Lately, I have received numerous enquiries regarding which private post-secondary institutions are eligible to have their students receive Post-Graduate Work Permits (“PGWP“) in British Columbia. Coincidentally, on June 5, 2012, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (“CIC“), issued Operational Bulletin 262 (“OB 262“), which addresses the issue.
First, it is important to note the distinction between students enrolled in a degree program at a private post-secondary institution, and students enrolled in a diploma or certificate program. All students in Canadian private institutions which are authorized by provincial statute to confer degrees are eligible to participate in the general PGWP.
As well, there is a Pilot Project in British Columbia which provides that diploma and certificate students at certain British Columbia private post-secondary institutions are eligible to receive Post-Graduate Work Permits. The Pilot Project expires on January 31, 2013, and international students accepted into programs of study at participating institutions after August 31, 2012 are not eligible to participate in the pilot.
Students who have completed a program of study that is at least eight months or more and received a diploma or certificate in a career training program from the following institutions are eligible to apply under the Pilot Project:
- Sprott-Shaw Degree College
- Arbutus College of Communication Arts;
- Business and Technology
- Ashton College
- Canadian Tourism College
- Centre for Arts and Technology
- Eton College
- Greystone College
- John Casablancas Institute of Applied Arts
- MTI Community College
- Omni College
- Pacific Audio Visual Institute
- Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts
- Pacific Rim Early Childhood Institute
- Sprott-Shaw Community College
- Stenberg College
- Universal Learning Institute
- Vancouver Central College
- Vancouver Film School
- Vancouver Institute of Media Arts
Additional requirements, and discussions of specific scenarios (such as transfer students), can be found here.