International students continue to choose Canada for studies, per the latest survey.
According to an Emerging Futures study by IDP Education in March, Canada is the most desirable destination for international students. This is primarily due to the chance to obtain employment following graduation.
International students continue to choose Canada for studies
Out of the four major study destination countries (Canada, the United States, Australia, and the United Kingdom), more than 25% of survey participants chose Canada as their preferred choice.
63% of the 20,000 students participating in the survey believe post-study employment is the primary deciding factor in where they choose to study. Meanwhile, 72% stated they would apply for a work visa once they graduated.
The poll revealed that 61% of students who intended to study in Canada gave the availability of the post-study work visa significant thought. This is except for the two largest markets, India and China. Moreover, it rose to 63% for pupils from Nigeria, 75% from Vietnam, and 58% from Ghana.
Christine Wach, IDP Connect’s director of client partnerships for North America, shared that students perceive Canada as a hospitable, inexpensive, reliable place to study with good job opportunities available upon graduation.
The study also revealed that 53% of students place a high priority on work prospects after graduation when choosing a location. Other study results revealed that 43% of students sought part-time job options while studying. Also, 61% claimed that receiving a high-quality education was crucial in deciding.
During the academic year, foreign students studying in Canada get to work up to 20 hours per week without needing a work permit. Winter and summer vacations are available to them as long as students return to full-time studies the following semester. According to the study, 81% of respondents were either already working or intended to work part-time while in school.
Post-Graduation Work Permits
International graduates have the chance to apply for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) in Canada to get experience living and working there. If desired, one can use this experience to obtain status as a permanent resident and subsequently obtain Canadian citizenship.
Depending on the length of the overseas student’s study program. PGWPs are a one-time-use permit and are suitable for up to three years. Also, they must finish their program at a designated educational facility while enrolled full-time to become eligible.
The study discovered that overseas students were more concerned with getting relevant experience to facilitate their entry into the job market than with how long they could stay in Canada after completing their program. Only 48% of respondents stated the most alluring feature of post-study work privileges was the duration of the stay. However, 44% of respondents claimed they would transfer their studies to another nation if the post-study visa was shorter.
Canada requires international students – what about the possible reasons?
Statistics Canada data from 2022 shows that immigrants with Canadian study experience were younger, more educated, and could speak an official language. Also, they were more likely to have pre-admission earnings in Canada than immigrants who did not study in Canada.
Wach says that to remain attractive to students in a competitive era with other countries, Canada needs to create more diversity in the classroom and the future workforce.
Over 800,000 international students are currently studying in Canada, and the country is working hard to establish itself as a top location for post-secondary education. Given the aging population and many open positions, keeping graduates in Canada after graduation can be good for the labor force and economy.
While more work is needed to further raise awareness of students’ contribution as employees and improve access to employment possibilities for international students, policymakers, educators, and employers should collaborate in meaningful ways. The students who come to Canada and the universities they choose to attend will be more diverse if this can be accomplished at both the national and regional levels.
The study summarizes that international students will require more help with the heightened cost of living. The report even states that 51 percent of students are giving second thoughts about whether to pursue education abroad due to rising costs of living. Furthermore, they even seek extra support from institutions to achieve part-time jobs. They look forward to more guidance about the entire education cost.
