The Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) can give you the opportunity to gain valuable Canadian work experience after completing your studies. However, depending on the type of program you complete and when you applied for your study permit or PGWP, you may need to meet a field of study requirement.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) uses Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) codes to determine which fields of study are currently eligible for the PGWP field of study requirement. These eligible fields are linked to occupations experiencing long-term labour shortages in Canada and can change according to labour market needs.

Who Needs to Meet the Field of Study Requirement?

You do not need to meet the PGWP field of study requirement if one of the following applies to you:

  • You submitted your PGWP application before November 1, 2024, regardless of your level of study.
  • You graduated from a PGWP-eligible flight school.
  • You graduated with a bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree.
  • You applied for your study permit before November 1, 2024.

If none of these exceptions applies to you, you may need to graduate from a program with an eligible CIP code to qualify for a PGWP.

How the PGWP Field of Study Requirement Works

To meet the field of study requirement, your program must have a six-digit Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code that is eligible under the rules that apply to your application.

IRCC states that your CIP code must be on the applicable list of eligible CIP codes when you submit your study permit application or your PGWP application. If your CIP code is not currently listed, you may still be eligible depending on when you submitted your study permit application.

A CIP code is a number used to classify post-secondary education programs according to their field of study. For PGWP purposes, IRCC uses six-digit CIP codes based on the CIP Canada 2021 classification.

How to Find Your CIP Code

Before relying on a program’s name alone, confirm its six-digit CIP code. You can find your CIP code by:

When searching the Statistics Canada catalogue, remember that program titles can be broad. Read the descriptions, illustrative examples and exceptions carefully to make sure the classification matches your actual program.

Which Fields of Study Are Currently Eligible?

The current PGWP field of study list includes programs in several categories connected to occupations experiencing long-term labour shortages. These include:

  • Healthcare and social services
  • Education
  • Science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM)
  • Trade
  • Agriculture and agri-food
  • Transport

The exact programs that qualify are identified by their six-digit CIP codes. For example, the current list includes eligible programs in areas such as education, engineering and technology, healthcare, social services and skilled trades. You should therefore check your specific CIP code rather than relying only on the general name of your program.

2026 PGWP Field of Study List Freeze

For 2026, IRCC has confirmed that it will not add or remove eligible fields of study from the PGWP list. This means there is a freeze on changes to the eligible fields during 2026. Even with the 2026 freeze, you should still check the current eligible CIP list and understand which version of the eligibility rules applies to you. Your eligibility can depend on whether you submitted your study permit application or PGWP application before or after the relevant dates.

Why Your Application Date Matters

The date you submitted your study permit application or PGWP application can affect whether your program needs to meet the field of study requirement and which eligibility rules apply. For example, students who applied for a study permit before November 1, 2024, are exempt from the field of study requirement.

The same applies to applicants who submitted their PGWP application before November 1, 2024. Bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral graduates and graduates from PGWP-eligible flight schools are also exempt.

If you are subject to the field of study requirement, your program’s CIP code must meet the applicable eligibility rules. IRCC’s current list also provides different eligibility outcomes for certain programs depending on when the study permit or PGWP application was submitted.

What This Means for International Students

If you are planning to study in Canada and want to work after graduation, checking PGWP eligibility should be part of your program-selection process. Before applying for your study permit, identify your program’s six-digit CIP code and check it against IRCC’s current field of study information. You can also confirm the code directly with your DLI.

If you are already studying in Canada, do not assume that a program is ineligible simply because its CIP code does not appear to match a current list. Your eligibility can depend on when you submitted your study permit application and the rules that apply to your situation.

Submitting Proof of Your Eligible Field of Study

If you need to meet the field of study requirement, you may need to provide proof that you graduated from an eligible field of study when submitting your PGWP application. IRCC provides special instructions for submitting proof of graduation in an eligible field of study. Follow the instructions carefully when preparing your online application.

Check Your CIP Code Before Applying

Your program title alone does not determine whether you meet the field of study requirement. The six-digit CIP code is the key classification used by IRCC. To check your eligibility:

  1. Find your program’s six-digit CIP code.
  2. Check the current IRCC list of eligible CIP codes.
  3. Review the eligibility rules based on when you submitted your study permit or PGWP application.
  4. Confirm whether you qualify for one of the field of study exemptions.
  5. Keep the appropriate proof of your program and graduation for your PGWP application.

You can check the list of currently eligible CIP codes directly on the IRCC website.

FAQs

Who Needs to Meet the PGWP Field of Study Requirement?

The field of study requirement generally applies to graduates of non-degree programs who do not qualify for an exemption. You do not need to meet it if you submitted your PGWP application or study permit application before November 1, 2024, graduated from a PGWP-eligible flight school, or graduated with a bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree.

How Can I Check if My Program Is Eligible for a PGWP?

Check your program’s six-digit Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code against IRCC’s current list of eligible CIP codes. You can find the code through your designated learning institution or the Statistics Canada CIP classification catalogue.

Will the PGWP Field of Study List Change in 2026?

No. IRCC has stated that it will not add or remove eligible fields of study during 2026. You should still check the current CIP list and the eligibility rules that apply based on when you submitted your study permit or PGWP application.