Popular courses in Canada for international students

The most popular courses in Canada for international students are in healthcare, information technology (IT) and other STEM fields, engineering, skilled trades, early childhood education, transport and logistics, and business. Since 2024, course choice matters more than before. Many college programs must be on an official list for graduates to get a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP).

This page explains the popular fields, the PGWP field-of-study rules as at November 2026, and how to choose a course that fits your real study and career goals.

How the PGWP rules affect your course choice

The PGWP lets eligible graduates work in Canada for any employer after their studies. Three rules decide whether your course can lead to one:

• Field of study: if you study a college diploma or certificate, and you applied for your study permit on or after 1 November 2024, your program's 6-digit Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code must be on the eligible list. Bachelor's, master's and doctoral degree graduates are exempt.
• Language: for PGWP applications from 1 November 2024, university degree graduates need Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 7 in all four skills. College and other non-university graduates need CLB 5.
• Program and school: the program must be at least 8 months long, at a PGWP-eligible Designated Learning Institution (DLI). At least half of it must be studied in class in Canada. Most curriculum-licensing programs, where a private college teaches a public college's course, are not eligible.

The eligible list has six groups: agriculture and agri-food, education, healthcare and social services, STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths), trades, and transport. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has said it will not add or remove any fields in 2026. Some codes are eligible only for applications made after a certain date, so always check your exact CIP code with your school.

Popular fields of study in Canada

The table shows popular fields, the usual qualifications, and how each one sits with the PGWP field-of-study list as at November 2026.

For an explanation of diplomas, degrees and graduate certificates, see our guide to the Canadian education system.

Healthcare and social services

Healthcare is one of the most popular choices, especially practical nursing, personal support and allied health programs. These jobs are in demand, and healthcare is one of the 2026 Express Entry categories. Most healthcare jobs are regulated, so a diploma alone is not enough to work in them.

IT, data and engineering

IT courses in Canada attract many students from India, Nepal and Sri Lanka. Colleges offer one-year and two-year diplomas in programming, cloud, networking, cybersecurity and data analytics. A two-year program can give a PGWP of up to 3 years, while a shorter program gives a PGWP of up to its own length. Universities offer computer science and engineering degrees, which are exempt from the field-of-study list.

Business and master's degrees

Business is still popular, but the route matters. A bachelor's degree, an MBA or another master's degree avoids the field-of-study list, but it needs CLB 7 for the PGWP. Master's graduates can get a PGWP of up to 3 years, even from a program shorter than two years. A master's program of 16 months or more also lets your spouse apply for an open work permit. Since 1 January 2026, master's and doctoral students at a public DLI no longer need a provincial attestation letter (PAL).

Regulated professions need a provincial licence

In Canada, many jobs are regulated by each province or territory, not by the federal government. Nursing, engineering, pharmacy, early childhood education and many skilled trades are examples. To work in these jobs you usually need to register with the regulator in the province where you live, and sometimes pass its exams.

• Check the regulator's rules before you enrol, in the province where you plan to study and work.
• An Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) for Express Entry does not give you a licence to work in a regulated job.
• A course that is on the PGWP list does not mean you can work in the regulated job straight away.

How to choose a course that fits you

There is no single best course in Canada for everyone. A study permit officer looks at whether your course makes sense for your education, work history and plans. A course chosen only because it is on a list, with no link to your background, can lead to a refusal. Choose a course you genuinely want to study and can complete.

1. Start with your background and goals Look at your past studies, your work experience and the career you want. Write down why the course fits.
2. Check the CIP code and PGWP eligibility Ask the school for the program's 6-digit CIP code. Check that the school and program are PGWP-eligible and taught in class in Canada.
3. Check the language score you will need Plan for the school's entry score and the PGWP minimum of CLB 5 or CLB 7. Our IELTS coaching can help you prepare.
4. Compare costs and provinces In 2026/2027 the average international undergraduate tuition was CAD 50,088 in Ontario and CAD 20,029 in New Brunswick. See the cost of studying and living in Canada.
5. Check licensing if the job is regulated Read the provincial regulator's requirements for internationally educated applicants.

Courses and permanent residence

For 2026, Express Entry runs category-based draws for healthcare and social services, STEM, trades, education and transport occupations, among others. These need 12 months of full-time work in one listed occupation in the past 3 years. A Canadian credential can also add points: 15 for a 1-2 year credential and 30 for 3 years or more. No course leads to permanent residence on its own, and each draw has its own cut-off. Read more about Express Entry.

How Immi Solution helps

Our education counsellors in Hobart help you compare Canadian colleges, universities and programs, check CIP codes and PGWP points with the school, and prepare strong admission applications. We also run English test coaching. We explain any professional fees and give you a written estimate before paid work starts. For advice on your study permit or PGWP application, you need an authorised Canadian representative, and we tell you when that applies. Learn more about our education counselling or read about the Canada study permit.