February 16, 2021 – Update on the Fall 2021 Term for Full Time Post-Graduate Certificates
Dear Students,
Thank you for registering with York University for your Post-Graduate Certificate.
Please note that full-time programs which began in September 2021 will be offered 100% online through to December 31, 2021. A decision on the delivery method for the second half of programs that start in January 2022 will be communicated to you as the public health situation becomes clearer.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has issued updated guidelines on the Post-Graduation Work Permit Program (PGWPP) as of February 15, 2021 to help international students. The new rules state that “All your time studying online outside Canada between spring 2020 and December 31, 2021, counts toward the length of a PGWP.”
While processing times in Canada’s Visa application Centres are reported to be greatly improving, we suggest that you apply for your study permit as soon as possible and inform our registration team of any changes in your study permit application status as soon as possible.
Due to the pandemic we do not recommend that you travel at this time.
However, if you choose to come to Canada, York University has a robust support system in place for students who are currently taking programs and those whose programs will begin in 4 weeks or less. As a student registered in our September 2021 cohort, we will be able to support you if you choose to come to Canada on or after August 15, 2021 through to the end of your studies with us.
According to these current travel restrictions, to enter Canada as a student, you must meet 2 requirements:
- You must have a valid study permit or a letter of introduction that shows you were approved for a study permit.*
- You must be attending a designated learning institution (DLI) with a COVID-19 readiness plan approved by its province or territory.**
*Stage 1 approval/AIP does not count as final approval.
**York University is very pleased to let you know that our plan has been approved by provincial authorities and that we may now begin to welcome new and returning international students to the York community.
You will be required to have health insurance prior to immigrating to Canada. Our office will contact you to enroll you into the GuardMe insurance package. To initiate the process of traveling to Canada, please visit Quarantine Information for International Travellers – Travelling to Canada for Studies/Essential Reasons – York International (yorku.ca) and follow the steps outlined.
If you have any questions, we encourage you to access York’s dedicated COVID-19 webpage, which includes answers to FAQs as well as links to supporting resources. For all other questions, please contact regscs@yorku.ca.
As always, our student’s safety and educational experience is our top priority. We will provide you with relevant institutional and public health updates as soon as they become available.
Stay well,
School of Continuing Studies