning exemptions).
- Graduates from non-Canadian institutions operating in Canada.
- Students who completed a program not recognized as PGWP-eligible (including curriculum-licensing agreements).
Impact on International Graduates
Improved Access to Work Permits
Parental Status Between Universities and Colleges
The relaxed PGWP criteria are expected to increase the pool of skilled graduates available to meet labor market needs in critical sectors such as healthcare, education, and technology. This aligns with Canada’s broader immigration strategy of addressing skill shortages while balancing population growth and infrastructure capacity.
Rationale Behind the Policy Shift
The field of study requirements introduced in late 2024 were part of IRCC’s broader efforts to manage Canada’s temporary resident population and align immigration inflows with housing availability and labour market needs.
- By tying PGWP eligibility to specific fields of study, IRCC aimed to ensure that new graduates would fill roles in high-demand sectors.
- The six critical sectors identified by IRCC for targeted immigration include:
- 1. Agriculture and agri-food
- 2. Education
- 3. Healthcare
- 4. Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM)
- 5. Trade
- 6. Transport
However, this approach created an unintended disparity between university and college graduates, prompting IRCC to eliminate the requirement for college bachelor’s degree holders to maintain fairness and increase work opportunities.
Canada’s decision to remove field of study requirements for college bachelor’s graduates marks a significant step toward equalizing post-study work opportunities for international students. By aligning the PGWP criteria for university and college graduates, the policy change simplifies the work permit application process and expands employment options for graduates across various sectors.
Is it Worth Moving to Canada in 2025?
- Quebec Immigration
- Canada Permanent Resident Visa
- Canada Study Visa
- Canada Work Permit
- Canada Business Immigration
- Canada Family Sponsorship
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