Amidst acute housing affordability crisis fuelled by accommodation demand by foreign students, Canada is considering a cap on the number of international students allowed to live in the country, Immigration Minister Marc Miller has announced. The final intake numbers as well as date of implementation has not been announced yet.
According to official data the number of study permit holders in Canada has tripled in the past decade, from 300,000 in 2013 to nearly 900,000 in 2023..Among them, in 2022, Indian students accounted for around 40% of all enrolment, making them Canada’s largest international student group.
The Immigration minister announced a slew of new requirements for foreign students wanting to come study in Canada including proof of more accessible funds. Under the current system, prospective students must show that they have $10,000 in addition to money for their first year’s tuition and travel expenses. Under the new system, the $10,000 is increased to $20,635, according to a report by Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC). The amount will be adjusted annually based on a Statistics Canada benchmark for living costs, the report added.
The intake curtailment announcement is not the sole deterrent for Indian students aspiring to study in Canada. Toronto Star recently reported that in the second half of 2023, nearly 40% of student visa applications from India were rejected, the highest refusal rate among all countries. The rejection reasons were categorised as ‘other’ or ‘unspecified’. Some visa applications are denied because the applicant doesn’t meet the financial requirement, or an officer may not believe the applicant will leave the country if they lose their status. It could also come down to an application being incomplete, a missing payment, or the submission of fraudulent documents.
With reduced intake and high visa application rejection rates, Canada might no longer be the most feasible study abroad destination. What are the other options for Indian students?
With students more concerned about affordability than ever before, Karunn Kandoi, Chief Experience Officer at ApplyBoard, predicts that in 2024 students will increasingly look at options beyond the big four (Canada, US, UK, Australia) to plot out a study abroad journey that fits their budget. Kandoi cites Ireland, South Korea and Taiwan as some of the top countries competing for international students this year, and explains the reasons for the growing popularity of these countries.
Ireland: Indian students are increasingly considering Ireland as a go-to study abroad destination. With all of its universities ranking among the top 3% globally, Ireland is known for its high-quality education. Additionally, Ireland’s focus on STEM and technology, strong support from government and institutions for international students, post-study work opportunities, and more affordable costs compared to other destinations make Ireland a stand out choice.