Accredited with the Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory College, the Graduate Diploma in Immigration and Citizenship Law will be the only English pathway for training as a federally regulated immigration consultant in Canada. The Graduate Diploma is designed to equip non-lawyers with the knowledge, and practical skills required to launch a successful immigration consulting practice. The program will also be of interest to practicing lawyers who lack specific training in immigration and refugee law, licensed paralegals, student advisors at universities and colleges seeking to upgrade their knowledge, human resources professionals in the private sector, immigration settlement counsellors; as well as people seeking careers in public service with government or international agencies.

Offered entirely online, with optional in-class components, the Graduate Diploma consists of nine courses covering the full range of substantive practice areas, as well as ethics and professionalism, and immigration practice management. Key features of the Graduate Diploma include dedicated research and writing “boot camps”, real-time opportunities to practice both oral and written advocacy, and weekly tutorials with Canada’s leading practitioners. This unique online program has been developed by a team of Canada’s foremost legal academics, immigration and refugee lawyers and consultants, from private practice as well as government. A national advisory committee consisting of consultants, lawyers and community representatives from a diverse range of backgrounds, has guided program planning and development. The Graduate Diploma offers students maximum flexibility, with options to enrol on a full-time basis and complete the program in eight months – or to enrol on a part-time basis, and complete over a two-year period.