A letter of acceptance from a Canadian designated learning institution (DLI) can support a study permit application. It does not promise that the student will qualify for a post-graduation work permit (PGWP). IRCC explicitly warns that not all programs at a DLI are PGWP-eligible.
Consider Amina, a fictional student comparing two diploma offers. Both schools appeared on an official DLI list, and both programs sounded similar. One offer was for classes at a partner campus operated by another institution. Amina wanted Canadian work experience after graduation, so she needed to investigate the exact program and delivery campus before paying tuition. Seeing the public college’s name on the diploma was not enough to settle the question.
This guide shows how to use IRCC’s DLI list, what to ask the school about a specific program, why a public-private delivery arrangement matters and which other PGWP conditions students should check. It is general public information, not a guarantee that a study permit or PGWP will be approved.
What Is a DLI?
A DLI is a school approved by a province or territory to host international students. Applicants generally need a letter of acceptance from a DLI to apply for a Canadian study permit. IRCC’s designated learning institutions list shows post-secondary DLIs, including their DLI numbers, locations and public or private designation.
Being listed as a DLI answers a study-permit question: whether the institution has the designation needed to enrol international students. PGWP eligibility is a separate question. A school can lawfully teach international students while some or all of its programs do not qualify graduates for a PGWP.
All primary and secondary schools in Canada are DLIs for this purpose, but they are not included in the post-secondary list. This should not be confused with PGWP eligibility, which generally concerns qualifying post-secondary studies and certain special cases.
Where Does IRCC Show PGWP-Eligible Schools?
IRCC’s DLI page has a section for “DLIs offering PGWP-eligible programs.” Select the province or territory, search for the school and check the name, DLI number, city and campus. Open any linked details for the institution.
The section identifies schools that currently offer at least one PGWP-eligible program. IRCC warns that not every program offered by a DLI is eligible and directs students to check the details for eligible programs. A positive school-level entry is therefore the beginning of the check, not the end.
Compare the list with your actual letter of acceptance (LOA):
| Item to compare | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Legal school name and DLI number | Helps identify the institution tied to the study permit |
| City and campus | The delivery location may affect the program’s PGWP status |
| Exact program title | Similar names can refer to different credentials or streams |
| Credential and program length | PGWP rules depend partly on these features |
| Program start date | Transitional rules can depend on when studies began |
| Who delivers the classes | A partner or curriculum-licensing arrangement can change eligibility |
If the website, LOA and IRCC listing do not match, ask the school for a written explanation. Do not silently substitute a different campus or similar program from the list.
How Can You Check a Specific Program?
Start with IRCC’s PGWP-eligible DLI section and any institution-specific details link. Then request current, written information from the school identifying the precise program, credential, DLI, delivery campus, duration and whether the program is considered PGWP-eligible.
Useful questions include:
- What is the exact legal name and DLI number on my LOA?
- At which physical campus will I study, and who operates that campus?
- Who actually delivers and assesses the program?
- Is the specific program and intake identified as PGWP-eligible?
- Is it a degree, diploma, certificate or another credential?
- Is there a public-private curriculum licensing agreement?
- What is the program’s six-digit CIP code if a field-of-study rule may apply?
- Has the program’s status changed, or is a change planned?
Keep copies of the LOA, official program page, written school response and dated IRCC listing. These records can help you understand what was represented when you enrolled. They do not override the immigration rules or guarantee a later decision.
IRCC says PGWP-program information on its DLI details pages is supplied by provincial or territorial governments and can change. If the listing is unclear, check with the school and the education ministry of its province or territory before making a major financial decision.
Does Studying at a Public College Always Qualify?
No blanket promise is safe. A public institution may offer many kinds of courses, credentials and delivery arrangements. Some programs may fail PGWP requirements because of their length, subject matter, study format or a specific institutional arrangement.
IRCC’s general PGWP eligibility includes a completed program at a PGWP-eligible DLI that is at least eight months long, or 900 hours for relevant Quebec programs, with full-time study during the required semesters. IRCC permits part-time study during the final semester under its general rule. Other special cases and exceptions can apply.
The school’s public status also does not waive the language or field-of-study requirements where they apply. A student selecting a two-year diploma should assess all of these rules together, not infer PGWP eligibility from the school name alone.
Why Does the Campus or Partner Arrangement Matter?
Some programs are delivered by a private career college on behalf of a public institution under a curriculum licensing agreement. The public institution may supply the curriculum or award the credential while classes take place at a private partner campus.
IRCC states that these programs are not PGWP-eligible in most cases. For a private-college program delivered on behalf of a public college within the same province, a student who began the program on or before May 15, 2024 may qualify if all other conditions are met. Someone who began after that date is not eligible under that exception.
IRCC also describes a separate transitional exception for certain arrangements between provinces, with an earlier start-date cutoff. Students should read the precise PGWP special-case rules rather than assuming that every partnership has the same date.
The key practical question is where and by whom your own program is delivered. A public college logo on marketing materials or a credential does not resolve the status of a private partner campus. Ask for the arrangement in writing and compare the named campus with IRCC’s list.
What About Private Schools?
Private-school PGWP eligibility is more specific than a simple yes-or-no label. Some private institutions or programs may fit a permitted category, while many private career college programs do not. IRCC’s DLI details and program-specific rules should control the assessment.
Do not infer eligibility because a school calls itself a university, advertises “career-ready” programs or holds DLI status. Conversely, do not assume that every private institution has identical rules. The credential, legal authority, exact program and delivery arrangement all matter.
Ask the institution what rule it relies on when it states that your particular program is PGWP-eligible. Compare its explanation with IRCC’s PGWP eligibility page and the DLI listing. If the basis remains unclear, seek individualized advice before paying a substantial deposit.
Is a PAL or TAL Exemption the Same as PGWP Eligibility?
No. IRCC’s DLI page also has a separate section for public DLIs offering certain master’s and doctoral programs that may be exempt from the provincial or territorial attestation letter (PAL/TAL) requirement for study permit applications submitted after January 1, 2026.
That section addresses a study permit document rule. It is not a substitute for checking the program’s PGWP eligibility. A student should avoid confusing the site’s different tabs and labels. An LOA, a PAL/TAL exemption and PGWP qualification answer different questions.
Similarly, payment of tuition or approval of a study permit does not create an entitlement to a PGWP. The PGWP is assessed under its own conditions when the graduate applies.
Check the Program’s Length and Study Format
Confirm the official program duration and whether it is credit-earning and leads to the credential described by the school. A short course, general-interest program or English- or French-as-a-second-language program can present PGWP ineligibility even when the school is a DLI.
Distance learning can also affect eligibility and the eventual permit length. Current rules and transitional COVID-era provisions are detailed and depend on dates and location. If the program includes online study, study from abroad or an overseas component, review IRCC’s instructions for those circumstances rather than treating all delivery formats as equivalent.
For a program with co-op, practicum or clinical elements, ask how those components fit the academic program and whether any separate work authorization is needed while studying. A school’s advertised work placement does not itself make the credential PGWP-eligible.
Check the Separate Language and Field-of-Study Rules
For PGWP applications submitted on or after November 1, 2024, most graduates must provide results from an accepted English or French language test. IRCC generally requires CLB/NCLC 7 in all four abilities for bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral graduates and other university programs; other college, polytechnic and non-university programs generally require CLB/NCLC 5. PGWP-eligible flight-school graduates have an exception.
Some graduates of non-degree programs also face a field-of-study requirement if their study permit application was submitted on or after November 1, 2024. That assessment uses the program’s six-digit CIP code. IRCC says it will not add or remove eligible fields during 2026, but the student must still check the specific code and applicable dates.
These conditions are separate from the DLI and program check. An eligible CIP code cannot fix a program delivered through an ineligible institutional arrangement. A PGWP-eligible program listing does not excuse a required language result.
What if a Program’s Status Changes While You Study?
Check the program listing periodically, particularly before making a transfer decision and before applying for a PGWP. IRCC’s DLI detail pages discuss different situations for a student who has not started, one who is already studying and one who completed before a program became ineligible.
Those situations can have different outcomes. IRCC says time studied before a program became ineligible may count toward a future PGWP in some cases, if specified program and credential conditions and all other criteria are met. A student who completed studies before a change may be treated differently again.
Do not assume that an old screenshot permanently preserves eligibility for every later intake, or that a status change always eliminates every possible benefit from studies already completed. Record the actual start and completion dates, obtain the school’s written explanation and review the institution-specific IRCC details. Seek advice where the consequences of a change are substantial.
What if You Change Schools or Programs?
A change can affect the DLI number, campus, credential, program length, CIP code and PGWP status. Recheck the entire plan for the new program, even if the two programs have similar titles.
IRCC also has separate study-permit rules for changing post-secondary DLIs. A student may need to apply for a new study permit before starting at a different school. Do not rely on an older practice of simply updating the DLI in an online account; check IRCC’s current changing schools or programs guidance.
If a school proposes moving a student to another campus or partner location, ask whether the new delivery site has the same PGWP status. Confirm how the move affects the LOA and immigration documents before accepting it.
A Practical Pre-Enrolment Checklist
Before committing tuition to a program with a PGWP goal, confirm:
- The school appears on IRCC’s post-secondary DLI list.
- The LOA uses the correct legal school name and DLI number.
- The school appears in IRCC’s PGWP-eligible programs section if relevant.
- The specific program, credential and campus fit the listed details.
- The school has explained who delivers the classes and whether a curriculum licensing arrangement applies.
- The length and study format fit IRCC’s general PGWP rules.
- The program’s CIP code is known if the field-of-study rule may apply.
- Language-test requirements and realistic testing time are understood.
- The school has answered material discrepancies in writing.
Repeat the checks if the program, school, campus or delivery arrangement changes. Keep dated records, but rely on current official rules when applying.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Treating Any DLI as a PGWP-Eligible School
DLI designation establishes that a school can host international students. PGWP eligibility needs a separate check.
Stopping at the School-Level PGWP Label
IRCC says not every program at a listed DLI qualifies. Open the details and identify the actual credential and program.
Ignoring the Delivery Campus
A public institution’s credential can be delivered through a private partner arrangement with different PGWP consequences.
Relying on Advertising Alone
Request written program-specific facts and compare them with IRCC’s current listing and rules.
Confusing PAL/TAL Exemption With PGWP Status
They govern different requirements and appear in separate parts of IRCC’s DLI page.
Forgetting Language and CIP-Code Rules
Even an otherwise PGWP-eligible program does not waive these additional requirements where applicable.
A 101 Legal Ways Educational Example
Amina compared her two offers against IRCC’s DLI list. She found each school’s legal name and DLI number, then checked the PGWP-eligible-program details. She asked both schools to confirm the exact diploma, duration, campus and who would deliver the courses.
One school explained that its proposed program would be delivered at a private partner campus under a curriculum licensing arrangement. Because Amina would start after the relevant cutoff, she did not assume the public college’s name on the credential made that program PGWP-eligible. She evaluated the second offer on its own facts, including the CIP code and language requirements.
Amina is fictional and is not a real client. Her example shows why a school-level label cannot replace a program-specific assessment. It does not guarantee that either offer or any future application will qualify.
101 Legal Ways provides practical public education about Canadian law and immigration procedures. Its guides help students review official rules, organize evidence and ask informed questions before important decisions.
Four Actionable Takeaways
- Check both IRCC lists. Confirm the school’s DLI identity and then examine its PGWP-eligible-program details.
- Match the exact offer. Compare the LOA’s program, credential, campus and start date with the official information.
- Ask who delivers the classes. Public-private curriculum licensing can affect PGWP eligibility even when a public college awards the credential.
- Review every other PGWP condition. Length, full-time study, language proof and field-of-study rules may still apply.
Final Thoughts
Choosing a DLI is only the first step. A student who hopes to apply for a PGWP should verify the particular program and campus before enrolment and revisit the rules when circumstances change.
The strongest check combines IRCC’s current DLI details, accurate written information from the school and the applicant’s own study and application history. No marketing statement, LOA or tuition receipt guarantees a future PGWP.
Official Government Sources
- IRCC: Designated learning institutions list and PGWP-eligible-program details
- IRCC: About the PGWP
- IRCC: PGWP eligibility and curriculum licensing rules
- IRCC: PGWP field-of-study requirement
- IRCC: Changing your school or program
Legal Disclaimer
This article provides general public legal and immigration information only. It is not legal advice and does not create a lawyer-client or consultant-client relationship. Immigration rules, school details and individual circumstances can change. Check current IRCC instructions and consult an authorized Canadian immigration professional for advice about your circumstances. Information was reviewed against official guidance available on October 8, 2026.
