Choosing a Designated Learning Institution in Canada

A designated learning institution (DLI) is a school approved by a provincial or territorial government to host international students, and you need an offer from one to apply for a study permit. Being on the list is only the first check. Before you accept, look at public or private status, your programme's PGWP eligibility, PAL rules, credential level, cost and outcomes.

What is a designated learning institution?

Provinces and territories approve the schools that can host international students, and IRCC (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada) publishes the list. Every post-secondary school on it has a DLI number, which appears on your letter of acceptance and goes on your study permit application.

Search the list through IRCC's study in Canada pages and check that the name, campus and DLI number match your offer. The list also shows whether a school offers PGWP-eligible programmes. A yes there is about the school as a whole, not your particular programme.

DLI status isn't permanent. A school's designation can change, so check the list again shortly before you apply rather than relying on a check you did months ago.

Public or private: does it matter?

More than most students expect. PGWP rules treat public and private institutions differently, and many programmes at private colleges don't lead to a PGWP. The PAL exemption for master's and doctoral students, in place from 1 January 2026, also applies only at public DLIs.

Watch for programmes that a private college delivers under a licence or partnership with a public college. The public college's name may be on the brochure, but that arrangement has not qualified for a PGWP for new students. Ask which institution does the teaching, and where.

Our view: if working in Canada after graduating matters to you, start with public universities and colleges. Consider a private institution only once you've confirmed, in writing, what the programme does and doesn't lead to.

Will your programme lead to a PGWP?

It depends on the credential. Bachelor's, master's and doctoral degree graduates have no field-of-study requirement. College diplomas, certificates and other non-degree programmes must be in a field on IRCC's eligible list if you applied for your study permit on or after 1 November 2024. IRCC has frozen that list for 2026, so no fields will be added or removed this year.

For a non-degree programme, check at programme level. Ask the school for the programme's field-of-study (CIP) code, find it on IRCC's current list and get the school's confirmation by email. If a school won't confirm in writing, move on. Whatever the credential, you'll also need a language test result when you apply for the PGWP: CLB 7 for university programmes, CLB 5 for college programmes.

Then match the credential to your background. A diploma or postgraduate certificate that repeats what you studied at home is an expensive way to buy time in Canada, and it makes for a weak study plan. A programme that builds on your degree is easier to explain to a visa officer and, later, to an employer.

How do location and cost change the picture?

Tuition varies by school and programme, so use the figure on your offer letter rather than an average from a forum. Living costs vary by city, but the proof-of-funds minimum doesn't: a single applicant outside Quebec needs to show CAD 23,448 for living costs for applications submitted on or after 1 September 2026, plus first-year tuition and travel. Convert at the current rate.

In expensive cities, rent can eat into that faster than you expect, so budget from real listings. Quebec sets its own funds amounts and runs its own selection process, which adds a step if you choose a school there. Location also affects your PAL, since each province manages its own share of the national cap.

What outcomes should you ask about?

Ask every school on your shortlist the same questions and compare the answers:

• What share of graduates from this programme work in their field, and where does that figure come from?
• Does the programme include a required co-op or work placement? From 1 April 2026, required placements for post-secondary students no longer need a separate co-op work permit.
• Which campus will you study at, and what support do international students get there?

Be wary of outcome claims without a source. A school that explains how it measured graduate outcomes is easier to trust than one that quotes a single impressive number.

Talk to current students or recent graduates if you can, ideally people from your own country who've been through the same programme. Ask what they'd check if they were choosing again.

Your pre-acceptance checklist

UniPilot isn't paid by universities, so nothing here depends on which school you pick. Tick every item before you accept or pay a deposit:

1. The school is on IRCC's DLI list, and the DLI number on your offer matches.
2. You know whether the school is public or private.
3. If it's a diploma, certificate or other non-degree programme, its CIP code is on IRCC's current PGWP list.
4. The school itself delivers the programme, on the campus named in your offer.
5. You know whether you need a PAL, and the school has confirmed it can get one for your intake.
6. Your budget covers tuition, travel and the CAD 23,448 living-cost minimum.
7. You've seen outcome data with a named source.
8. You have the key answers in writing from the school. An agent's word doesn't count.

If any item stays unticked after you've asked, treat that as your answer. A school that can't or won't give you clear information before you pay is unlikely to be easier to deal with after.

Next steps

Shortlist schools that fit your grades with Smart Match, look up any institution by name in the university finder, and read our Canada study guide for the rest of the corridor. If Canada's rules narrow your options, our guide to English-taught master's in Germany is a useful comparison.

FAQ

Does every DLI offer PGWP-eligible programmes?

No. IRCC's DLI list shows whether a school offers PGWP-eligible programmes at all, and even then eligibility depends on your specific programme.

Are private colleges in Canada a bad choice?

Not always, but PGWP rules treat them differently and many of their programmes won't lead to a PGWP. If you're considering one, get the school's answers in writing and check IRCC's list yourself.

Why does the DLI number on my offer matter?

You enter it on your study permit application, and it tells IRCC which institution admitted you. Check that it matches IRCC's list and the campus you'll attend.

Should I just pick the cheapest DLI?

Only if the programme meets your goals. Lower tuition doesn't help if the programme won't lead to a PGWP you're counting on.

Is a DLI the same as a university?

Not exactly. Universities, colleges and some private schools can all be DLIs. The label only means the school is approved to host international students.