International students do not get to choose only a school. You are choosing a school, a program, a permit path, a budget, a possible work-placement path, and maybe a post-graduation work plan. If any one of those pieces is wrong, the whole plan can become expensive very quickly.
011. DLI first, PGWP second, deposit last
IRCC says you need a letter of acceptance from a designated learning institution to apply for a study permit. The DLI list also warns that not all programs offered by a DLI are eligible for a post-graduation work permit. That means "the school is on the list" is only the first check.
Before paying a deposit, confirm the exact school, campus, DLI number, public/private status, program name, credential, length, intake, delivery mode, and PGWP eligibility details. Then check whether PGWP language or field-of-study requirements apply to your program category and application timing.
022. The study permit file is bigger than an offer letter
IRCC's study-permit document page lists the common document spine: letter of acceptance, PAL/TAL in most cases, proof of identity, proof of funds, letter of explanation, and medical, police, custodian, country-specific, or other documents when required. It also says post-secondary schools validate letters of acceptance.
Current high-stakes rule: IRCC's main study page says that as of November 8, 2024, students can no longer change schools on the same study permit; changing schools requires applying for a new study permit by extending the current one. Verify before switching.
033. Proof of funds is a floor, not a budget
Proof of funds is the immigration minimum for the application. It is not a comfort budget. A real budget includes tuition, fees, rent, deposit, winter clothing, transit, food, phone, health insurance, medical expenses, emergency travel, immigration fees, biometrics if required, and a cash cushion for delayed work or housing surprises.
| Check | Why it matters | Where to verify |
|---|---|---|
| DLI | No DLI, no study-permit path. | IRCC DLI list. |
| PGWP | A DLI can have non-PGWP programs. | IRCC PGWP eligibility and DLI details. |
| PAL/TAL | Needed in most study-permit cases, with exceptions. | IRCC document page and school. |
| Co-op | Required placements have their own rules. | IRCC work placement page and school letter. |
| Refund | A refusal or changed plan can become costly. | School contract and refund policy. |
044. Co-op and part-time work are not a rescue plan
Work can help, but it should not be the only way the first year survives. Co-op may be competitive, delayed, unpaid, or required only after certain courses. Student work rules can change. Employers may ask for Canadian experience. A budget that collapses without immediate part-time income is not a study plan; it is a gamble.
055. Use community stories as questions
Forums can teach you where people get surprised: refusals, private college risk, PGWP changes, housing scams, bad recruiters, and refund fights. Use those stories to build questions for the school and IRCC. Do not treat a thread, agent, or recruiter as the rule.
Download the Study Path Comparison Kit
A printable worksheet for comparing credential type, cost, PGWP risk, student aid or proof-of-funds path, co-op assumptions, and the one risk you still need to verify.
Open the worksheetOfficial resources and community notes
- IRCC Study in Canada hubStart here for study permits, DLI, work, school changes, and PGWP.
- IRCC DLI listSearch the exact school, campus, DLI number, and PGWP program details.
- r/ImmigrationCanadaUseful for pattern-spotting and questions to verify, not a source of law.
Sources
Use these as the source of record when a school page, recruiter, forum thread, or old article disagrees.
- Study in Canada as an international student (IRCC). IRCC landing page for study permits, DLI search, working while studying, school changes, and post-graduation work.
- Study permit: get the right documents (IRCC). Current study-permit document checklist: LOA, PAL/TAL where needed, proof of identity, proof of funds, letter of explanation, and other checks.
- Designated learning institutions list (IRCC). Search schools, DLI numbers, public/private status, PGWP-eligible program details, and graduate programs that may be PAL/TAL-exempt.
- Post-graduation work permit eligibility (IRCC). Current PGWP eligibility requirements, including program length, full-time study, application window, language rules, field-of-study rules, and ineligible programs.
- Work in a student work placement (IRCC). Rules for co-op placements, internships, practicums, SIN conditions, and work placements that are required for a program.
Last reviewed: 2026-06-23. Education only, not immigration, legal, financial, or career advice.
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