{"id":5049,"date":"2024-05-14T17:35:48","date_gmt":"2024-05-14T14:05:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/canadaii.com\/?p=5049"},"modified":"2024-05-14T17:35:48","modified_gmt":"2024-05-14T14:05:48","slug":"getting-pr-after-graduating-from-a-masters-or-phd-program-as-an-international-student","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/canadaii.com\/en\/getting-pr-after-graduating-from-a-masters-or-phd-program-as-an-international-student\/","title":{"rendered":"Getting PR after graduating from a master\u2019s or PhD program as an international student"},"content":{"rendered":"

It may now be easier for students who come to Canada for a master\u2019s or Ph.D. program to obtain permanent residence (PR).<\/span><\/p>\n

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On February 15, 2024,\u00a0Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada<\/a>\u00a0(IRCC)\u00a0enacted<\/a>\u00a0a\u00a0Post-Graduation Work Permit<\/a>\u00a0(PGWP) policy that was\u00a0first announced on January 22<\/a>\u00a0as one of many changes coming to Canada\u2019s international student system.<\/span><\/p>\n

This policy now means that international student graduates of master’s degree programs at Canadian\u00a0Designated Learning Institutions<\/a>\u00a0(DLIs) \u2013 the only post-secondary institutions authorized by IRCC to accept international students \u2013 are\u00a0eligible for a three-year PGWP<\/a>. This is true even for students studying in master’s programs that are two years or less in length.<\/span><\/p>\n

Note:<\/strong>\u00a0Before February 15, the validity period of a PGWP for master’s students was directly correlated to the length of the program of study.<\/span><\/p>\n

How does this make it easier to obtain PR in Canada?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The value of a PGWP lies in that it allows international student graduates to work in Canada once they complete a PGWP-eligible program at a DLI.<\/span><\/p>\n

This Canadian work experience is valuable to those who later intend to pursue PR because many of Canada\u2019s immigration pathways either require or reward such experience.<\/span><\/p>\n

For example, Canada\u2019s popular\u00a0Express Entry<\/a>\u00a0application management system, which prioritizes a candidate\u2019s\u00a0Comprehensive Ranking System<\/a>\u00a0(CRS) score, rewards candidates with a minimum of 80* additional CRS points for work experience acquired in Canada before they apply for PR.<\/span><\/p>\n

*This point value is for Express Entry candidates without a spouse or common-law partner under the Core\/Human Capital Factors section of the Express Entry system. Candidates in other circumstances, such as those applying alongside their spouse\/partner, may receive\u00a0a different number of CRS points.<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

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Therefore, this expanded PGWP policy will make it easier for eligible students to obtain PR because it allows them more time to acquire valuable Canadian work experience, which they can then use on their immigration application.<\/span><\/p>\n

Other ways IRCC makes it easier for master’s and PhD students to immigrate to Canada<\/span><\/h2>\n

Express Entry\u2019s CRS system rewards higher education<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Further to the value of a master’s or Ph.D. for Canadian immigration, the Express Entry CRS system rewards higher levels of education.<\/span><\/p>\n

Specifically, students with master’s and Ph.D. degrees are rewarded with the two highest CRS scores under \u201clevel of education\u201d by the Express Entry system.<\/span><\/p>\n