Being a country that depends on immigration for its growth, Canada has always encouraged international students to move to Canada for higher education. While the Canadian education system has always been ranked amongst the best in the world, being affordable is what makes it even more attractive especially to students from developing countries.
Immigration has played a key role in fueling the growth of international students in Canada. As the Canadian Bureau of International Education has highlighted in its recent report, international student numbers have increased by 200% in the last decade and by 63% in the last five years. In 2023 alone, there were over one million international students enrolled in Canadian institutes. This increase coincides with the shift in focus towards skilled immigrants in the country through the introduction of the Express Entry Program as well as the Canadian Experience Class Program which gave priority to skilled foreign workers who already have Canadian work experience and are interested in applying for the permanent residence program. This program only requires the applicant to have at least one year’s experience in Canada either full-time or the part-time equivalent. The applicant is required to have worked in a managerial, professional or technical/skilled job. Most international students who have completed their education in Canada are able to apply for immigration through this program.
An international education prepares students with the skills and knowledge required to gain opportunities in emerging sectors like data science, artificial intelligence and renewable energy. A quality education offers an advantage in a competitive job market. Canada offers a number of benefits for international students wanting to study in Canada. Countries like Canada also benefit from international students as they contribute to the Canadian economy. Having international students not only enriches the academic interactions but fosters cultural exchange and collaboration.
HOW INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS BENEFIT IN CANADA
1. Diverse Student Population: Canada welcomes students from all parts of the world. While India has the highest number of students enrolled in post-secondary institutions in Canada, one will also find a large number of students from China, Nigeria, Philippines, France and Mexico. Having such a large diverse population of students ensures an exchange of culture and provides for a multicultural environment on campus.
2. Safe Environment: Canada is also known for its safe and stable environment. Safety and security are an important factor in deciding where to move. This is especially important for the family of the students. Three Canadian cities are ranked in the QS Best Student Cities List—Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver.
3. High Quality Education: Canada offers a world—class education system. This is reflected in the world rankings on various platforms. Canada has close to 25 world-ranking institutes across the country. Apart from Academic excellence, these institutes are also ranked high for research. For international students, this means having access to some of the best universities like University of Toronto, University of British Columbia, McGill University and University of Alberta. These institutions offer not just high standards of education but experienced faculty and state-of-the-art facilities. For many international students from developing economies, the number of quality educational institutions in their country may be limited. This may force them to look for good education institutes in countries like United States, Canada, UK and Australia.
4. Multicultural and Tolerant Society: Canada takes pride in being an inclusive and tolerant society. For international students, this means a welcoming and inclusive environment where people from every background are welcomed and appreciated. This multicultural spirit extends beyond the institutes to the cities and towns.
5. Post Study Work Options: The Post-Graduation Work Permit has made Canada an attractive option for students. This permit allows students who have enrolled in a full-time program of at least 8 months or more the option to apply for a work permit which is valid for up to 3 years. This permit gives students the opportunity to not only gain work experience in Canada, but it offers a pathway for students to apply for permanent residence. The recent changes announced this year will align the PGWP with sectors facing a labor shortage. This will enable international students to select programs that will lead to more employment opportunities.
6. Global Employment Opportunities: A Canadian qualification does not limit an international student’s employability to just Canada. A Canadian degree or diploma is valued across the world and would open up opportunities in many countries. Getting employment opportunities with multinational corporations would become easier with a globally recognized degree or diploma. It would also be valued when you return to your own country as an international qualification is given more weightage than a local degree. Many international students also aspire for jobs with higher salaries which may not be available in their own countries. This drives them to attain a degree from a world-class institution in the hope that they can then get a high paying job as a result.
7. Strong Global Network: Studying abroad helps students build a global network which can help in searching for job opportunities through referrals, and recommendations. The connections that students create with Canadian and international students also foster opportunities for collaboration and guidance as these connections can become life-long relationships.
8. Low Tuition Fees and Living Costs: Compared to some of the other countries like the United States or UK, Canada has a relatively low tuition fee structure. This makes it far more affordable for many students.
9. Job Focused Programs: Canada is also one of the few places which offer co-op programs and job focused programs involving internships as part of the program. This provides valuable experience and exposure for international students. Canadian Universities and Colleges are ranked high in terms of graduate employability metrics. The federal and provincial governments are also working to give preference to those professions which are in high demand in the country. Canada is also one of the top performing economies in the G20 and is ranked high for business friendliness and for having a stable and welcoming business environment (The Economist Business Intelligence). A strong economy offers more employment opportunities.
10. Growing Economy: Canada is amongst the top economies in the world. As a result, Canada also has a high standard of living and quality of life which makes it attractive for students as well as immigrants.
While the recent reduction in study permits and a move to reduce the number of international students gaining admission in Canada over the next two years, the demand for Canada has not been impacted. While some countries like India may be impacted in the short term due to political reasons, the overall number of students wanting to study in Canada is not likely to come down.
Contact CanadianXperience for guidance on understanding the admissions process to Canadian Universities and the documentation required for the study permit or Post Graduate Work Permit. CanadianXperience is an Education Consultancy specializing in study in Canada.
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