Trends and implications for 2024: As the global education landscape evolves, Canada may need to adapt its policies to remain an attractive destination for international students, especially in light of the competition from emerging study destinations
Highlights/ India/ NRI/
Lakshmi Sharan
In the first half of 2024, Canada saw a marked decline in the number of Indian students applying for post-secondary study permits. According to data from ApplyBoard, 55,500 study permits were granted to Indian students between January and June 2024, making up 49% of Canada’s international student cohort for that period, timesofindia.indiatimes.com reported.
While the approval rate remains high at 85%, the total number of applications has significantly dropped. In comparison to the same period in 2023, where India accounted for 51% of international post-secondary students, this represents a 50.4% decline in approvals.
This drop is part of a broader shift in global education trends. Interest in Canada as a study destination has seen a noticeable 20% decline in global searches compared to 2023, indicating that students are considering alternative countries for higher education. Despite maintaining a strong approval rate, fewer students are submitting applications, suggesting changing preferences in the international student market.
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Canada’s decision to impose a two-year cap on international student permit applications at the start of 2024 aimed to manage the surging number of students
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This policy was projected to result in approximately 364,000 approved study permits by the end of 2024, marking a 35% reduction from the previous year
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However, given the current trends, the demand for Canadian education is expected to rise again by 2025, as global interest diversifies toward other destinations
Other countries have seen mixed results in study permit approvals during the same period. China, for instance, saw a modest increase of 5.2%, while Nigeria experienced a drastic 72% drop.
Looking ahead, the upcoming Canadian elections could play a crucial role in shaping immigration and student visa policies. The report cited Immigration consultant Manish Kapoor as saying that a government led by Pierre Poilievre would likely support international students as a pathway to residency but would limit their numbers.
However, others, like Ken Nickel-Lane, founder of an immigration services firm, caution that a Conservative Party victory could lead to stricter immigration policies, potentially tightening access to study permits by raising eligibility criteria for Designated Learning Institutions (DLI).
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