Canada: List of non-degree college programmes linked to post-study work rights has changed
- The list of non-degree programme fields linked to international students’ eligibility for a post-graduation work permit (PGWP) has changed
- Some programmes have been added, and some were removed
- Most of those removed are in the areas of transport and agriculture
- The more restrictive immigration environment affecting international students in Canada is already having an effect on population growth
- Population growth stalled in Q1 2025, which was the government’s intention
The Canadian government is continuing its policy of linking eligibility for a post-study work permit (PGWP) – at the non-degree level – to certain fields of study. An international student in a programme that does not lead to an undergraduate, master’s, or postgraduate degree must be in a field linked to jobs in which there are long-term skills shortages in Canada, based on Express Entry priorities.
The list of eligible programmes has changed, based on 2025 Express Entry priorities. Some fields of study have been removed from the list, while others have been added, reflecting changing labour market dynamics in Canada.
The new list applies to students who applied for a study permit on or after November 1, 2024. However, the government says that “students who applied for a study permit before June 25, 2025, will still be eligible for a PGWP if their field of study was on the list when they applied for their study permit even if it has since been removed.”
The new list includes 920 fields. A total of 119 fields were added (e.g., in health care, social services, education, and trades), and 178 were removed. The jobs linked to the ones that were removed are no longer considered to correspond with long-term skills gaps. Many of those that were removed are in:
- Farm management and crop production;
- Indigenous education;
- Student counselling and personnel services; environmental studies;
- Building/property maintenance;
- Drywall installation;
- Solar energy technology;
- Airframe mechanics;
- Aircraft maintenance technology.
CIC Canada says: “Notably, IRCC has completely removed educational programmes in transport from the current list of PGWP-eligible programmes, and has left only one educational programme in the Agriculture and Agri-food field among those still eligible.”
In CIC Canada’s coverage, there is more extensive detailing of which programmes have been added.
Students wondering about whether their programme is on the new list can search for it here.
Along with more restrictive post-study work policies, the Canadian government has implemented a number of other rules in the past two years to stem the tide of international students and other temporary residents coming into the country. The intention is to cap temporary migration at 5% of the total population (it was 7.25% as of January 2025). The new policies are already having an impact on population growth, which has completely stalled as of Q1 2025.
For additional background, please see:
Canada: Updated rules for PGWP-eligible programmes and student transfers
