On June 25, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) released a revised list of PGWP-eligible academic programs, adding and removing numerous fields of study. The update follows the government’s plan to align international student pathways with Canada’s long-term labor market needs.
Key Changes
- 119 new fields of study added to the PGWP eligibility list
- 178 fields of study removed
- The revised list now includes approximately 920 approved fields (based on CIP classification)
These changes affect international students applying for a study permit who are enrolling in programs below the bachelor’s level (e.g., diplomas, certificates).
Who Is Affected?
| Category | Impact |
| Students who applied for a study permit before June 25, 2025 | Grandfathered – Eligible for PGWP even if their program was removed |
| Students in bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral programs | Exempt from the field-of-study restrictions |
| Students in flight training programs at designated institutions | Also exempt |
What Fields Were Added?
Many of the newly added programs fall into sectors where Canada faces long-term labor shortages, including:
- Healthcare and social assistance (e.g., nursing, medical laboratory tech, personal support workers)
- Early childhood education and teaching
- Skilled trades (e.g., carpentry, construction project management)
- Allied health fields (e.g., physical therapy assistants, diagnostic imaging tech)
What Fields Were Removed?
Fields primarily removed include those with less direct labor market demand, such as:
- General business administration
- Hospitality, tourism, and culinary programs
- Liberal arts and general studies
- Some environmental sciences and marine resource programs
Why the Change?
IRCC is targeting international student pathways that better align with:
- Labor shortages in health, skilled trades, and early childhood education
- Canada’s evolving immigration priorities, which reward job-ready applicants
- Preventing misuse of the PGWP system for low-value credentials
What You Should Do
If you’re a current or prospective international student, here’s how to navigate the changes:
- Check the CIP code of your program and compare it to the new PGWP-eligible list.
- If you’re already studying or applied before June 25, 2025, your PGWP eligibility is preserved.
