Advice Needed: Mitacs Internship Extension and CEC Eligibility

[Noman Shafi]

Hi everyone,

I recently completed my Master’s in Computer Science in Canada and participated in a Mitacs-funded internship as a Frontend Developer. The stipend for the internship was processed through my university. I am currently on a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP), and the partner organization involved in my internship has mentioned they might extend the opportunity.

I have a few questions regarding how this impacts my eligibility under the Canadian Experience Class (CEC):

1. Internship and CEC: Does my Mitacs-funded internship count toward the one year of skilled work experience required under CEC?
2. Paid Work: Since the stipend was provided through my university, would this be considered "paid work" that qualifies for skilled experience under NOC 21232 (Software Developers and Programmers)?
3. Experience Letter: Should I request the experience letter from my academic institution (as they handled the stipend) or from the partner organization involved in the internship?
4. Extension Considerations: If the internship is extended, does it continue to count toward CEC as long as I remain on my PGWP, provided it’s paid and skilled work?

I’d appreciate any insights or advice from those familiar with Mitacs internships and the CEC pathway.

Thank you for your help!