How to Choose a DLI in Canada

A study permit generally needs an acceptance from a designated learning institution (DLI), a school on IRCC’s list (IRPR s.216(1)(e) and s.219). If you want to work after graduating, the school and program must be PGWP-eligible: most programs must run at least 8 months, and language and field-of-study rules apply. An officer decides.

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Last verified: November 2026

8 months
The shortest program that can lead to a PGWP (900 hours in Quebec)
3 years
The longest PGWP IRCC issues
CLB/NCLC 7 or 5
Language level for a PGWP: university programs, or college and other programs
January 1, 2026
Master’s and doctoral students at a public DLI stop needing a PAL

The eligible fields of study and the language details can change, so verify the current rules on canada.ca.

What is a designated learning institution?

A designated learning institution (DLI) is a school approved by a provincial or territorial government to host international students (IRPR s.211.1 defines the term). Under IRPR s.216(1)(e), international students applying for a study permit must generally be accepted at a DLI. Studying at a school that is not a DLI does not, on its own, support a study permit application.

Primary and secondary (K-12) schools are automatically considered DLIs and are not listed. The list matters most for post-secondary choices.

IRCC keeps the official list of post-secondary DLIs on canada.ca. You can search it by province or territory, by institution name or by city.

Every DLI has its own DLI number, a code that usually begins with the letter O. Confirm that the number on your letter of acceptance matches the official IRCC list before you pay any fees or apply.

The rule

International students applying for a study permit must generally be accepted at a DLI.

IRPR s.216(1)(e)Verify on justice.gc.ca

Which schools and programs lead to a PGWP?

Not all DLIs offer the same immigration pathways. IRCC’s DLI list shows whether each school is public or private and whether it offers PGWP-eligible programs. Not all programs offered by a DLI are eligible, and public or private status alone does not decide eligibility.

Public university or college: Check each program on IRCC’s DLI list.
Private college listed as offering PGWP-eligible programs: Only its eligible programs.
Private college with no PGWP-eligible programs on the list: No PGWP.
Language programs (ESL/FSL): Never eligible.
Curriculum licensing agreement programs: Programs delivered through a curriculum licensing agreement (public-private partnership, or PPP, college programs) are not PGWP-eligible in most cases, even though the school may still be a DLI you can study at. The exceptions: you began on or before May 15, 2024 (private and public college in the same province) or on or before January 31, 2023 (in different provinces).

The program must be at least 8 months long (900 hours in Quebec), and you must have studied full-time in each semester (part-time is allowed in your final semester). Under IRCC policy the PGWP is usually issued for up to the same length as the program, up to a maximum of 3 years:

Programs of 8 months to less than 2 years: a PGWP valid for up to the same length as the program. A master’s of at least 8 months can get 3 years.
Programs of 2 years or more: a PGWP generally valid for up to 3 years.
Programs shorter than 8 months: generally not eligible for a PGWP.

The PGWP is issued once. The one extension IRCC describes is for a permit cut short by passport expiry.

What language and field-of-study rules apply?

IRCC changed the PGWP rules in late 2024, so the school and program you pick now carry extra conditions.

Language: If you apply for a PGWP on or after November 1, 2024, you must prove English or French ability. Graduates of a bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree or any other university program need Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) / Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens (NCLC) 7 in all four abilities. Graduates of college, polytechnic and other non-university programs generally need CLB/NCLC 5 in all four abilities.
Field of study: If you applied for your study permit on or after November 1, 2024 and graduate from any program other than a bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree, your program’s code must be on IRCC’s list of eligible fields, linked to jobs in long-term shortage. This includes other university programs such as certificates and diplomas. The code must be on the list when you submit either the study permit or the PGWP application.
Degree graduates: Bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral graduates are exempt from the field-of-study requirement.

Do you need a Provincial Attestation Letter?

Since January 22, 2024, most new post-secondary students at the college or undergraduate level applying for a study permit must include a Provincial or Territorial Attestation Letter (PAL/TAL). The province or territory where you plan to study issues it, and it confirms you are counted against its share of the national study-permit cap.

For 2025, IRCC extended the requirement to master’s and doctoral students and to most applicants applying from within Canada. The province typically issues the letter once you accept an offer and pay any required deposit, so your DLI is usually involved in arranging it.

Generally exempt from the PAL/TAL requirement:

Primary and secondary (K-12) students
Study permit holders in Canada applying for an extension at the same DLI and the same level of study
Master’s and doctoral students in a degree program at a public DLI, for applications submitted on or after January 1, 2026
Certain exchange students who do not pay tuition to the Canadian DLI
Students under the Francophone Minority Communities Student Pilot (FMCSP) and certain Government of Canada priority or vulnerable groups

Whether you need a PAL does not change whether the school is a DLI. Both have to be verified separately, and PAL rules and provincial processes change often.

Who decides, and what does acceptance not settle?

Acceptance at a DLI is one requirement, and an IRCC officer still assesses the whole application. That generally includes proof of funds, your study plan, your intent to leave at the end of your stay and, for most applicants, a PAL.

A study permit does not, by itself, authorize you to work. Work on or off campus comes from conditions printed on the permit, or from a separate work permit. Off campus, for example, you must be a full-time student at your DLI in a post-secondary program of at least 6 months that leads to a degree, diploma or certificate, and have a social insurance number.

IRCC ended the Student Direct Stream (SDS) and the Nigeria Student Express on November 8, 2024. Every study permit applicant now uses the regular study permit stream.

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What do people ask?

Can I study at any school in Canada as an international student?

No. A study permit generally needs an acceptance from a designated learning institution (DLI) (IRPR s.216(1)(e) and s.219), a school that a province or territory has approved to host international students (IRPR s.211.1 defines the term). Primary and secondary schools count as DLIs automatically. Check the DLI number on your acceptance letter against IRCC's official list before you pay. The Study Permit guide covers the rest of the application.

What is a DLI number?

A DLI number is the unique code IRCC gives each designated learning institution, and it usually begins with the letter O. Your letter of acceptance should show it. Look the number up on IRCC's official DLI list before you pay fees or apply, because a real acceptance from a real DLI shows a number you can check yourself. The Study Permit Refusal Reasons guide covers other document problems.

Does my DLI choice affect my Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP)?

Yes. Only some DLIs offer programs that lead to a Post-Graduation Work Permit, and IRCC's DLI list shows which ones. Not all programs at a DLI are eligible, and programs delivered through a curriculum licensing agreement (public-private partnership college programs) are not eligible in most cases. Even at an eligible school, the program must usually run at least 8 months. The PGWP guide explains the full rules and how long the permit lasts.

What is a PAL and how do I get one?

A Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) is a letter from the province or territory confirming it has counted you within its share of the study permit cap. Most new college and undergraduate applicants need one. The province usually issues it after you accept an offer, often through your school. Students in a degree-granting master's or doctoral program at a public DLI are exempt for applications from January 1, 2026. The Provincial Attestation Letter guide lists who needs one.

Did the PGWP rules change for students starting in 2024 or later?

Yes. For PGWP applications made on or after November 1, 2024, you must prove English or French: CLB/NCLC 7 for graduates of university programs and CLB/NCLC 5 for college and other non-university programs. If you applied for your study permit on or after that date and finish a program other than a bachelor's, master's or doctoral degree, your field of study must be on IRCC's list, linked to jobs in long-term shortage. The PGWP guide lists the current rules.

Is the Student Direct Stream (SDS) still a faster way to get a study permit?

No. IRCC ended the Student Direct Stream (SDS) and the related Nigeria Student Express on November 8, 2024. Every study permit applicant now uses the regular study permit stream. The What Replaced the Student Direct Stream? guide explains what changed and what the regular stream asks for.

Does acceptance at a DLI mean I will get a study permit?

No. Acceptance at a DLI is one requirement, and an IRCC officer still assesses the whole application. That generally includes proof of funds, your study plan, your intent to leave at the end of your stay and, for most applicants, a PAL. An officer decides each case. The Study Permit Refusal Reasons guide explains the refusal grounds in the Regulations and how to address them.

Part of:Studying in Canada Study permits

Official sources

This page is based on law and policy published by the Government of Canada.