Over 400,000 New International Students Flock to Canada in 2019 – MSM
Over 400,000 New International Students Flock to Canada in 2019 – MSM
Canada sees another successful year in international student recruitment with 404,000 new study permits issued in 2019.
While the final count of international students for the year is yet to be revealed, the new figure on the approved study permits is at an estimated 600,000, which is triple the numbers in 2009. In 2018, statistics from the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) showed that there were already 575,000 students with a study permit.
Canada initially had the goal of reaching 450,000 international students by 2022. Now that it has been met, the next strategy is focused on outbound mobility.
Top Sending Countries
More than half of Canada’s international student population came from India and China.
India market entry strategies and similar programs helped balloon student recruitment numbers, which resulted in Indian students surpassing Chinese student numbers. Indian students also saw the largest increase in approved study permits.
In 2015, there were only 31,925 students, but now there are 139,740 students, which marks more than a 300 percent growth. This accounts for 35 percent of all study permits issued.
Other countries that saw a similar jump in growth were Vietnam, going from 2,830 in 2015 to 11,685 by the end of 2019, and Iran, from 2,340 in 2015 to 9,795 students. Following them were Chinese students with 84,720 study permits, and South Korean students at the next spot with 12,060 students.
The rest of the top ten consisted of France, Vietnam, Brazil, Iran, Nigeria, the United States, and Japan.
India
139,740
China
84,710
South Korea
17,060
France
14,670
Vietnam
11,685
Source: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada; CIC News
Canada’s Appeal to International Students
Canada has the fourth highest number of international students and continues to attract more at a rapid pace.
One factor that draws students to Canada are post-study work opportunities. The Post-Graduation Work Permit allows students to stay anywhere between eight months to three years after graduation. Aside from that, the Express Entry has become an easier route for students to become permanent residents. All these give international students further incentive to stay in Canada and be part of the local economy.
Aside from those, the cost of tuition in Canada is deemed significantly cheaper than its competitors. This allows students to get the same quality of education and living for a more affordable price.
A recent study revealed that 35 percent of students stated finances as their primary reason for choosing Canada. Meanwhile, 75 percent cited the availability of visas as their main consideration.
