UCalgary Continuing Education International Professional Program students who complete their non-degree credit programs are eligible to apply for a post-graduate work permit (PGWP). A PGWP allows students to remain in Canada to work after they have completed their program of study. Students must be 18 years or older, have maintained full-time status for the duration of their program, meet English-language requirements and have completed more than 50% of the course hours in person (not online). In addition, applicants must have graduated from a program linked to certain occupations identified by the federal government. We are currently working to ensure the IPP programs are aligned with these field of study requirements.

In order to maintain their full-time status, students are required to register and take consecutive terms within a program of study. According to the IRCC website, students who have completed Continuing Education international programs may be eligible for a PGWP as follows:

Program Program Length PGWP Length
Eight-Month Programs 8 months 8 months
One-Year Programs 1 year 1 year
One-Year Programs with successful completion of Work-Integrated Learning 16 months 16 months
1+1 Programs (Two One-Year Programs*) 2 years 3 years

Please note that Continuing Education international students must maintain a minimum of 120 contact hours of instruction per term to be considered full-time. Please refer to the IRCC website for the latest and most accurate information about eligibility requirements and the length of PGWPs.

* Students in 1+1 programs may take a break of one term (up to four months) between consecutive programs, and apply for a PGWP for the combined two years of study. Students cannot take a term of leave within a program, only between programs (for example: between year 1 and 2).

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