VisabuddiesVB
ExploreGuidesQuestionsHow it works
Sign inStart selling
GuidesCanadaStudy Permit

Study route at 38: a 2-year master's as a PR pathway, and how much proof of funds to show

Canada • Study Permit • study 0 views
By VisaBuddies Communityvia community — compiled from public visa forums

Timeline

Applied
2022-06-07
Decision
2022-09
Total Duration
~3 months for the study permit; ~9 months from university application to visa

Documents Needed

  • Letter of acceptance

    Applied to the university in Dec 2021, offer received Apr 2022 — budget several months for admission alone.

  • Proof of funds / bank statements

    For a 2-year non-SDS application: first-year fees + GIC is not enough — members advised also showing second-year tuition and living expenses.

  • GIC (~CAD 10,000)

    Standard for the SDS stream; non-SDS applicants show equivalent liquid funds instead.

Step-by-Step

Timeline is from 2021–2022; the SDS stream referenced has since been discontinued — treat stream-specific details as historical.

A 38-year-old applicant with a strong IELTS (8777) but an aging Express Entry profile chose the study route instead of waiting for draws:

  1. Pick a program that pays off in points and PGWP. A 2-year master's (here, M.Ed at a smaller Atlantic university) brings ~30 CRS points for Canadian education, a 3-year PGWP, and eligibility for Atlantic-province PNP streams — a faster PR route than waiting on a sub-cutoff CRS.

  2. Start early. University application Dec 2021 → offer Apr 2022 → visa application 7 Jun 2022 → approval Sep 2022. The visa delay cost the September intake, so the applicant deferred to January — build a deferral buffer into your plan.

  3. Show funds for the full program length if you're non-SDS. Group consensus: paying first-year fees plus a GIC covers year one, but a 2-year course application should also demonstrate second-year tuition and living expenses in bank statements. SDS (specific countries only) had lighter requirements.

  4. Age is not a disqualifier for a study permit — but the SOP must justify returning to study at that stage; total program cost here was ~CAD 20,000, modest for a master's.

Dos, Don'ts & Tips

  • Do: For a 2-year non-SDS application, show second-year tuition and living costs, not just first-year fees + GIC.
  • Tip: A Canadian master's adds ~30 CRS points and can unlock provincial (e.g., Atlantic) PNP streams — factor that into program choice.
  • Do: Ask the college for an intake deferral if the visa decision arrives too late — it is routine.
  • Don't: Don't share your full SOP publicly — write your own; a borrowed SOP is too specific to someone else's profile.

Have a question about this? Join the discussion.

View Thread

Related Guides

immigration

Study permit and studies end almost simultaneously: why you likely still need a study permit extension before applying for PGWP

immigration

CRS too low at 33 despite IELTS 8777? Study route vs learning French — how families weighed it

immigration

When can you start your spousal open work permit application relative to your spouse's landing?

immigration

Lost access to an old application account? Order your case notes to recover what you submitted

immigration

Spousal Open Work Permit (SOWP) refused for insufficient common-law proof — how to strengthen a reapplication