Admissions Where can I find a list of programs available to international students? If you are interested in working in Canada after completing your studies, you should consider enrolling in a program that is eligible for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP). Based on current information, Durham College has compiled a list of programs that are expected to meet PGWP field-of-study requirements. How can I determine if the program I’m considering is the right fit for me? You can connect with a member of our International Recruitment team or our Admissions Services - International team. They can provide personalized guidance to help you identify programs that align with your interests, goals, and strengths. How can I find out if a program is still accepting applications? To check if a program is still accepting applications, visit the program page and review the Intakes and Availability section for the most up-to-date information. I am interested in the Practical Nursing program. How can I proceed? To get started, review the admission requirements for the Practical Nursing program by visiting the following page: Admission Requirements | Durham College. This will provide you with the information you need to begin your application. I have been asked to submit a missing document. What should I do if I cannot find the “Upload Document” option? If you are unable to locate the “Upload Document” option, you can submit your document by email to internationalapplications@durhamcollege.ca. For applicants from South Asia (Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka), please email sea@durhamcollege.ca. What is the average processing time for an application? The average processing time for an application is up to 5 business days. Incomplete applications will not be processed until all required documents have been submitted. How can I ensure my program seat is saved? Securing your seat is a 2-step process. First, you must accept or confirm your offer. Second, you must submit the required tuition payment, listed in your Letter of Acceptance (LOA). Can I change my program after receiving a Letter of Acceptance (LOA)? Program changes are assessed case-by-case and may have immigration implications. To request a change, you should contact us and work with both the International Admissions team and an International Student Advisor (ISA) to review your options. I cannot login to MyDC to access my Letter of Acceptance (LOA). Who can help me reset my password? If you’re unable to login to MyDC, please contact the IT Service Desk for assistance with resetting your password. My program is starting soon, but I’m still waiting for my study permit application to be processed. What can I do? If your study permit has not been processed in time, you have the option to defer your program intake. A deferral request must be submitted by Day 10 of the first semester. Please refer to the Important Dates page for the exact deadline. Once your deferral request is approved, you will be moved to the next available intake and will receive an updated Letter of Acceptance (LOA). I am already a Durham College student. How can I apply for a second program? We will make the process as simple as possible for current students applying to a second program. Please visit our second program page to learn more about your next steps and the application process. Immigration and Other Support What is a Provincial or Territorial Attestation Letter (PAL/TAL)? As required by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), most students must include a Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) or Territorial Attestation Letter (TAL) with their study permit application. A PAL or TAL is a supporting official document issued by the province or territory where you plan to study. It confirms that you have been accounted for within that region’s allocation of international study permits. Most applicants are required to submit this document unless they qualify for an exemption. Please refer to the Government of Canada website to determine whether you need a PAL or TAL for your application. How do I get a Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL)? We will request a PAL on your behalf once you have confirmed your offer of admission and paid the required tuition amount outlined in your Letter of Acceptance (LOA). When your PAL becomes available, you will be notified via email. I have received a Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL). What are my next steps? Once you have received your PAL, you should apply for your Canadian study permit as soon as you have gathered all required documents. We strongly encouraged you to apply through our partner, BorderPass. To learn more about BorderPass, please refer to the BorderPass webpage. Please note that as part of your study permit application, Immigration, Refuges and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) requires proof that you have sufficient funds to cover your first-year tuition and living expenses. Refer to IRCC’s Proof of Financial Support guidelines for details. My study permit application has been approved. Where can I find the information and resources before arriving in Canada? Read our NEW International Students Guide and complete Home@DC International Student Orientation (online mini modules through DC Connect) to learn everything from travelling to Canada and finding housing to understanding your health insurance and getting ready for your first day of school. It also outlines the key steps you should take before starting your program to ensure a strong start. I want to work on or off campus, but don’t see any work conditions on my study permit. What should I do? If your study permit does not include work conditions on it, you may request to have them added if you’re eligible to work on or off campus. There is no fee to make this change. You will need to request an amendment to your study permit before you can apply for a Social Insurance Number (SIN) through Service Canada. How many hours can I work using my study permit work authorization? Information about work hours permitted under your study permit can be found in the NEW International Students Guide, under the section “Working in Canada While Studying”. I am taking a leave from studies. Can I work during the leave? No, you are not permitted to work on or off campus while on leave from your studies, whether the leave is authorized or not. You may resume working only after you return to full-time studies, provided you have a valid study permit and meet all eligibility requirements for working in Canada. Can I take a semester off? Taking a semester off is considered a leave from studies, not a regularly scheduled break. This may negatively impact your eligibility for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) and could also affect the validity of your study permit if you are no longer enrolled. Before making any decisions, we strongly recommend contacting us to understand the potential impacts and determine whether you may qualify for an authorized leave. Will I have a semester break in my program? Semester break schedules vary depending on your program start date: Most programs that begin in September follow this sequence: completion of Semesters 1 and 2, followed by a 4-month scheduled break, then Semesters 3 and 4. Students who start in January or May typically complete four back-to-back semesters without a scheduled break. If this information is not outlined on your program page, you can confirm your schedule by contacting your Program Coordinator or Academic Student Advisor. I need to extend my study permit. Can I get help with the application? For the most up-to-date information, please visit the official Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) webpage on study permit extensions. You can also refer to our handout or watch the immigration support video on our YouTube channel. For further assistance, you can book an appointment with an International Student Advisor (ISA). I’ve applied to extend my study permit, but my original permit has expired. Can I continue studying and/or working? Yes, if you applied to extend your study permit before it expired and remain in Canada, you are on maintained status. This means you may continue studying and/or working under the same conditions as your original study permit while you wait for a decision from Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). For more information about “maintained status”, please visit the official IRCC webpage. Note: If you leave Canada while on maintained status, you will lose your ability to study when you return and will not be able to resume your studies until your study permit extension has been approved. My study permit has expired, and I did not apply for an extension in time. What should I do? If your study permit has expired and you did not apply for an extension before the expiry date, you must stop studying and working immediately as you are now considered out of status. You may be eligible to apply to restore your status as a student within 90 days of losing your status. It is important to act as soon as possible to avoid further complications. We strongly recommend you book an appointment with an International Student Advisor (ISA) for assistance. My program includes an optional co-op. Do I need a separate work permit? Once you are accepted into a co-op work term, it becomes a mandatory component of your program. Be sure to check the expiry date of your study permit, as you may need to extend it to ensure it remains valid for the full duration of your studies. Effective April 1, 2026, eligible international post-secondary students can complete the required work component of their program using only their study permit. A separate co-op work permit is no longer required. For more information on this policy, please visit the official Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) webpage. What are my work eligibility options after finishing my studies? Your work eligibility depends on your status after completing your studies. If you have finished all your courses, you may continue working on or off campus, provided you have a valid study permit and you meet the conditions outlined on it. For off-campus work, you may work up to 24 hours per week. Once your Verification of Graduation letter becomes available on MyDC and shows the status "Approved - Not Yet Awarded", you must stop working immediately. After applying for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP), you may begin working full-time, as long as you had a valid study permit at the time of application and meet all eligibility requirements under R186(w). How can I determine the length of Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) that I am eligible for? The length of you PGWP depends on factors such as the duration of your program of study. To learn how PGWP length is determined, please visit the official IRCC webpage. Can I study part-time and still be eligible for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP)? To be eligible for a PGWP, you are generally required to maintain full-time student status in each semester of your program. However, if you have studied full-time throughout your program, and you only need a part-time course load in your final semester, you can study part-time. This should not affect your PGWP eligibility. To learn all the PGWP eligibility requirements, read here. When can I apply for my Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP)? You can apply for a PGWP within 180 days of successfully completing your program. If you are applying from inside Canada, you must ensure that your study permit is still valid at the time of application. For your PGWP application, from Durham College, you will need: Your Verification of Graduation letter showing the status “Approved – Not Yet Awarded”, and Your official final transcript. Your Verification of Graduation letter will be available for you to order on MyDC approximately 6 weeks after your final grades have been entered into the system. To avoid delays, you are encouraged to order your official transcript in advance (even before completing your studies) by selecting the option “Hold until final grades are released”. What do I need from the college to apply for my Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP)? To apply for your PGWP, you must obtain both of the following documents from the college: Your Verification of Graduation letter (VOG), and Your official final transcript Your VOG must show one of the following statuses to confirm program completion: “Approved – Not Yet Awarded”, or “Certificate Awarded”. Can I leave Canada after finishing my classes? If you HAVE NOT applied for your Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP): You may travel and return to Canada if you have a valid Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) or eTA. When re-entering, you should carry: Your Verification of Graduation letter Your official final transcript Your valid study permit If you HAVE applied for your PGWP: You may travel and re-enter Canada if you have a valid TRV or eTA. When re-entering, you should carry: A copy of your PGWP application acknowledgement of receipt Your fee payment receipt If you apply for your PGWP from within Canada while your study permit is still valid, and you meet the requirements under R186(w), you may work full-time while waiting for a decision – including after returning from travel abroad. Academics I’ve failed one course. Who should I turn to for help? If you have failed one or more courses and need to renew your study permit, please follow these steps: 1. Contact your Academic Student Advisor to develop a plan to complete your program requirements. 2. After meeting with your advisor, contact our office and include: Your full name, Student number, A copy of your study permit, and Your academic plan. We will review your situation and provide guidance and supporting documentation for your study permit extension, if applicable. Your Academic Student Advisor will help you plan how to complete your program, while and ISAs can support you with your study permit extension application. I must travel due to an emergency during a semester. Who should I inform? If you need to travel during the semester due to an emergency, the steps you should take depend on how long you will be away: If you will be away for an extended period: You may need to take a leave from your studies. Book a virtual appointment with an International Student Advisor (ISA) to discuss your situation. If required, you may need to withdraw from your current semester. If you will be away for a short period: Inform all your professors as soon as possible. Notify your Academic Student Advisor of your plans. When returning to Canada, ensure you have: A valid Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) or eTA A copy of your Verification of Enrolment letter (VOE) Please note: Even short absences may negatively impact your academic performance. Any time spent studying outside Canada will not count toward PGWP. I haven’t met the GPA requirement to graduate. What should I do? If you have not met the GPA requirements to graduate, you should contact your Academic Student Advisor as soon as possible to develop a plan for completing your program requirements. If you need to extend your study permit, please contact our office after meeting with your Academic Student Advisor and include: Your full name Student number A copy of your study permit, and Your academic plan. We will review your situation and provide guidance, along with any necessary supporting documentation for your study permit extension, if applicable.
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