Why is Canada still and will continue to be the best international student destination?

“Is it worth considering Canada as an immigration option?” comes up time and again. Continues to be discussed among student groups, student family members, and those considering taking a career break and returning to school. This is a topic that has been discussed for more than a decade, but it is still relevant and, more importantly, will continue to be relevant. The country has a strong, well-funded public education system that is managed at the provincial level; some aspects may differ from province to province, but the core value remains consistent. International students’ primary focus has traditionally been on postsecondary education.

When it comes to studying abroad, students are frequently under-informed or under-aware of the “value” their choice of study destination may have on their future; both personally and professionally. Excessive information and peer pressure frequently cloud their decision-making, especially during the pandemic when they are glued to their screens. The United States, United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada have traditionally been the top study-abroad destinations for students, but countries such as Germany, Ireland, Sweden, Singapore, and the Netherlands have seen an increase in popularity. However, according to a Study International survey, Canada remains the top study abroad destination.

Students do not simply select an institution or a course; they select a country. Unlike other countries, Canada makes an effort to attract international students as a potential pool of candidates for permanent immigration and employment in Canada.

There are numerous reasons why students make this decision, but let’s focus on the factors that affect almost every aspect of a student’s life:

Lower Tuition fee –

When compared, tuition fees in most cases are less expensive than in other major Anglophone study destinations such as the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. According to the most recent Statistics Canada report, tuition fees in Canada decreased by an average of 5.3 percent for domestic undergraduate students and increased by 7.6 percent for international undergraduates in 2019/2020. Though tuition costs vary depending on the course and institute, the fee for post-graduate studies is comparatively lower, ranging between $13-19k per year.

Pathway to immigration – 

This is the most intriguing point and the deciding factor in international students’ choice of study destinations. When students plan for their future, they realize that pursuing education and gaining work experience is only the beginning. The “future” begins immediately after that. Canada offers one of the most straightforward paths for international students who wish to stay in the country after graduation or immigrate permanently. The majority of international students are eligible for an open work permit, also known as a Post Graduate Open Work Permit. This enables them to work for any employer and in any province for a period of up to three years.

Paradise for travelers 

This is the most obvious point in this blog. One of the primary reasons would be its extreme offerings. Canada is known for having some of the most cosmopolitan cities that are clean, safe, friendly, affordable, and multicultural. Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal, Calgary, Edmonton, and other major cities are examples. Despite some extreme temperatures, the country is often regarded as one of the world’s most livable. On the other hand, it allows you to get lost in complete wilderness and the pristine nature that the country has managed to preserve. In Canada, the sky is the limit for wonder lusters.

According to Statistics Canada’s Economic report, the Canadian government has taken steps “to strengthen the integrity of Canada’s immigration program by explicitly requiring study permit holders to actively pursue their studies, reducing the number of non-genuine and low-quality educational institutions that host study permit holders, and facilitating the entry into Canada of those foreign nationals who sincerely wish to obtain a Canadian education.”

The Canadian government has launched the International Education Strategy, which aims to double the number of international students in Canada by 2022. (Government of Canada 2014b). According to the strategy, “a robust and forward-thinking strategy to attract a significant proportion of these students to Canada will create new jobs and sources of prosperity, address key labor-force challenges, and create new sources of prosperity.”