To be eligible for a post-graduation work permit (PGWP), international students taking non-degree studies in Canada must pursue a government-approved field of study. On June 25, 2025, the list of the 900+ PGWP-eligible fields was updated. It now aligns with the Canadian government’s Express Entry priorities for 2025.
By matching PGWP-eligible studies to Express Entry permanent residency fields, international students can have a clearer view of which programs can prepare them for a career—and life—in Canada. Read on to learn how the field of study list works, and how it’s changed since its last update.
What is the Field of Study Requirement?
Since November 2024, the Canadian government has required all international students in non-degree studies to graduate from a program linked to jobs where there are labour shortages in order to apply for a PGWP.
Every study program has a Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code associated with it. The CIP code classifies how that program fits into a broader field of study. To find their program’s code, students can check the academic institution’s website or ask their institution’s team.
Then, to see if that CIP code is PGWP-eligible, non-degree international students can check the current CIP list. To be eligible for PGWP, their study program’s CIP code must be on the Field of Study list either:
- When they submit their study permit application
OR - When they submit their PGWP application
As of March 2025, international students in degree studies—whether they’re attending college or university—are exempt from the Field of Study PGWP requirement.
How has the Field of Study (CIP) List Changed?
Nearly 300 fields of study were affected by the June 25 update. 119 new fields were added to the list, and 178 CIP fields where demand has slowed are no longer PGWP-eligible. We’ve tracked the new programs added in the table below:
New PGWP-Eligible Programs
Programs No Longer PGWP-Eligible
We’ve also listed all of the programs that are no longer PGPW-eligible in the following table:
Note: While these tables are current as of June 2025, eligible programs are subject to change. For the most up-to-date list, check the Government of Canada’s website.
Which Study Programs are Newly Eligible for PGWP?
To address ongoing worker shortages in fields like education, health care, and the skilled trades, the Canadian government focused its Express Entry categories to align with connecting newcomers to in-demand careers. In 2025, a dedicated education category was added to the Express Entry fields. And, as the Field of Study table above shows, many education jobs are now PGWP-eligible to attract future educators.
From subject-specific instruction, like earth science and geography, to age-specific roles, like preschool and kindergarten teachers, many education programs are newly eligible for PGWP.
Several programs in the health care and social sciences fields also joined the list. A variety of programs in social work, veterinary science, and pharmacy fields are newly eligible for PGWP.
Meanwhile, engineering technologists and technicians across every engineering discipline are in high demand. These roles, which work under the supervision of a professional engineer, offer non-regulated engineering and technical services.
Several skilled trades have also become PGWP-eligible. From culinary arts to pipefitting, cabinetmaking to construction management, these roles affect how our communities are built and how our lives work. And these are just some of the trades-related CIPs added to the list.
Which Study Programs Are No Longer Eligible for PGWP?
Various agriculture and agri-food roles are no longer eligible. They range from agricultural business and management to dairy production. As with all fields, not all agriculture-related CIPs were taken off the list of PGWP-eligible programs. Be sure to check for the specific code when searching for eligible fields of study!
Some health care fields are off the list, too: kinesiology, student counselling, and several fields related to homeopathic medicine are among them.
STEM roles saw the most widespread changes. Further agricultural roles, environmental science, web and digital media design, digital marketing, data modeling, and cloud computing are among the fields newly off the list. So are a number of engineering fields, including aerospace, computer, hardware, marine, and surveying engineering, and engineering physics. In a turn from the high demand of the early 2020s, computer software and systems technology are no longer PGWP-eligible. The same is true of data science and data analytics.
In the trades, solar and electrical power transmission are off the list, as are a number of roles related to property management, maintenance, and inspection. Machine shop work, engine machinists, and precision metalworking are also no longer PGWP-eligible.
In the transport field, several air transit roles, from avionics management to engine machinists to airline pilots and crew have become ineligible for a PGWP. Logistics, materials, and supply chain management is off the list, along with rail, marine, and ground transportation roles and commercial vehicle operators.
Reminder: If your field of study’s CIP code was valid when you submitted your study permit or when you applied for PGWP, you’ll remain eligible.
We hope this overview of PGWP field of study eligibility changes is helpful! For a quick overview of other recent changes to PGWP and the study permit process, check out our blog.
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