Catching the Last Chance for the BCPNP International Post-Graduate Stream

The Provincial Nomination Program (PNP) of British Columbia (BCPNP) has always been a popular option for new immigrants whose first foreign language is English, following Ontario’s OINP and Alberta’s AINP. BC is also one of the few provinces, aside from Quebec, that officially stipulates a single official language. However, in various public service sectors, BC strives to provide support and services in hundreds of languages, reflecting the province’s inclusive attitude.

According to a press release from the Ministry of Advanced Education and Future Skills on January 29, 2024, there are approximately 545,000 post-secondary students in BC, including 175,000 international students from 150 countries. About 82,000 of these international students attend public schools, and another 94,000 attend private schools. These locally trained talents are typically the ones BC most desires to retain. Therefore, on March 19, 2024, a new provincial nomination program was proposed for international students and international postgraduates, hoping to retain more talents who can immediately contribute to BC’s labour market and economic activities. However, any reform is bound to bring mixed reactions, so let’s explore why this reform has caused so much disturbance and anxiety among the international student community.

According to the BC government press release on March 19, 2024, the BCPNP will undergo significant reforms to attract more scarce talents needed by the government. The details will be published in the updated BC PNP Skills Immigration Program Guide in January 2025, expected to be released in late January. The existing International Graduates and International Post-Graduate programs will be restructured into three streams: Bachelor’s Stream, Master’s Stream, and Doctorate Stream.

Among these, the Doctorate Stream will be least affected and slightly relaxed, extending to doctoral candidates. The Bachelor’s Stream will now only compete with others holding bachelor’s degrees. The Master’s Stream and equivalent graduate diploma programs (similar to Taiwan’s post-baccalaureate programs) will be most impacted. The Master’s Stream, which used to have the same preferential treatment as doctoral graduates, will now require at least a one-year job contract in a skilled labour occupation to qualify for the new Master’s Stream in the BCPNP. The future for students in one-year and two-year graduate diploma programs without a master’s degree is uncertain, and it is hoped that the provincial government will provide a good pathway for these students. Compared to these major changes, raising the minimum language requirement to CLB (Canadian Language Benchmark) level 8 (i.e., each section of listening, speaking, reading, and writing must not be below level 8) seems less significant.

For students most affected by the Master’s Stream and graduate diploma programs, the fall semester of 2024 is likely the last to follow the old system. If the old system benefits you, you must graduate by this semester, register for the necessary BCPNP account, and collect and upload all required documents by early January 2025. Otherwise, you will need to obtain at least a one-year job contract before applying to the new Master’s program. For those in graduate diploma programs, whether a one-year Certificate or a two-year Diploma, after this year, without the protection of the International Graduates program, you will fall directly into the Skilled Workers pool of the BC PNP, competing with all existing skilled workers in BC, including those from technology talent programs, Bachelor’s Stream, and Master’s Stream. The competition will be fierce.

For students in the most impacted graduate diploma programs, if financial and economic conditions permit and the school’s system can accommodate, consider:

1. Applying to transfer to or enroll in a master’s degree program, which may require an additional thesis, project, or courses. This option could delay graduation by at least one semester or a year, during which time you can find a job through Co-op programs, ensuring that upon graduation with a master’s degree, you can apply under the new Master’s Stream.
2. Downgrading to a bachelor’s degree program to obtain a bachelor’s degree, then applying under the new Bachelor’s Stream. This option will also delay graduation by at least one semester or a year.

Detailed procedures still need to be discussed with your academic advisor or degree advisor and then taken to an immigration lawyer or licensed immigration consultant for further evaluation and planning of the application.

In summary, the Provincial Nominee Program (BCPNP) of British Columbia (BC) will undergo significant reforms in 2025, introducing three new streams for international students and postgraduates: Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctorate. The Doctorate stream will see minimal changes, while the Bachelor’s stream will only involve competition among bachelor’s degree holders. The Master’s stream will require at least a one-year job contract, and the language requirement will be raised to CLB level 8. The most impacted will be postgraduate diploma programs. Students need to enroll by September 2024 and complete their studies and registration by December 2024; otherwise, they should consider transitioning to a master’s or bachelor’s degree to meet the new requirements. Students are advised to consult with academic advisors and immigration experts to ensure the best strategies.