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Over 400,000 Indians are studying in Canada, but experts predict a decline of 100,000 in the coming year as India-Canada Decline in relations. With Ottawa also restricting other international students, Mint asks whether Canada’s youth and education attractiveness is waning.
What restrictions has Canada imposed?
Canada has imposed a two-year limit on new student permits amid a housing crisis and to investigate the quality of schools. First, in January, it reduced international student permits by 35% to 364,000 in 2024. Then in September, a 10% cut was made, reducing permits for 2025 to 327,000. Canada also doubled the GIC (Guaranteed Investment Certificate) to CAD 10,000. , 6 Lakh) to CAD 20,635 ( 12 lakh) with effect from 2024. A GIC serves as proof that the student has the means to reside in Canada. Immigration Minister Mark Miller said he wants to maintain “a permanent level of temporary residence in Canada.”
Are Indian students being affected?
There are 427,000 Indians studying in Canada. The range, cost and scrutiny of colleges is pushing students to other countries. Education consultants say students from Punjab and Haryana who move to Australia and Canada are more affected than students from Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu who prefer the US. Non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) say students from tier II and III cities—Amritsar, Jalandhar, Patiala, Mohali and smaller towns like Barnala, Khanna, Muktsar, Ferozepur and Faridkot—can now borrow money to go to European countries. Have been.
Read more: The growing rift between India and Canada and its impact on India
Will the number of people going to Canada remain less?
Unlikely. Experts say Canada needs Indian students. Apart from the steady revenue flow, there is also a need for many people for the workforce while Canada is facing a jobs crisis. Some students are choosing to postpone their plans rather than cancel them. But students and parents are worried that admissions for the February-March (spring) session may be affected due to the diplomatic dispute.
If not Canada then where?
Starting last year, Australian universities began monitoring the quality of incoming students. In January, the UK introduced visa rules with stricter criteria on bringing dependents. Therefore, Eastern European countries—Poland, Georgia, Estonia, Lithuania—are visiting India with their college representatives to attract more students. The Ukraine war has seen an increase in medical and health care students going to the US and Germany. Some people are opting for higher education in India.
Read more: Canada dispute will not affect business
Are Canadian universities concerned?
The University of Toronto, one of the largest universities, has seen a 40% drop in applications this year. “The lack of clarity and uncertainty had a huge impact and was reflected in the decline in the number of applications received from Indian students this year,” Joseph Wong, vice president for international affairs at the university, said in May. August–September This is one of the most popular student admission periods, in most Canadian universities, Indian students form the second largest group after the Chinese.
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