Lana Oconnell
International students in Canada can change their programme or institution, but they must follow certain procedures. Students may change their course or university for a variety of reasons, including academic challenges or a desire to switch institutions. To do so, they must meet the requirements of their study permit, which includes studying at a designated learning institution (DLI) and actively participating in their studies. Students must also demonstrate reasonable progress towards completing their current course. While a new student visa is typically required for changing courses, exceptions include switching from a doctoral degree to a master's degree. Students transferring to a new institution in Quebec must obtain a Quebec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ). Failure to notify the relevant authorities of a change in DLI or school may result in consequences such as being denied boarding on a flight or having to change one's status with Immigration Canada.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Can international students change their course in Canada? | Yes, international students in Canada can change their course or institution as long as their study permit is valid. |
| Do they need to apply for a new study permit? | No, international students can change their course without needing to apply for a new study permit. However, they must notify IRCC each time they change schools. |
| What are the steps to change the course? | Students must inform IRCC about the change by submitting a new letter of acceptance using the IRCC web form. They will need to provide their new DLI number, student ID, and start date of the program. |
| Are there any fees involved? | Yes, there may be a fee associated with changing the conditions of the study permit. Additionally, if the student is moving to a school in Quebec, they must obtain a Quebec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ), which also requires a fee. |
| Is there a time limit for transferring to a new school? | Yes, if a student decides to change schools, they must start or resume their studies at the new school within 150 days. If they fail to do so, they must change their status or leave the country. |
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What You'll Learn
- International students can change their course in Canada without a new study permit
- To change course, students must meet all criteria required by their study permit
- Students must inform IRCC each time they change post-secondary schools
- Changing schools or programmes of study in Quebec has a different procedure
- Students must demonstrate reasonable progress towards completion of their course
International students can change their course in Canada without a new study permit
International students in Canada can change their course or institution without applying for a new study permit, provided their current permit is valid. This means that you can alter your programme or institution after obtaining a visa or study permit in Canada.
To change your course or institution, you must meet all the criteria required by your study permit. This includes studying at a designated learning institution (DLI) and actively participating in your studies in Canada. Your main purpose must be studying, so your study program must be full-time. Additionally, you must demonstrate that you are making reasonable progress toward completing your course. There is a time limit for transferring from one school to another. If you decide to change schools, you must start or resume your studies at the new school within 150 days. If you fail to do so, you must submit an application to Immigration Canada to change your status or leave the country immediately.
To initiate the transfer process, you can follow these steps:
- Sign in to your online account and go to the "Designated Learning Institution Student Transfer" section.
- Enter your study permit application number and click "Search for my application."
- Provide any additional details requested from your original study permit application.
- Fill in the information about your new school or program, including the new DLI number, your new student ID number, and your start date.
- Click on "Submit Transfer."
Once you receive a notification confirming your request is complete, you have successfully informed the federal government about your change in study plans. However, if you are moving to a school in Quebec, the procedure is slightly different, as the province has its own immigration system. In this case, you must obtain a Québec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ) and follow the specific rules and procedures of the province.
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To change course, students must meet all criteria required by their study permit
International students in Canada can change their programme or institution as long as their study permit is valid. However, they must respect the conditions of their study permit, which include studying at a designated learning institution (DLI) and actively participating in their studies in Canada.
To change courses, students must meet all the criteria required by their study permit. This involves:
- Studying at a designated learning institution (DLI)
- Actively participating in their studies in Canada
- Having a valid study permit
- Enrolling in a full-time study programme, as their main purpose and activity must be studying
- Informing the CIC about the college change by reporting the change to the federal government through their online account
- Meeting any other conditions specified in their study permit, such as demonstrating reasonable progress towards the completion of their course or programme of study
If students are changing their institution, they must also:
- Submit a new letter of acceptance using the IRCC web form
- Enter their study permit application number and any other requested details
- Fill in the information about their new school or programme, the new DLI number, their new student ID number, and their start date
- Click "Submit Transfer"
It is important to note that there is a time limit for transferring from one school to another. If a student decides to change schools and stops studying at their current university, they must start or resume their studies at the new school within 150 days. If they fail to do so, they must submit an application to Immigration Canada to change their status or leave the country immediately.
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Students must inform IRCC each time they change post-secondary schools
International students in Canada have the right to change their programme or institution as long as their study permit is valid. This means that students can change their college, university, or programme of study after obtaining a visa or study permit in Canada. However, it is important to respect the conditions of your study permit, which include studying at a designated learning institution (DLI) and actively participating in your studies in Canada. Students must also demonstrate that they are making reasonable progress toward the completion of their course.
If you are an international student in Canada and you decide to change post-secondary schools, you must inform the IRCC (Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada). This is done by reporting the change to the federal government through your online account. To do this, you will need to sign in to your online account and go to the "Designated Learning Institution Student Transfer". You will then need to enter the new DLI number, your new student ID number, and the date you are going to start your new programme. Once you have entered this information, you can click "Confirm Transfer".
It is important to note that there is a time limit for transferring from one school to another. If you decide to change schools, you must start or resume your studies at the new school within 150 days. If you fail to do so, you must submit an application to Immigration Canada to change your status or leave the country immediately.
In addition, if you are moving to a school in Quebec, you must obtain a Quebec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ). This is required for any level of school, including primary and post-secondary. If you are already in Quebec and changing your educational programme or school, you need to submit a new CAQ application.
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Changing schools or programmes of study in Quebec has a different procedure
International students in Canada can change their programme of study or institution as long as their study permit is valid. However, changing schools or programmes of study in Quebec has a different procedure. Quebec runs its own immigration system, and students must follow the province's specific rules and procedures.
If you are moving to Quebec from another province in Canada, you must obtain a Quebec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ). This applies to all levels of schooling, from primary to post-secondary. You can inform the authorities about your change of Designated Learning Institution (DLI) by submitting a new letter of acceptance using the IRCC web form. If you are already in Quebec and changing your educational programme, school, or institution, you must submit a new CAQ application.
It is important to note that there is a time limit for transferring from one school to another in Canada. If you decide to change schools, you must start or resume your studies at the new school within 150 days. If you fail to do so, you must submit an application to Immigration Canada to change your status or leave the country immediately.
To change your school or programme of study in Canada, you must follow certain steps through your online account in the portal. First, sign in to your online account and go to the "Designated Learning Institution Student Transfer" section. Next, enter your new DLI number, student identification number, and the date you plan to start your new programme. Review the information for accuracy and click "Confirm Transfer." Once you receive a notification that your request is complete, you have successfully informed the federal government about your change in study plans.
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Students must demonstrate reasonable progress towards completion of their course
International students in Canada must demonstrate reasonable progress towards completing their course. This means remaining enrolled at a designated learning institution, making timely and reasonable progress towards completing their study program, and maintaining their immigration status.
Study permit holders are required to actively pursue their studies to be considered full-time students. This usually means enrolling in a minimum of 9 credits (typically 3 courses) per semester. However, each institution determines its own definition of full-time studies. To work in Canada on a study permit, students must maintain full-time status.
If an international student fails many courses over several terms, an officer may question their academic progress and request additional information to ensure their intention in Canada is to study. In this case, it is recommended that the student contact an Academic Advisor from their faculty to understand the possible academic impacts.
Students enrolled in fewer than 9 credits may still be considered full-time under certain conditions. These include being in the final academic term and requiring fewer than 9 credits to complete program requirements, meeting an approved reduced course load requirement with the Center for Accessibility, or being enrolled in a co-op or outbound exchange program.
If an international student in Canada wishes to change their course, they can do so at any time without needing to apply for a new study permit, provided they have already obtained a valid study permit. They must first be accepted into the new institution and then notify the IRCC (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada) of the change, providing the DLI number of the new institution. If the student is moving to a school in Quebec, they must also obtain a Québec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ).
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, international students in Canada can change their course or institution as long as their study permit is valid.
The steps to change your course or institution in Canada are:
- Sign in to your online account and go to the "Designated Learning Institution Student Transfer" option.
- Enter details about your new college or program, including the new DLI number, student ID, and start date.
- Review the information and confirm the transfer.
- Notify IRCC and CIC about the change.
No, you do not need to apply for a new study permit if you change your course or institution in Canada, as long as you meet the conditions of your current permit. However, you must notify IRCC each time you change schools or programs.
Yes, if you are changing your school or program before entering Canada, you must inform immigration officers about this change before boarding your flight. Additionally, if you are moving to a school in Quebec, you must obtain a Quebec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ).
The conditions that you need to meet include:
- Studying at a designated learning institution (DLI)
- Actively participating in your studies in Canada
- Having a full-time study program as your main purpose and activity
