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For Nepali students planning to study in Canada, choosing a college or university is no longer only about fees, location or admission requirements. If working in Canada after graduation is part of your plan, you also need to check whether your institution, exact program and, in some cases, field of study meet Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) rules.

A PGWP is available to eligible graduates of certain Canadian designated learning institutions (DLIs). But studying at a DLI does not automatically make you eligible. IRCC specifically advises students to check whether their DLI offers PGWP-eligible programs.

The 2026 rules matter especially for students choosing non-degree programs. IRCC has frozen the PGWP field-of-study list for 2026, meaning eligible fields will not be added or removed during the year.

This guide explains how to check your DLI, program, CIP code, language requirement, study permit date and possible PGWP length before you enrol.

What Is a PGWP and Why Should You Check It Before Studying in Canada?

The Post-Graduation Work Permit allows eligible international graduates to gain Canadian work experience after completing their studies. Its validity can range from about eight months to three years depending on the program, eligibility and passport validity.

For a master's degree, graduates may qualify for a three-year PGWP even when the master's is less than two years, provided the program is at least eight months long and all other requirements are met.

For most other programs between eight months and less than two years, the PGWP may be issued for up to the same length as the study program. Programs lasting two years or more may lead to a PGWP of up to three years.

So, when comparing universities in Canada for international students, check post-study work eligibility alongside tuition fees, entry requirements, scholarships and career opportunities.

How to Check Whether Your Canadian College or University Is PGWP Eligible?

Start with the institution.

Canada maintains an official Designated Learning Institution list, but being a DLI is not the same as every course at that institution being PGWP eligible.

IRCC's DLI database has a separate section for institutions offering PGWP-eligible programs and specifically warns that not all programs offered by those institutions qualify.

Before accepting an offer, find the institution on the DLI list, check whether it offers PGWP-eligible programs and then verify the details for your exact program.

Do not rely only on whether a school is public or private or on a general statement saying it accepts international students. Your institution, program and individual circumstances all matter.

Students looking for Canada student visa guidance should therefore verify the DLI number and PGWP status before paying a large non-refundable tuition deposit.

Your College Can Be Eligible While Your Course Is Not

This is one of the most important points for anyone planning to study abroad Canada from Nepal.

A college or university may offer several programs, but those programs do not necessarily have the same PGWP status. IRCC clearly states that attending a DLI offering PGWP programs does not make every course eligible.

Check your exact program name, credential, campus and delivery arrangement.

This is particularly important for programs delivered through curriculum licensing arrangements, sometimes called public-private partnerships. In most cases, newer programs delivered by private career colleges on behalf of public institutions are not PGWP eligible, although limited transitional exceptions exist for certain older start dates.

Two courses may sound almost identical but have different PGWP outcomes. Verify each program separately instead of relying on its course title.

Does Your Field of Study Need to Be PGWP Eligible in 2026?

For some students, yes.

The answer depends mainly on the qualification you complete and when you submitted your study permit application.

IRCC confirms that bachelor's, master's and doctoral graduates have no field-of-study requirement. Other university programs and college, polytechnic or non-university programs generally require an eligible field when the study permit application was submitted on or after 1 November 2024.

Students who applied for their study permit before that date are exempt from the field-of-study requirement. PGWP-eligible flight school graduates also have special rules.

For most students beginning a new Canadian study journey in 2026, this means non-degree program selection requires an additional eligibility check.

What Is a CIP Code and How Do You Check It?

CIP stands for Classification of Instructional Programs. It is a six-digit code used to classify post-secondary programs according to their field of study.

If the PGWP field-of-study requirement applies to you, your exact CIP code is more important than a broad course label such as "business," "technology," "health" or "engineering."

IRCC recommends checking your DLI's website, asking your institution or using the Statistics Canada CIP classification catalogue to identify the six-digit code that matches your program. You can then search that code through IRCC's PGWP field-of-study checker.

The current eligible list covers programs across agriculture and agri-food, education, health care and social services, STEM, trades and transport.

However, do not assume that every program within those broad categories qualifies. The exact six-digit CIP code matters.

That distinction becomes important when two courses have similar names but different classifications.

Language Scores Are Now Part of PGWP Eligibility

English or French ability is no longer something students should think about only for university admission.

For PGWP applications submitted on or after 1 November 2024, most applicants must provide proof of English or French language ability.

Bachelor's, master's, doctoral and other university graduates generally require at least CLB 7 or NCLC 7 in all four language abilities. College, polytechnic and other non-university graduates generally require CLB 5 or NCLC 5.

For IELTS General Training, IRCC's current conversion table shows:

These scores come from IRCC's current language-equivalency table.

Do not assume that the English test you used for admission automatically satisfies your PGWP application requirements. Check IRCC's accepted tests and current score conversion when you prepare your application.

The Basic PGWP Requirements Students Still Need to Meet

Checking your college, course and CIP code is only part of PGWP eligibility.

Generally, you must complete a PGWP-eligible program lasting at least eight months, or 900 hours for applicable Quebec programs. You must normally maintain full-time status during each semester of your studies in Canada, although part-time study may be permitted during your final semester.

You must also apply for your PGWP within 180 days of receiving confirmation that you completed your program.

Under the current post-August 2024 distance-learning rules, students generally need to complete at least 50% of their program in class within Canada. Time spent studying outside Canada can be deducted when IRCC calculates PGWP length.

Unauthorized leave, excessive distance learning or an ineligible program arrangement can therefore affect your eligibility.

How Long Can Your PGWP Be in 2026?

A three-year PGWP is not automatic for every international student.

IRCC also considers your passport validity when issuing the permit. If your passport expires earlier than the period for which you qualify, your PGWP can initially be shortened.

A PGWP is generally a one-time opportunity, which makes checking eligibility before enrolling even more important.

A Simple PGWP Check Before You Pay Your Tuition Deposit

Before committing to a Canadian program, confirm that the institution is a DLI offering PGWP-eligible programs, verify your exact course and campus, identify whether you are completing a degree or non-degree qualification, check whether the field-of-study requirement applies based on your study permit application date, verify the six-digit CIP code where required, review the language requirement and check the program's duration and delivery method.

If anything is unclear, ask your institution for written confirmation and compare that information against current IRCC requirements before making a significant financial commitment.

PGWP Is Valuable, but It Is Not a Guaranteed PR Pathway

A PGWP can help eligible graduates gain Canadian work experience. That experience may later help some graduates qualify for Canadian immigration programs, depending on the requirements of those programs.

However, a PGWP does not guarantee permanent residence.

Your future PR eligibility can depend on your occupation, language score, Canadian work experience, immigration program, provincial requirements, points and the rules in place when you eventually apply.

A better study plan therefore starts with your qualification and career objective first, then considers how post-study work opportunities could fit into that plan.

Planning to Study in Canada from Nepal? Check the Course Before the Visa

If you're comparing Canada education consultants or searching for the best consultancy for Canada in Kathmandu, look beyond who can simply secure an admission offer.

Useful guidance should help you compare universities in Canada for international students, understand whether a course fits your academic and career goals, check PGWP conditions and prepare your study permit application without presenting post-study employment or permanent residence as guaranteed.

Education Asia has more than 20 years of study-abroad experience and has helped 20,000+ applicants move towards their international education goals.

Education Asia supports students with profile assessment, university and course selection, applications, documentation and visa guidance.If you want to study in Canada from Nepal, the best time to ask "Is this program PGWP eligible?" is before you enrol, not after you graduate.

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