Over 67,000 Indian students have been approved to study in Canada in the first four months of 2021. This is an increase of 83% over the entire year of 2020. Furthermore, from January to April 2021, the approval rate for study permits for Indian students heading to Canada increased to 74 percent, up from 49 percent in 2020. In other words, nearly three out of every four Indian students were granted a study permit in the first four months of 2021, up from one out of every two last year and two out of every three from 2016 to 2019. “We’re seeing a ton of pent-up demand for a Canadian education among Indian students,” says Meti Basiri, co-founder and chief marketing officer at ApplyBoard, in light of this research.
The study permit trends in Canada in the context of Indian students were examined by this online platform for international student recruitment. According to its research, India submitted nearly 175,000 study permit applications to Canada in 2019. This was a new high, with a growth rate of more than 170 percent in just three years. Last year’s numbers were slashed by the Covid-19 pandemic, with just over 75,000 applications submitted.
However, in the first four months of 2021, the number of people has increased by a factor of ten. “Based on this data, I believe the total number of study permit approvals in 2021 will exceed the total number in 2019,” says Basiri.
Business & Commerce (22 percent), Computing & IT (20 percent), and Business, Management, & Marketing (14 percent) were the top three most popular streams of study for new Canadian study permits issued in 2020 for Indian post-secondary (college, undergraduate, and graduate) students (15 percent). In 2019, these were also the top three most popular streams (21 percent, 18 percent, and 13 percent, respectively). Due to the pandemic’s restrictions, the majority of higher education institutions have adopted remote-learning opportunities and have been forced to adapt their teaching styles.
According to ApplyBoard, in-person education will continue to be the most popular choice for students, but articulation agreements are becoming more popular and provide beneficial adaptability for students. Arranging agreements, for example, that allow students to begin their studies in their home country and then transfer to a university in their target country.
The Post-Graduation Work Permit Program (PGWPP), according to ApplyBoard, is a major draw for Indian students to come to Canada. In 2020, more than 70,000 Indian students received PGWPs, with more than 98 percent of Indian applicants receiving approval.
As previously reported, a large number of international students choose to stay and become permanent residents. A PGWWP has a maximum duration of three years. It is possible to apply for permanent residence after one year of employment in Canada.
“It is the combination of work authorization and the Canadian credential that is key, as far as Express Entry is concerned,” says Pavan Dhillon, a Canadian immigration attorney. The vast majority of students desiring permanent residency status advantage more from obtaining Canadian work experience than from obtaining a study permit alone.”
In April, Canada introduced a new residency pathway for international graduates. With its emphasis on international students and sourcing the best talent, immigration experts believe that new pathways could be created to meet the economy’s needs.
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