Scenario: an applicant who studied in Canada around 2010–2012 (and therefore already used their one-time PGWP) wants to return for a master's on a study permit only.
What group members weighed:- The visa itself isn't the main hurdle — members agreed that with an offer letter from a university accepting mature profiles, a study permit is obtainable. Several institutions, particularly a couple in Vancouver and more across BC, were said to accept mature applicants with long gaps.
- The real problem is after graduation. PGWP is once per lifetime; without it, staying to work requires an employer willing to support an LMIA-based work permit. Members called this the risk-taker's path: it's possible to find an employer while studying who agrees to sponsor, but nothing guarantees it.
- Go in with a post-study plan, not hope. The thread's consensus: admission is the easy part; decide before spending master's-level tuition how you'd convert the credential into status — LMIA job offer, a PR-eligible profile boost from the Canadian master's, or returning home with the degree.
The practical takeaway: a second study permit without PGWP eligibility is viable for the study itself, but treat the post-graduation pathway (LMIA sponsorship or PR points from the degree) as the core decision before committing.