PGWP field of study requirement: does it apply to you, and how to check your CIP code

The PGWP field of study requirement begins with a simple question: does this test apply to your credential and circumstances? If it does, identify the CIP code for the exact program you completed and compare it with the current official IRCC list. Rules change, so use current government guidance rather than relying on an old summary. Graduates of bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral programs are exempt; the field test concerns college and non-degree university programs, subject to the study-permit timing rules.

First find out whether the field-of-study requirement applies

Start with the type of credential your program leads to. Whether the field-of-study test applies depends on your credential and the timing rules for your study permit application.

Next, check the timing rules that apply to your study permit application. The field-of-study requirement does not apply if your study permit application was submitted before November 1, 2024. If your study permit application was submitted on or after that date and you graduated from a college program or a university program that does not lead to a degree, your field of study must be eligible.

Some graduates are exempt from the field-of-study test regardless of whether their program’s code appears on the list. Graduates of bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree programs are exempt, as are graduates of PGWP-eligible flight schools. These exemptions concern the field test only; check the separate PGWP conditions for your credential and application.

Keep this test separate from the overall PGWP decision. A field-of-study match does not establish that your institution and program qualify or that you meet completion, language, and other application requirements.

For students in Quebec, provincial study authorization is also a separate matter. A CAQ, when required, relates to permission to study in Quebec; it does not determine whether a program passes the federal PGWP field-of-study test. In Quebec, DECs, AECs and DEPs are non-degree programs, so the field test applies to them when the timing rule is met.

Use this decision path before looking up a code:

• Identify whether your credential is a degree or a non-degree program.
• Check which study permit application timing rules and exemptions apply to you.
• Assess the institution, program, completion, language, and other PGWP conditions separately.
• If you studied in Quebec, review provincial study authorization independently from federal PGWP eligibility.

We explain the broader criteria in our PGWP page and in the PGWP eligibility checklist. Use them alongside the official IRCC rules, not as a substitute for checking which rules apply to your case.

Find the CIP code for your exact program

The program name alone is not enough to identify an eligible field of study. IRCC uses a program’s Classification of Instructional Programs code, commonly called a CIP code, so look for the classification assigned to the specific program you attended.

Start with official materials from your designated learning institution. The code may appear in program information or other institutional documents; if it does not, ask the registrar or international student office to identify the CIP classification used for your exact program.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada states that it uses six-digit CIP codes based on CIP Canada 2021 for PGWP eligibility. You can consult the official Statistics Canada CIP classification to understand the classification structure.

Use the code assigned to your program, rather than selecting one because a similar-sounding title appears to fit. If the institution does not publish the code, request written confirmation and keep its response with your program documents.

When you contact the institution, make your request specific. Include the program name and campus or delivery details needed to distinguish it from similarly named offerings, and ask which CIP code the institution assigns to the program you completed.

Match the code against IRCC’s current eligible-field list

Search IRCC’s official eligible-field list for the exact CIP code supplied by your institution. Confirm that the code itself appears as an eligible entry; a similar broad subject heading or a related program title is not enough.

IRCC’s list is the deciding reference for the field test. Third-party summaries may help you understand the topic, but compare them with the official list before relying on them. The eligible entries are organized by specific classifications, so a broad subject area does not replace a code-level check.

The eligible fields fall under six broad areas: agriculture and agri-food; education; healthcare and social services; science, technology, engineering and math (STEM); trade; and transport. These labels are a starting point, not a substitute for checking your exact CIP code: not every program within an eligible area qualifies.

Keep a record of what you reviewed. Save the relevant official list entry or note the code and the date you consulted it, along with the institution’s CIP information. That record can help you explain how you reached your conclusion if the list or your program materials later need to be reviewed.

Because the list and applicable rules can change, revisit the current IRCC guidance when preparing your PGWP application. A code that does not meet the field test does not, by itself, settle every aspect of PGWP eligibility: first establish whether the test applies to you, then assess the program and other requirements separately.

Resolve a mismatch between your program and the list

A program title may use different wording from an entry in the eligible-field list. Compare the institution’s official program description and curriculum with the relevant CIP definitions, rather than deciding from the title alone.

If several classifications seem plausible, ask the institution which code it assigned to the exact program. Keep the written response with your program description and curriculum so that the classification can be understood in context.

Pay particular attention if you changed programs, transferred, or completed a credential whose title differs from the program you studied. Check the classification for the program actually completed; an earlier program or the wording on a credential document does not determine the answer.

If your records continue to point to conflicting codes, do not select one simply because it appears more favourable. An inaccurate code can make the application inconsistent and may leave the field requirement unsupported. Get individualized guidance on the records and explanation relevant to your circumstances before relying on a classification.

When asking the institution to clarify a mismatch, describe the issue precisely: identify the code, the list entry, and the program material that seems inconsistent. A focused request makes it easier to obtain a clear written answer that you can retain with your file.

Keep field eligibility separate from the rest of the PGWP check

An eligible CIP code answers only the field-of-study question when that test applies. You must assess the designated learning institution and program’s PGWP eligibility independently, because a qualifying code does not establish that the program meets every federal condition.

Review language and general application requirements separately as well: IRCC requires CLB/NCLC 7 for university programs and CLB/NCLC 5 for college and other non-university programs, in all four abilities. Use the current IRCC guidance to check each requirement that applies to you.

Keep the documents that support each part of your review together. Useful records include:

• The institution’s CIP information or written confirmation.
• The official program description and curriculum.
• The relevant entry from IRCC’s eligible-field list and the date you consulted it.
• Completion documents and any written clarification from the institution.
• Separate records relevant to the institution, program, language, and other PGWP requirements.

This organized file helps distinguish evidence about the field from evidence about the rest of the application.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Assuming every graduate must meet the field test. Check your credential type and the timing rules or exemptions in current IRCC guidance first.
• Choosing a code from the program title alone. Use the CIP classification assigned to your exact program and match that code against the official list.
• Relying on an outdated or unofficial list. Use IRCC’s current entry as the final reference, and compare any third-party summary against it.
• Treating an eligible field as overall PGWP eligibility. Assess institution, program, completion, language, and other conditions independently.
• Submitting a code that does not describe your program. Ask the institution to clarify uncertain classifications and keep its response with your records.

These checks also prevent confusion between a program that may be PGWP-eligible overall and a program that meets the field test. If the field requirement applies and the code is not eligible under the current list, the field test is not met on that basis; if the test does not apply, the remaining PGWP requirements still need review.

Turn the check into an application plan

Before applying, organize your CIP code, the relevant official list entry, and the program records that support the classification. Keep those documents apart from the evidence you need for the other PGWP requirements, so each part of the application can be reviewed clearly.

Organize your application within the 180-day filing deadline and consider a possible next step toward permanent residence: see graduated in Quebec: your PGWP and your path to staying.

For help assessing your situation, book a consultation, or describe your situation so we can understand what you need help reviewing.

See also: post-graduation work permit, CAQ for studies, Canada study permit: 2026 requirements, PEQ, PSTQ.

Conclusion

The PGWP field of study requirement depends first on whether the field test applies to your credential and study permit circumstances. If it does, verify the exact CIP code with your institution, match it to IRCC’s current official list, and keep evidence of the check.

Then assess institution and program eligibility, completion, language, and other application requirements separately. Rules change, so use current government guidance and seek individualized help when program records or classifications conflict.

Frequently asked questions

Does my CIP code have to appear on my diploma?

No. Your diploma can identify the credential without listing its CIP code.

What if my institution’s program description and its CIP classification seem inconsistent?

Treat the mismatch as unresolved until the institution confirms which classification applies to the program version you completed.

Can two programs at the same institution have different CIP codes?

Yes. CIP classification is tied to the program’s instructional content, so programs at one institution can have different codes even if they share a department, credential level, or similar wording.

Does having an eligible CIP code mean I will receive a PGWP?

No; an eligible code addresses only the field-of-study part of the assessment, when that requirement applies.

Official sources

Official pages consulted on October 11, 2026:

• IRCC — PGWP: field of study requirement
• IRCC — PGWP: who can apply