Canada’s Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship department has released the official list of study fields that qualify graduates for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP), clarifying which academic programmes enable international students to work in the country after completing their studies.
The eligibility framework is based on Classification of Instructional Programmes (CIP) codes, a standardised system used to categorise academic courses. Students whose programmes carry an eligible CIP code can benefit from Canada’s post-graduation work pathway, which permits graduates of designated learning institutions to remain in Canada and gain valuable Canadian work experience.
Six Eligible Fields of Study
According to the published information, six broad categories of study currently meet the field-of-study requirement for the PGWP. These are:
- Agriculture and agri-food
- Education
- Health care and social services
- STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics)
- Trades
- Transport
Each category contains specific CIP codes that determine whether a particular programme qualifies. Students are advised to confirm the exact CIP code attached to their programme of study before drawing conclusions about their eligibility.
Implications for International Students
The field-of-study requirement was introduced as part of Canada’s effort to align post-graduation work opportunities with areas where the country faces labour shortages. Programmes that do not fall under the listed categories may not satisfy this particular requirement, which could affect a graduate’s ability to apply for a PGWP.
For Nigerian and other African students who have chosen Canada as a Japa destination, understanding this list before enrolling is particularly important. Selecting a programme without checking whether its CIP code appears on the eligible list could result in completing a full degree only to find that the post-graduation work permit pathway is unavailable.
Related Updates and Work Permit Types
In a similar story, Legit.ng published that Canada released a list of 10 occupations that are eligible for Express Entry Category-Based Selections.
Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that Canada announced the two types of work permits available to eligible foreigners at Canada’s port of entry. The guidance explains the difference between employer-specific and open work permits, as well as who cannot use this application route.
For many Nigerians and other African nationals seeking legal work opportunities abroad, knowing the correct permit pathway could save time and prevent costly mistakes. But applicants cannot simply choose the permit they want—and several categories of travellers are barred from applying at the border.
