Study in Canada from India: 2026 guide
Last updated 2026-07-22 · every rule below is sourced and dated
To study in Canada from India you need a study permit, tied to acceptance at a Designated Learning Institution. You can work up to 24 hours per week off-campus during study. After graduating, the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) lets you work in Canada; master's graduates can get a 3-year PGWP regardless of program length.
Canada rebuilt several student rules across 2024–26, so a lot of older advice online is now wrong — which is exactly why sourcing matters here. The headline attractions remain: a clear study-to-work-to-residence pathway and an off-campus work allowance that recently rose. This page sets out the current position, each figure traced to IRCC.
Why study in Canada?
- A clear study → work → permanent-residence pathway through the PGWP and Express Entry
- Off-campus work of up to 24 hours per week during academic sessions
- Master's graduates qualify for a 3-year PGWP regardless of how long the program was
Choose your level of study
This page covers Canada specifically. For how a degree level works across destinations — entry requirements, timelines and what we help with — see the level guides:
Costs, student visa and work rights
Study permit route
You need a study permit, applied for after you receive a letter of acceptance from a Designated Learning Institution (DLI). Most applicants also need to show funds and, depending on the province, a provincial attestation letter.
IRCC — Study permit · verified 2026-07-22
Working during study
Eligible students can work off-campus up to 24 hours per week during academic sessions, and full-time during scheduled breaks. The 24-hour cap counts across all employers combined.
IRCC — Work off campus as an international student · verified 2026-07-22
Post-study work (PGWP)
The Post-Graduation Work Permit is an open work permit for graduates of eligible programs. Master's graduates can receive a 3-year PGWP regardless of program length (minimum 8 months). A PGWP is one-time only. A language requirement now applies to most applicants, and a field-of-study requirement applies to some non-degree programs.
IRCC — Post-Graduation Work Permit Program · verified 2026-07-22
PGWP field-of-study list (changes)
IRCC can add or remove eligible fields of study at any time based on labour-market needs, and the list was updated more than once recently. If your PGWP eligibility depends on the field-of-study requirement, check the current list on canada.ca before you enrol, not just before you apply.
IRCC — PGWP eligibility · verified 2026-07-22 · confirm before you rely on it
Proof of funds and tuition (guide)
You must show funds for tuition plus living costs; IRCC sets the living-cost figure and revises it, and tuition is set per institution. Confirm the current proof-of-funds amount on canada.ca and take tuition from your specific offer.
IRCC — Proof of financial support · verified 2026-07-22 · confirm before you rely on it
Top universities in Canada
A starting shortlist of well-known institutions — not a ranking, and far from exhaustive. The right university depends on your subject, budget and where you want to work after.
- University of Toronto
- University of British Columbia
- McGill University
- University of Waterloo
- University of Alberta
- McMaster University
When are the intakes?
Three intakes: Fall (September, the largest), Winter (January) and a smaller Summer (May) intake.
Get counselling for Canada
We counsel Indian students end to end — course and university shortlisting, the application, the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) and the student-visa file. Tell us your subject and budget and we will map the realistic options.
More questions, answered
- How many hours can I work while studying in Canada?
- Up to 24 hours per week off-campus during academic sessions, and full-time during scheduled breaks. The 24-hour limit counts across all your jobs combined — exceeding it is a study-permit violation, and IRCC now cross-checks hours, so treat the cap as firm.
- How long is the PGWP for a master's degree?
- Master's graduates can receive a 3-year Post-Graduation Work Permit regardless of how long the program was, provided it is at least 8 months. The PGWP is one-time only, and a language requirement now applies to most applicants — check your eligibility on canada.ca before you enrol.
- Did Canada's student rules change recently?
- Yes, substantially across 2024–26 — which is why older advice online is often wrong. The off-campus work limit, PGWP language and field-of-study requirements, and proof-of-funds figures all changed. Every rule on this page is dated and linked to IRCC so you can confirm the current position for your own case.
Sources
- IRCC — Study permit
- IRCC — Work off campus as an international student
- IRCC — Post-Graduation Work Permit Program
- IRCC — PGWP eligibility
- IRCC — Proof of financial support
Tuition, fees, fund levels and work-rights rules are set by governments and universities and change. Figures here are dated and marked where they must be confirmed at application. This is guidance, not immigration or legal advice — confirm the current rules for your own case before you commit.