Field of Study Changes For Post-graduation Work Permit Eligibility: Key Updates for Students

International students in Canada watch closely the rules governing the Post‑Graduation Work Permit (PGWP), because obtaining a PGWP is often a critical step toward gaining Canadian work experience and eventually permanent residence. In 2025, the federal government introduced important updates to the field of study requirement that apply to many programmes — especially non-degree and college-level study programmes. This blog will unpack what has changed, why it matters, and what you should watch out for.

1. What is the Field-of-study Requirement?

The “field-of-study requirement” means that for some study programmes, international students must graduate from a programme whose Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code appears on an approved list in order to be eligible for the PGWP. It primarily affects students enrolled in programmes that are not bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degrees — such as college diplomas, certificates, and non-degree trades or certificate programmes. Degree-level graduates (Bachelor’s, Master’s, PhD) are exempt from the field-of-study restriction.

2. What Are the Recent Updates (2024-25)?

Several key changes have been introduced:

  • From 1 November 2024, new eligibility rules apply to study permits filed that day or later for non-degree programmes.
  • On 25 June 2025, the government updated the list of eligible CIP codes: 119 new fields of study were added (in sectors such as healthcare, education and trades) and 178 fields were removed because they no longer aligned with long-term labour-market shortage occupations.
  • On 4 July 2025, the government reversed removal of the 178 fields — they were added back temporarily, extending eligibility until early 2026.
  • In March 2025, it was clarified that graduates of college bachelor’s programmes will no longer need to meet the field-of-study requirement — aligning them with university bachelor’s graduates.

3. Who is Affected and Who is Exempt?

The field-of-study requirement affects students in non-degree, diploma or certificate programmes (especially at colleges) when their study permit application is submitted on or after 1 November 2024. Students in bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programmes are exempt from the requirement entirely. Also, students who submitted their study permit application before the change cutoff are generally “grand-fathered” — their programme’s eligibility is judged at the time of application, even if later removed.

4. What This Means in Concrete Terms For Students

Before choosing a programme or applying for a study permit, you must:

  • Check whether your selected programme’s CIP code is on the current eligible list for PGWP field-of-study.
  • Understand that if your study permit application is submitted on or after 1 Nov 2024 for a non-degree programme, your field of study must already appear on the list. If you submit after that and the programme is not eligible (or later removed), you risk losing PGWP eligibility.
  • If your study permit was submitted before the changes (or for degree programmes), you are less affected, but still check that other eligibility criteria (DLI, length of programme, full-time status, etc.) are met.

For example: if you plan a one-year college certificate in a field removed from the list, you might complete the study but be ineligible for the PGWP. Alternatively, if you already applied before the changes, the old eligibility may apply. Also, if the 2025 removal is reversed for the moment, you should stay updated because eligibility could shift again in 2026.

5. Tips For Navigating Your Study-to-Work-to-Settlement Path

Here are strategic tips:

  • Select your programme carefully. Before accepting an offer letter, ask for the CIP code and verify its PGWP eligibility on the official list. Schools’ international offices should help with this.
  • Submit study permit application promptly. Delaying your application may push you into the new rules even if your programme is eligible now. The submission date matters.
  • Monitor changes to the eligibility list. The July 4 2025 reversal shows that CIP-lists can shift. Students should monitor the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada website and ask their school for updates.
  • Prefer degree programmes if uncertain. Since bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral programmes are exempt, they provide more stability if you worry about eligibility changes.
  • Plan for contingency. Even if your PGWP eligibility is uncertain, consider backup pathways (provincial programmes, skilled work experience) so that a denied PGWP doesn’t derail your overall plan to stay in Canada.

6. Why Canada is Making These Changes

The government explains that eligible fields of study are linked to occupations in long-term labour-market shortages, and that labour-market priorities evolve. By aligning the PGWP eligibility list with these needs, the objective is to ensure that international students are prepared for high-demand jobs and that Canada obtains value from study-to-work pathways. In short: the policy is part of Canada’s broader economic immigration strategy.

If you’re an international student planning to study in Canada — or currently enrolled in a college certificate, diploma or non-degree programme — the field-of-study requirement for the PGWP is critically important. Make sure your programme qualifies under the current list, and understand how submission timing may affect you. The reassuring news: if you’re in a bachelor’s or higher-degree programme, you are exempt from this rule. But given the rapid policy shifts, staying informed, checking CIP codes, and making calculations early will help you protect your study-to-work-to-permanent-residence trajectory.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Does the Field-of-study Requirement Apply to Bachelor’s, Master’s or PhD Programmes?

No. Graduates of Bachelor’s, Master’s or Doctoral degree programmes are exempt from the field-of-study requirement for PGWP eligibility.

2. What Happens if my Programme Was on the Eligible List, but Later Removed?

If you submitted your study permit application while the programme’s CIP code was eligible, you are “grandfathered” under the earlier rule. That means you remain eligible for a PGWP as long as the other conditions are met.

3. How do I Check if my Programme Qualifies For the PGWP Field-of-study Requirement?

You should ask your Designated Learning Institution (DLI) for the exact six-digit CIP code of your programme, then check the list published by IRCC to see if it is marked as eligible.