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Study in Canada
From 1 January 2026, Master's and PhD students at public universities are exempt from Canada's study permit cap, a major opening for graduate applicants.
What You Need to Know
Plus CAD 85 for biometrics, set by IRCC.
Required living-expense proof for a single applicant, effective since 1 September 2025, plus tuition and travel.
Master's graduates get a 3-year PGWP regardless of program length, subject to language and eligibility rules.
Study Permit, PAL/TAL & PGWP
- Study Permit Fee, CAD 150Plus CAD 85 biometrics fee, per IRCC.
- 2026 National CapUp to 408,000 study permits nationally, including 155,000 for newly arriving students, Master's/PhD seats at public universities sit entirely outside this cap.
- PGWP Language RequirementCLB/NCLC 7 for university Bachelor's/Master's/Doctoral graduates, per IRCC's Nov 2024 rules.
- Co-op Work Permits SimplifiedSince 1 April 2026, students no longer need a separate work permit for co-op placements required by their program.
Master's & PhD exempt from the study permit cap
Students admitted to Master's or Doctoral programs at public Designated Learning Institutions no longer need a Provincial/Territorial Attestation Letter (PAL/TAL) and are not counted against the national cap. This is the single biggest opening for Indian graduate applicants in 2026.
Financial proof requirement increased
Single applicants must now show CAD 22,895 in living-expense funds (up from CAD 20,635) in addition to first-year tuition and travel costs, for all provinces except Quebec.
What Indian Students Study Most in Canada
With Master's degrees now exempt from the study permit cap, graduate programs in tech and business lead demand.
Computer Science, AI & Data Science
The most popular field, driven by the Master's cap exemption and a 3-year PGWP for any public-DLI Master's graduate, regardless of specialization.
MBA & Business Analytics
Strong presence at University of Toronto, McGill, and York, combining leadership training with data-driven decision-making.
Engineering
Master of Engineering (MEng) programs remain popular, with growing focus on sustainable infrastructure and smart manufacturing.
Healthcare & Nursing
High-demand field aligned with IRCC's priority immigration streams for healthcare graduates.
Considering Canada for Your Master's?
We'll check if your target program qualifies for the cap exemption and PAL-free processing.
