Archive · 20 Jul 2026
Indian Students Face PGWP Rejections in Canada
Many Indian students who studied in Canada are upset because they can't get work permits after finishing their studies.
They paid a lot of money to study business management at a college in Calgary, thinking they would be able to work in Canada afterward.
But the government said their programs didn't qualify for work permits.
Some students are protesting because they feel cheated.
They borrowed money or used their family's savings to study, hoping to work and stay in Canada.
The college hasn't said anything about the problem.
Lawyers are helping some students, but many are struggling financially and emotionally.
Thousands of Indian students in Canada had their post-graduation work permit (PGWP) applications rejected after completing a two-year diploma program.
The affected students attended a business management diploma program offered through Portage College and the Canadian Institute of Osteopathic Therapy in Calgary.
Students claim they invested heavily in their education expecting to gain Canadian work experience, but IRCC denied any rule changes regarding PGWP eligibility.
Tuition fees for the program were around CAD 32,000, excluding living expenses, and many students borrowed money or used family savings.
Protests have erupted in Calgary, with students calling the situation a 'human crisis' as they struggle financially and mentally.
- Who
- Indian students who completed a two-year diploma program in Canada
- What
- Rejection of post-graduation work permit (PGWP) applications
- When
- After completing their studies and applying for PGWPs
- Where
- Calgary, Canada
- Why
- Because their programs were deemed ineligible for PGWPs by IRCC
- Program
- Business management diploma
- Institution
- Portage College and Canadian Institute of Osteopathic Therapy
- Tuition Cost
- CAD 32,000 (excluding living expenses)
- Number of Affected Students
- Hundreds
- Work Permit
- Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP)
- Location
- Calgary, Canada
- Immigration Authority
- Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)