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Studying in Canada a second time: no second PGWP, so know why you're going back

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

Documents Needed

  • Prior Canadian credential

    A previous Canadian post-graduation means the PGWP has already been used — it is issued only once in a lifetime.

Step-by-Step

A professional with a 2005 bachelor's, a 2010 Canadian post-graduate credential, and 10 years of marketing/finance experience asked whether an MBA in Canada now made sense for a 'mature profile.'

What members flagged:

  1. The PGWP is once per lifetime. The first and most important response: having already completed a Canadian post-graduation program, a second PGWP will not be issued. Anyone returning to study after a previous Canadian credential must plan their post-study path without it — this changes the economics of the whole plan.

  2. Define what the MBA is for before choosing one. Members pushed back on 'recommend me universities' as unanswerable in the abstract: evaluate options against your work experience, target specialization, and what you intend to do with the degree. For a 10-year professional, an Executive MBA was suggested as the fit-for-profile format.

  3. Call admissions counsellors directly. Not all universities accept long-gap mature profiles; members advised phoning university counsellors one by one rather than relying on general forum knowledge — each institution's mature-entry policy differs.

  4. A labour-market reality check: one Alberta-based member cautioned bluntly that an MBA alone was not translating into jobs in their province. If employment is the goal, validate demand for MBA graduates in your target city before spending on the degree.

Dos, Don'ts & Tips

  • Don't: Don't plan a second round of Canadian study assuming a work permit follows — the PGWP is issued only once in a lifetime.
  • Do: Contact university admissions counsellors individually; policies on mature, long-gap profiles vary widely between institutions.
  • Tip: For 10+ year professionals, an Executive MBA is often the more defensible and appropriate format than a standard MBA.

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