Immigration to Canada through education

The immigration process to Canada through regular federal or provincial programs is lengthy and complex. Moreover, not everyone has enough points to successfully complete it. There's an alternative — studying in Canada, followed by employment, and then obtaining permanent residency.

General Requirements

You can apply to a Canadian educational institution at any age. If you have completed secondary education or any higher education, you can apply to a college or university.

Generally, there are no entrance exams. However, depending on the institution, program, or specialty, admission may require a certain grade point average from your previous education (GPA), relevant education or work experience, an essay, or a motivation letter.

Language Exam

For admission, you also need to prove your proficiency in the language of instruction. This is typically done through language test results. The most common tests are IELTS for English or TCF for French. Requirements may vary, but generally, test scores should be no lower than IELTS 6.0 or its equivalent in other testing systems.

Don't be intimidated by language tests, as there are numerous preparation courses available. You can take them in your home country, in Canada, or online with Canadian teachers. For example, ILAC language school, which we partner with, offers various English courses: general English, preparation for international tests, and business English.

If you prefer not to take an English language test, there's also a solution. ILAC offers a special preparatory course for admission to foreign universities — University Pathway. ILAC collaborates with many Canadian institutions that accept the certificate from this preparatory program as an alternative to language proficiency proof. This way, you can enter a Canadian college or university without taking an exam.

Applying to College or University

After choosing a suitable educational institution, you need to apply for your chosen program and receive a confirmation letter. Also, starting from late January 2024, obtaining Provincial Attestation Letters (PAL) is mandatory for certain programs. These letters confirm your place at a specific provincial institution according to the allocation of spots for international students. In 2025, the number of study permits was reduced by 10% compared to 2024, totaling 437,000 permits.

After this, you can apply for a student visa and study permit. Our company, Immigrant.Today, assists future Canadian students with these important documents.

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Here's an example of a student visa received by our client:

After studying at a Canadian institution, you'll receive a certificate or diploma recognized worldwide. Canada offers several levels of education:

• Certificate and diploma programs lasting 1 to 3 years, and bachelor's degrees taking 3-4 years. These programs are accessible with a high school diploma.
• Postgraduate certificates and diplomas lasting 1-2 years, requiring a prior college or university degree. These programs teach additional professional skills but are not equivalent to an academic degree.
• Master's degrees, requiring 1 to 3 years of study after a bachelor's degree.
• Doctoral degrees, taking 3 or more years after previous levels.

Academic Credits in Canada

In Canada, students organize their own study schedules, choosing mandatory and elective subjects. Most universities and colleges divide the academic year into 2-3 semesters: typically September to December (fall semester) and January to April (winter semester). Admissions can be in September, January, and May, depending on the program and institution. Many schools also offer courses during summer break (usually May to August).

Canadian institutions use an academic credit system that assigns value to courses, which counts towards program completion. Roughly speaking, credits represent the hours you spend studying. For full-time studies, a standard semester consists of about 15 academic credits across all subjects. Each subject contributes to this total depending on how many hours per week you attend it.

Generally, the total credits required for graduation are:

• Certificate or diploma: 30 credits
• Bachelor's degree: 90-120 credits
• Master's degree: 45 credits
• Doctoral degree: 90 credits

Moving with Family

You can move to Canada with your whole family. Your family members can accompany you on work or tourist visas. If you're enrolling in a master's or doctoral program, or certain other educational programs, your spouse can apply for an open work permit. Children can get tourist or student visas depending on their age.

Here's an example of a Canadian work visa received by an accompanying spouse:

Permanent Residency in Canada After Studies

After completing your studies, you need to apply for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP). The duration of the work visa depends on the length of your studies. If you studied for one year, you'll get a one-year PGWP; if you studied for 2 or 3 years, you'll get a 3-year PGWP.

From February 2024, graduates of master's and doctoral programs receive a 3-year permit regardless of their study duration. It's important to note the new 2025 requirements: to obtain a PGWP, you must complete at least 50% of your program in Canada and meet language requirements (CLB 7 for bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs, CLB 5 for college programs). Additionally, for students who applied for a study permit after November 1, 2024, it's required to complete a program in a field related to long-term labor shortages in Canada.

Canada offers numerous provincial immigration programs specifically designed for graduates. Additionally, once you gain work experience, you can apply through the federal program for professionals with Canadian experience or similar provincial programs.

Cost of Studying in Canada

Tuition fees at Canadian universities typically amount to about $15,000 CAD per year. You'll need to budget an additional $1,000 CAD for study materials. Usually, payments can be made in installments. When applying for a visa, you must also have sufficient funds in your account to cover living expenses in Canada during your studies. As of September 1, 2025, this amount has increased to $22,895 CAD for a single student, which is $2,260 CAD more than the previous requirement of $20,635 CAD. If you plan to bring your family, the required living expenses will be higher.

Good news for those planning to stay and work in Canada after their studies: in subsequent years, you may be eligible to receive a portion of your paid tuition back as a tax credit. Also, starting September 2024, it's expected that students will be allowed to work up to 24 hours per week during the academic year, and up to 40 hours per week during holidays, which is equivalent to full-time employment. This can help offset some of the costs of studying.

Assistance with Admission

Some people choose their study program and college based on personal preferences or lower costs. However, this approach often leads to visa rejections. Therefore, we recommend booking an appointment with an immigration consultant who can assess your chances of obtaining a visa, help you select a suitable college or university, and assist with your student visa application.