Changing your Post-Secondary Study Program in Canada

There have been many changes in the last year to the study permit process in Canada. One change that may have gone unnoticed due to a “quiet” update by IRCC is the process for changing study programs. As of November 8, 2024, study permit holders must be enrolled in the Designated Learning Institution (DLI) named on the study permit. 

What does this mean? Going forward, if you have a study permit, it should have the name of your school printed on it. This means you are authorized to study at that school – and only that school. Prior to November 8, students who were changing programs, whether within the same DLI or a different one, could simply update IRCC and begin the new program. Now, a completely new study permit will be necessary in some situations.

In a sense, you could compare this change to open and closed work permits. If a work permit is “open”, it means that the work permit holder may work for any employer. However, for closed work permits, one or several conditions are listed, which include naming a specific employer on the permit. This means the worker can only work for that employer and no one else.

Let’s look at some scenarios and how you would change your study program in each one. Note that the scenarios below relate to changing between post-secondary programs within Canada.

Changing study programs within the same school

In this situation, you were already approved for a study permit, entered Canada to receive your permit, but found that the study program you were interested in at first just isn’t right for you. But luckily, you found a different program within the same DLI that looks like a better match to your background that will help your career after graduating. In this case, you can keep studying with the same study permit as long as you still meet your study permit conditions. 

Changing study programs and the school

Let’s say you came to Canada, got your study permit on arrival at the border, and started studying at your school. But, you later found a much better program at a different school (DLI) that you think will benefit you. In this case, based on the recent changes, you must apply for a new study permit in order to study the new program at a different DLI.

As a new study permit application, this will require the same types of information and supporting documents that you had submitted at first for your initial permit. This includes a new Letter of Acceptance, PAL (if applicable), proof of funds, and a letter explaining why you are changing schools and study programs. If you are changing to a school in Quebec, you will need to include a CAQ with your application. Related to that, if your new study program has a co-op work portion, you must also apply for a new co-op work permit. You cannot use the old one tied to your previous study program.

The good news it that you may be allowed to start studying at your new DLI while your study permit application processes. However, you must meet all of these criteria:

• You have stayed in Canada since you received your Letter of Acceptance from the new DLI, and
• You continue to meet the conditions of your previous study permit, and
• Before you completed your previous course or program of study, you find yourself in one of the following situations with the previous DLI:
  • it closed
  • it discontinued the course or program of study
  • it was placed on the suspension list, or
  • it lost its designated status

If you do not meet all of these criteria, you cannot begin studying at your new DLI until your new study permit is approved. You should therefore plan very carefully if you want to change schools, because it may take several months for the new study permit to process.

How to Apply

If you are changing study programs and need to apply for a new study permit, in most situations you must apply online. With current estimated processing times at 15 weeks for study permit applications submitted inside Canada at the time of this writing, you must (as mentioned) plan out your transfer carefully. This cannot be done overnight, and in fact may take at least a full semester if not a full school year to finalize your transfer and have your new study permit in-hand.

Changing schools can be complicated, but we can help you navigate the challenges in switching study programs. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out for a consultation.

Craig Lont / Associate RCIC