What are Designated Learning Institutes?

Designated Learning Institutes are approved institutes for international students in Canada

A Designated Learning Institute (DLI) is a school which is approved by a provincial or territorial government to host international students.

To apply for a study permit, a student needs an acceptance letter from a DLI. All primary and secondary schools in Canada are designated learning institutes. Not all post-secondary institutions are DLI's. Therefore, it is important to check if the University or College you are planning to apply to is a DLI. There are some private Universities and Colleges where some courses are approved for international students.

When applying for a study permit, the applicant is required to mention the DLI number for their school of choice. The DLI number is the number which begins with "O" on the study permit application form. Some institutions in Quebec are approved by the provincial government but do not have a unique DLI number.

For a complete list of DLI's with their number, please visit here.

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