A Designated Learning Institution (DLI) is a school, college, or university in Canada that has been approved by the government to host international students. These institutions have met certain criteria and standards set by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and are authorised to issue letters of acceptance to international students.
International students who want to study in Canada must apply for a study permit, and one of the requirements for obtaining a study permit is to be accepted by a DLI. The letter of acceptance from the DLI is an important document that the student needs to present to the visa officer when applying for a study permit.
There are two types of DLIs in Canada:
- Primary DLIs: These are institutions that offer a full-time program of study that leads to a degree, diploma, or certificate. Primary DLIs are authorised to issue letters of acceptance to international students for the purpose of obtaining a study permit.
- Secondary DLIs: These are institutions that offer a full-time program of study that does not lead to a degree, diploma, or certificate. Secondary DLIs are authorised to issue letters of acceptance to international students for the purpose of obtaining a study permit, but only if the student has already been accepted by a primary DLI and has received a letter of acceptance from that institution.
It is important for international students to make sure that the institution they are planning to attend is a designated learning institution. Attending a non-designated institution could lead to problems with immigration and could affect the student’s ability to stay in Canada.
To find out if an institution is a designated learning institution, you can search the list of DLIs on the IRCC website or check with the institution directly. The list of DLIs is updated regularly, so it is important to check the list before applying for a study permit.
In summary, a Designated Learning Institution (DLI) is a school, college, or university in Canada that has been approved by the government to host international students and issue letters of acceptance for the purpose of obtaining a study permit. It is important for international students to make sure that the institution they are planning to attend is a DLI in order to avoid problems with immigration.
