Graduation Checklist for International Students

You can find your specific program requirements in the University Calendar. If you are fulfilling requirements for graduation from a previous year's University Calendar, please go to Previous University Calendars. You can also use KPU's graduation audit software My Action Plan (MAP) to plan your courses and ensure you are on track to graduate.

It is important to have a valid study permit up until at least one month after you complete your semester. For example, if your semester is ending in April, your study permit should be valid at least until the end of May. You can apply for an extension of your study permit maximum 180 days before its expiry date.

KPU's academic advising provides students with central, international and specialized advising teams to assist you as you progress towards graduation. Click here to determine which advisor you should contact. You can also find drop-in information on different advising teams' webpages. For booking an advising appointment, please go to Advisor Connect.

If you want to meet with an International Student Advisor, please click here to join both virtual and in-person appointments and drop-ins.

 International Graduates who are applying for a PGWP on or after November 1, 2024, they must also meet the new requirement that applies to your situation.

• If you graduated with a Diploma, Post-Baccalaureate Diploma, Graduate Diploma, Bachelor’s degree, from Kwantlen Polytechnic University:
  • Language requirement: You must prove your English or French language skills with a minimum level of Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) 7 in English or Niveaux de competence linguistique canadiens (NCLC) 7 in French in all 4 language areas. Please visit IRCC webpage for details. 

Find more about what is declaration, why you need to declare, how to declare online and what if you missed the declaration deadlines for your final semester by visiting the Program Declaration page, the handout or the prerecorded video.

Holds are administrative blocks on registration and/or graduation. You can view your holds on MyKPU. Make sure you clear all the holds before you apply for graduation.

KPU's Career Development Centre is aiming to support all KPU students and graduates in transitioning from the 'learning experience' to the 'working experience'. Visit their office today or join their Virtual Drop-in Services to improve your job-searching skills.

It's important for you to keep your personal information up-to-date for KPU to contact you with essential information, for example, receiving transcripts and credentials. Find more on how to update your personal information here.

International students are encouraged to apply for graduation in the first two months of their last semester, so you can have an earlier graduation date. Make sure to apply as per the Graduation Application Deadlines.

1. Use the ‘Apply to Graduate’ module in the MyKPU portal to submit your Graduation/ Convocation application. For step-by-step instructions on how to apply for graduation via MyKPU, watch the following video.
2. Only if the Apply to Graduate module in MyKPU does not show your program should you use the form Graduation and Convocation Application. For example, if you missed the declaration deadline to have an effective declared status in your final semester for the program you want to graduate from, you need to use the form to apply for graduation.
3. The header of your MAP audit will show the status of your application. You can also expect an email from the Graduation Office once your application has been received and assessed.

You may want to invite your family or friends to your convocation. To support their applications, you can draft an invitation letter yourself. Please note KPU does not issue invitation letters for inviting students' family and friends to Canada. For more information, you can read through our How to invite family or friends to Canada for your convocation handout.

Work hard to finish your final semester strong. This term would be the last opportunity for you to resolve any unmet graduation requirements of your program. Do not hesitate to book an appointment with your advisor to check your progression.

Once you have applied for graduation, you can check your graduation status on your My Action Plan or your Online Self-Service account (Student Menu > Records > View Application to Graduate).

If it shows “Pending”, it means your application is subject to be reviewed. If it shows “Requires Senate Approval”, it means your application has been assessed and meets the graduation standard. And after the scheduled Senate meeting, your status will be changed to “Graduated”.

If your application status shows as “Pending for other documents”, it means you do not meet the requirements yet and need to speak to an advisor as soon as possible.

To prepare for your future PGWP application, you can order your official transcript during your final semester. KPU’s official transcript includes all attempted courses, grades, term and cumulative GPAs, academic standing, awarded transfer credits, and any credentials received.

Follow the online instructions to order your transcript.

• Select 'Hold for Grades' to ensure all grades are included.
• Select 'Hold for Degree' if you want your transcript to indicate graduation.

Please note that choosing 'Hold for Grades' typically allows you to receive your transcript sooner, and it is sufficient for a Post-Graduation Work Permit application.

Wondering about your working eligibility in your graduation period? Check out the International Student Working Eligibility website to understand when you need to stop working and when you can resume your work.

The International Academic and Immigration Advising team hosts Post-Graduation Work Permit workshops during graduation seasons to assist international students in understanding the PGWP Program and how to navigate the application process. The most recent workshop time will be posted on our website.

Your credential will be conferred to you on the Senate meeting you are scheduled to graduate. You will receive a confirmation email on or one day after your graduation date. This means you have officially graduated! Your credential will be mailed to you within 5-10 business days following your graduation date.

International students will automatically receive their PGWP letters within 5 business days after the graduation date.

If you are interested in staying in Canada and gaining valuable Canadian work experience, you can apply for a Post-Graduation Work Permit. Please click here for step-by-step instructions on how to apply for a PGWP. To check your program eligibility and understand how to apply for a PGWP, please visit the IRCC website and prepare your application accordingly.

Once you have applied for your PGWP, you may start working full-time, as long as you meet the following criteria:

• You applied for your PGWP on a valid study permit (e.g., within 90 days of receiving written confirmation of program completion or before your study permit expired, whichever came first).
• You did not take any unauthorized breaks in your studies.
• You did not engage in any unauthorized work (e.g., you complied with the conditions of your study permit).

After graduating from KPU, if you plan to stay in BC with a different immigration status (such as a PGWP holder), remember to update your status with Health Insurance BC. For detailed instructions, please visit Updating or Confirming Status in Canada.

Please note if you will be on maintained status while waiting for your PGWP, you may be able to request temporary MSP coverage. For more information, please visit here.

The KPU Alumni Association will bring together KPU alumni and help them build lifelong relationships with the university and the community, increasing the institution's reputation and the impact that graduates have on KPU and the world. Visit KPU Alumni Association to learn more about the perks, events, networking opportunities and more.