Canadian College Certificates and Express Entry CRS Points: 2027 Guide
- Study in
- Canada
- Levels
- College certificate, Diploma, Degree
- Funding
- Not a scholarship
- Covers
- CRS points for Canadian study, credential rules, job offer changes, PGWP field of study, PAL and study permit cap
- Who can apply
- International students of any nationality who study in person at an eligible Canadian institution
- Run by
- Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)
On this page
If you study at a Canadian college, your certificate or diploma can add points to your Express Entry score. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) runs Express Entry and its Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). These points are open to students of any nationality, including Nigerians, Ghanaians, Kenyans and Indians, but only for study done in person in Canada. Study points alone do not make you eligible for Express Entry. You must first qualify under one of its immigration programmes.
Status: No single deadline. Express Entry has no single application deadline. IRCC will change how it scores job offers and Canadian work experience on November 3, 2026, and invitation rounds may pause for up to two weeks while scores are recalculated (checked October 27, 2026).
How many points Canadian study gives
| Canadian credential | Additional CRS points |
|---|---|
| One-year or two-year post-secondary certificate or diploma | 15 |
| Post-secondary credential of three years or more | 30 |
| Master’s degree or entry-to-practice professional degree for a licensed TEER 1 job | 30 |
| Doctoral degree | 30 |
| Secondary school only | 0 |
Only your highest eligible Canadian credential counts. The points are listed on the CRS criteria page, and the full rules are in section 30 of the Express Entry Ministerial Instructions.
Rules your college programme must meet
- You studied at a Canadian school located in Canada.
- You completed at least eight months of the programme full time.
- You were physically present in Canada for at least eight months of it.
- The credential is from a public post-secondary institution, or a private one that runs under the same rules as public ones. Quebec DEP and ASP credentials of at least 900 hours also count.
The credential does not count if:
- English or French as a second language made up more than half the programme.
- Distance learning made up more than half the programme.
- You held a scholarship that required you to return home to use your skills.
Job offer points in 2025 and 2026
IRCC removed arranged employment points on March 25, 2025. From November 3, 2026, job offer points return under a new Labour Market Integration factor. A valid offer in a high-wage occupation can earn 50, 70 or 100 points, depending on the wage. An LMIA will no longer be needed. Read the Express Entry changes page for the details. The official page does not say the Canadian study points are changing.
PGWP rules for college graduates
Read our full Canada PGWP guide for the details. Here are the main points for college students. If you applied for your study permit on or after November 1, 2024, your college programme must be in an eligible field of study. For 2026, IRCC says it will not add or remove fields. You also need CLB 5 or NCLC 5 in all four language skills, and the programme must be at least eight months long. See the PGWP eligibility page. A programme of two years or more may give a three-year permit, as the PGWP overview explains.
Study permit cap and attestation letter
Most college students need a provincial or territorial attestation letter (PAL or TAL) with their study permit application. Your college tells you how to request it. For 2026, IRCC set 309,670 application spaces under the international student cap. Master’s and doctoral students at public institutions have been exempt from the PAL since January 1, 2026. The official pages do not yet give 2027 figures.
How to check your score
- Confirm your programme length, delivery mode and institution type with your college.
- Check the field of study and PAL rules before you apply for a study permit.
- Use the IRCC CRS tool to estimate your score with and without the study points.
- Recheck your score after November 3, 2026.
Tips before you apply
- A two-year diploma gives the same 15 points as a one-year certificate.
- Keep transcripts that show full-time status and in-person classes.
- Do not count on job offer points until you have read the new rules.
Related guides
- 10 Employable Degrees in Nigeria: Course Length, Licensing and Career Paths
- 7 UK Universities With Undergraduate Scholarships for International Students 2027
- Australian University Foundation Programmes 2027: Seven Pathways Compared
Details are taken from the official Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (canada.ca) website, checked on October 27, 2026. Confirm the current rules there before you apply.
