Canadian Master’s Degree: A Ticket to Canadian Permanent Residence (PR)

Canadian education immigration pathway is the best route for international candidates dreaming of moving and settling in Canada permanently. A candidate with a master’s degree gets 135 points in the CRS (Comprehensive Ranking System) under the education component of CRS, and if the master’s degree is from Canada, then under the "Additional points" allocation of the CRS, the candidate earns 30 extra points. 

For students seeking Canada PR after Master’s, can apply for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) valid for 3 years. This allows the candidate to earn Canadian work experience, increasing the total CRS points further. The higher the CRS scores, the higher the chance to receive Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for permanent residence under Canada’s Express Entry system. 

A Student’s Journey from a Master’s Degree to PR

Let us take a real-life scenario for understanding the study of the Canada PR pathway better; that is, the route from a master’s degree in Canada to permanent residency. 

A professional from India, who is 25 years old with a bachelor’s degree and who has been working in the managerial position for around two years, is looking to immigrate to Canada and obtain a PR. The candidate knows English fluently, scoring CLB 10. While all these factors make the person a strong candidate for immigration, the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score will only come to 416 points. This score is considered very low for receiving an invitation for permanent residency (PR) under the Express Entry draws, where the minimum cut-off scores for Canadian Experience Class (CEC) draws in 2025 ranged from 515 to 547. Here’s where the individual can choose a different strategy without putting a hold on the plans to immigrate to Canada.

The candidate can apply for a one-year master’s degree at a Canadian institution. With the study permit approved, the candidate can move to Canada and complete the program within a year. Upon graduating, the candidate becomes eligible for a three-year Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) and can work in a managerial role in a Canadian company. The master’s degree and the Canadian work experience alone strengthen the profile and increase the candidate’s CRS score from 416 to 539, a score high enough to receive an ITA through the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), a popular route within the Express Entry system.

An overview of how the score increases from 416 to 539

While age and language points of the candidate before and after the master’s program will remain the same (110 points),

• The education points will increase from 120 to 135.
• Canadian work experience points will increase from 0 to 40.
• Skill transferability – education points will increase from 25 to 50.
• Skill transferability – foreign work experience will increase from 25 to 38.
• The candidate will gain an additional 30 points.

With this profile, the candidate would have qualified for 13 out of 15 CEC draws in 2025. Thus, what seemed to be impossible at first became possible by getting a Canadian master’s degree and gaining one year of skilled Canadian work experience. It shows how pursuing a master’s program in Canada can open the door to permanent residence.

Canadian Master’s and Express Entry

Returning to school is not a choice that everyone is willing to make. For candidates with Canadian work experience or a post-graduation work permit, a master’s degree will not significantly increase the CRS score. However, for other sole Express Entry applicants, a master’s degree can provide a guaranteed substantial CRS increase, thus making a master’s degree in Canada for permanent residence an achievable goal. A master’s degree in Canada for an applicant with only a foreign bachelor’s will net an increase of 45 CRS points. Further, for an applicant with a Canadian bachelor’s, completing a Canadian master’s will get 30 CRS points. In a competitive, points-driven system, the points gained thus can make the whole difference in receiving an invitation.

Funding Options for International Students Pursuing Canadian Master’s Degrees

There are many options for international students to pursue their Master’s degree for PR in Canada affordably. Several Canadian postsecondary institutions offer funding packages for academic master’s programs, such as scholarships, grants, etc., sometimes even in excess of tuition costs.

A Canadian master’s degree is a smart and practical way to receive an Invitation to Apply for PR. ImmiLaw Global, experts in study abroad and immigration, will assist you in making the right choices regarding your Canadian Master’s Degree and PR. We guide each client through the Canadian education immigration pathway after carefully analyzing their profile to achieve a successful outcome. Get in touch with us today!

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