Every year more international students are coming to Canada to study than to the United Kingdom (UK). Tighter immigration rules in the UK could be named as one of the main reasons why the country has now been overtaken by Canada in the competition for these students.
The Liberal government of Canada is generally distinguished as being pro-immigration, and it is believed that immigration target levels may increase again over the coming years of the government’s mandate.
Immigration Minister John McCallum recently stated that Canada “must do more to attract students to this country as permanent residents,” adding that “they are the cream of the crop in terms of potential future Canadians.”
Depending on the study program and the Canadian province in which an international student is studying, they may have multiple options for pursuing permanent resident status in Canada. After obtaining permanent resident and meeting the residency obligations, immigrants may then apply for Canadian citizenship.
To learn more about the specific advantages that studying in Canada can offer, compared with competitor countries, consider the following: ♣ Canada is a vast, diverse nation with different living and learning environments.. ♣ Transfer program allow international students in Canada to begin studying at a college, but later transfer to a university. ♣ Foreign spouses or common-law partners of international students can also come to Canada with an open work permit . ♣ International students in Canada can work off campus while studying , allowing them to gain an income, build up valuable Canadian work experience, and make professional connections that can help kick-start their career. ♣ Upon graduation, international students in Canada may obtain a post graduate work permit for up to three years. This open work permit allows graduates to work for any employer in Canada. ♣ Canada wants its cohort of international students to build their careers in Canada. Therefore, there are many ways for students to obtain permanent resident status after completing studies in Canada. ♣ For individuals who may be ineligible to apply for Canadian permanent residence currently, studying in Canada presents a pathway to immigration, studying in Canada presents a pathway to immigrate.
According to the Canadian Bureau for International Education (CBIE), there was an 83 percent increase in the number of international students in Canada between 2008 and 2014. In addition, 95 percent of international students would recommend Canada as a study destination, and more than half of all international students plan on applying for permanent residence. Students in Canada told the CBIE that their top three reasons for coming to Canada to study were:
♣ the quality of the Canadian education system; ♣ Canada’s reputation as a tolerant and non-discriminatory society; and ♣ Canada’s reputation as a safe country.
While some people may be surprised that Canada is now attracting more of them than the UK, we really shouldn’t be all that shocked. All the positive factors are in place for students to be attracted to Canada. It is an exciting time for Canadian schools and businesses, who can benefit from the world’s best and brightest coming here. Further, Canada as a country benefits from the consistent arrival of young minds with new, innovative ideas.
