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Software Engineering β€” your degree risk

πŸ‡¨πŸ‡¦ Canada

Software Engineering

Low risk

High pay, 3-year PGWP, and Express Entry STEM priority β€” a strong combination for staying long-term.

Your path to PR

Study

~4 yrs (typical)

Post-study work visa

3 yrs

Source: Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) β€” IRCC Β· as of 2026-06-13

Path to PR

PGWP β†’ 1 yr skilled work (TEER 0–3) β†’ Express Entry (CEC) β†’ PR

~1 yr work β†’ Express Entry; competitive on CRS

From here it depends on your pathway and conditions

Invitation depends on CRS score (recent cut-offs ~500+).

Source: Express Entry / Canadian Experience Class β€” IRCC Β· as of 2026-06-13

Employment

Policy change expected
85% of recent graduates in full-time work

NGS Class of 2020; next cycle pending.

Source: Statistics Canada NGS Class of 2020 β€” Engineering & Computer Sciences Β· as of 2026-06-13Β·methodology

Visa pathway

On the skilled occupation list Β· 3-year post-study work visa

Source: Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) β€” IRCC Β· as of 2026-06-13Β·methodology

Market demand

Estimate
85/100

Source: Job Bank β€” labour market outlook by occupationΒ·methodology

AI exposure

Estimate
medium β€” AI tooling speeds delivery; engineering ownership stays human.

Source: OECD AI exposure / Felten occupational AI-exposure indexΒ·methodology

ROI

C$36,000 tuition Β· C$72,000 median starting salary Β· 3-yr payback

Source: Statistics Canada NGS 2020 Β· as of 2026-06-13Β·methodology

Where to study Software Engineering

Top universities for this major by ROI β€” real salary and tuition data.

See all schools in the ROI Explorer

Better-fit alternatives

Nearby paths that tend to score better on the same five layers β€” tap one to swap the result.

Computer ScienceData Analytics

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