If you're completing one 1-year program (say a PG diploma) and starting a second one (like an MBA or another PG diploma) roughly 6 months later, a common question is whether you can stay in Canada during that gap, and whether you can work.
What group members advised:- You can generally stay in Canada for up to 6 months after your study permit's associated visa date, without needing to leave the country, provided your permit itself remains valid through that window.
- You may be able to work during part of that gap — one member's read was roughly the first 3 months of the gap, after which you might need to leave and return once the second program begins, though this depends on your specific permit conditions and should be confirmed against your own permit's study/work authorization.
- An alternative some pursue is finding a job and applying for a work permit to bridge the gap more formally, rather than relying only on residual study permit rights.
Because a gap between programs raises questions about whether you're maintaining 'genuine student' status (which can matter for a later PGWP application), keep documentation of both programs' offer letters and your enrollment dates, and consider confirming your specific work eligibility during the gap directly with IRCC or a regulated consultant before assuming you can work.