🎓 Study in Canada
Guides for international students at every stage — from choosing a school to using your degree as a springboard to permanent residence. Guides are cross-verified against official IRCC sources — check the stamp on each article.
Start Here
Study → PR: The Full Pathway Map
Every decision point from study permit to permanent residence — PGWP, Express Entry, OINP — in one place. Bookmark this first.
Study Permit: Who Can Apply & How
Eligibility, required documents, proof of funds, and the step-by-step application process for a Canadian study permit.
PAL, TAL & the International Student Cap
What is a Provincial Attestation Letter, who needs one, who is exempt, and how the 309,670-space 2026 cap is allocated.
Proof of Funds
How much money you must prove — CAD $22,895 in living costs plus tuition and travel — and how to document it.
Choosing a PGWP-Eligible School & Program
How to pick a Designated Learning Institution and program that keeps your Post-Graduation Work Permit door open — including the 2024 field-of-study rule.
Working While You Study
How many hours you can work, on-campus vs off-campus rules, and what counts toward your Canadian work experience for future PR.
Study Permit Refusals & How to Reapply
The top reasons study permits get refused, how to read your refusal via GCMS notes, and whether to reapply or seek judicial review.
Study Permit Conditions: What You Must Do to Keep Your Status
The conditions every student must meet — enrolment, actively pursuing studies, the 150-day leave rule — how IRCC checks, and the 6-month penalty for not complying.
How to Extend Your Study Permit
When to apply, how maintained status keeps you studying while you wait, the passport-expiry cap, and when you're exempt from needing a new PAL.
Changing Schools (DLIs) on a Study Permit
Since November 8, 2024, you can't switch schools on your existing study permit — you need a new one first. Here's the process, the PAL rule, and what counts as non-compliance.
How to Amend or Correct a Study Permit
Amendment fixes an IRCC clerical error — it's not how you change your conditions. Here's the difference, the form you need, and where to send it.
Proof of Funds: GIC vs. Alternatives
After the Student Direct Stream ended, a GIC is optional — how it compares to bank statements, loans, and sponsors for proving your funds.
Cost of Studying & Living in Canada
What students actually spend — tuition by level, IRCC's living-cost benchmark, and how housing swings by city — to budget realistically.
Canada Immigration Glossary
Plain-language definitions of the acronyms and terms across the journey — study permit, PAL, PGWP, LMIA, CRS, Express Entry, PNP — each linked to a guide.
Bringing Your Spouse & Children on a Study or Work Permit
Whether your spouse needs an open work permit, whether your kids need their own study permit, and how to apply for your family together or later.
Already graduated?
The Work in Canada hub covers PGWP eligibility, timelines, and building the work experience you need for Express Entry.