More Indian students coming to Canada

The Globe and Mail newspaper reports that last year 172,000 students with Indian citizenship held a Canadian study permit — 107,795 arrived in 2018 alone — making India the largest source country for international students in Canada. The cohort of new Indian students was more than three times larger than it was as recently as 2015.

The figures reveal that the second-largest cohort of international students in Canada come from China, with 142,000 Chinese nationals holding a study permit, of whom 85,825 arrived in 2018.

University and college campuses in Canada have long benefited from the arrival of Indian students, who are lauded for their academic aptitude and career focus.

But what has led to a three-fold increase in Indians coming to Canada on a study permit, compared to just three years before?

Many are pointing the finger at the man who sits in the Oval Office south of the border. Since Donald Trump was elected in 2016, the United States is proposing strict new criteria for the issuance of H1-B foreign worker visas.

”With the H1-B scare, everyone is flocking to Canada,” said Vivek Girreddy, an investment banker who graduated from McGill University in 2015, speaking with the Globe and Mail.

The H1-B has been a go-to pathway to living and working in the U.S. for Indian citizens, particularly those in tech and medical occupations.

The Trump presidency, however, does not fully account for the surge in Indian students choosing Canada.

Read more: Make sure to check our guide on how to come study in Canada from India.

Why Canada?

In addition to the quality of education on offer, Canada offers a three-year post-graduation open work permit, allowing international graduates to work in any field and in any location in Canada. Moreover, a job offer is not required in order to obtain this work permit.

The pathway to permanent residence for graduates in Canada is also relatively clear and straightforward, with students and graduates benefiting from bonus points under the Express Entry system, as well as a number of Provincial Nominee Programs. Applicants who can leverage Canadian study and work experience are in an even stronger position to stay permanently, and the post-graduation work permit is a major plus towards that end.

Many Indian citizens interested in studying abroad continue to apply to U.S. colleges and universities, but according to Uvrvashi Malik, founder of CollegeCore Education, one of the biggest college counselling and advisory firms in Delhi, they have also ”started adding some universities in Canada, because they are uncertain of the political atmosphere in the U.S.”

It’s related to “Trump’s policies as far as migrants are concerned,” she said when speaking with the Globe and Mail, adding that “Canada is definitely getting more popular” as a study destination.

One new Indian student in Canada told the Globe and Mail that she was attracted to the University of British Columbia, located just outside downtown Vancouver, by the expertise of its professors – and the fact that “almost all Canadian universities, especially UBC, have great funding options for international students interested in research-based programs.”

She added that “political scenarios in the U.S.” is also among the top reasons for Indian students to choose Canada, a country she had never visited before arriving to study at UBC last year.

How to study in Canada as an Indian citizen

India is among a small group of Asian countries that Canada has chosen for a special program, known as the Student Direct Stream, which allows for quicker processing of study permit applications for students with strong language skills.

Unless otherwise exempt, prospective students will need to sit a language test before choosing a study program and submitting an application.

If the university or college you applied to issues a letter of acceptance, you may then be in a position to apply for a Canadian study permit.

The current processing time for a study permit for applicants in India, as stated by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), is five weeks, though this time does not include the time it may take to submit biometrics (this is usually a quick process).

If you want to study in Canada and reside in or near Chandigarh, you may be glad to hear that CAEL CE, Canada’s leading academic English language test, is now available in Chandigarh. Most international students who want to study in Canada will need to take a recognized language test, such as CAEL CE.

If you want to study in Canada and want to get started in the process, please visit the Moving2Canada study section.