色狐入口
New figures show a significant increase in the number of international students enrolling in Canadian universities for the 2017/2018 academic year. Many stakeholders have attributed this increase to the growing perception of Canada as a stable and welcoming study destination in the wake of various political events worldwide. In recent months, increasing numbers of听international students are choosing to , and immigrate after graduation.
By the end of 2016, there were more than 414,000 active study permits 鈥� although the actual number of international students in Canada differs from this figure, as some study permit holders may not currently be in Canada, and many international students .
Almost half of these students study in , with and following behind as popular study destinations.
Universities witness significant growth in international applications and enrolment
Many news sites have reported a recent surge in interest in Canada as an immigration destination, often attributed to the election of Donald Trump as President of the United States, and this interest extended to Canada as a study destination.
At the , more than double the number of American students accepted their admission offers for 2017, compared with 2016. saw an increase of 30 percent in applications from international students, and in the early stages of the admissions cycle, there has also been an increase of 36 percent in the number of international students accepting their admission offer.
鈥淲e welcome a growing interest in studying in Canada and expect this development to be more than a one year anomaly 鈥� we expect to see strong numbers also in the coming years,鈥� stated Julia Jones-Bourque, Marketing & Communications Manager at the University of Alberta.
Chris Mota, university spokesperson for , said, 鈥渨e鈥檝e been fortunate in that we鈥檝e seen steady increases over the years, so our enrolment has never been an issue. But this year it鈥檚 going to be higher.鈥� Concordia University, based in downtown Montreal, has seen increases of up to 325 percent in the number of undergraduate applications received from certain countries 鈥� including Mexico (+325 percent), Iran (+317 percent), and India (+233 percent).
鈥淭hese are countries [whose students] may have considered other parts of the world but now are thinking you know what, maybe I鈥檒l give Canada a try,鈥� Mota noted.
鈥淐anada provides a level of stability and comfort, we鈥檙e ranked well, we鈥檙e a safe country, by and large, so it鈥檚 moved its way up as a destination of choice.鈥�
Pathway to Permanent Residence
International graduates of Canadian institutions may obtain a after their studies, allowing them to work anywhere in Canada, for any employer, for up to three years. The PGWP program was created in order to attract international students to Canada, and few countries with equivalent education systems offer such open and advantageous work opportunities to international graduates.
The growth in the number of PGWPs issued each year has seen a significant increase. At the end of 2008, there were approximately 15,600 PGWP holders. By the end of 2016, there were more than 101,000.
Work experience gained on a PGWP can contribute towards an international graduate鈥檚 eligibility for , and can provide a way to remain in Canada and work while an application for permanent residence is in process.
Immigration Programs Target International Graduates
The success of Canada鈥檚 immigration system with regards to enabling international students to remain after graduation is clear 鈥� more than 30,000 former study permit holders became permanent residents in 2016. Of these, the majority (more than 75 percent) entered as economic immigrants, meaning they were not sponsored by a family member, spouse, or common-law partner, and did not enter through refugee/humanitarian programs.
The Canadian government鈥檚 willingness to welcome international graduates as new Canadian permanent residents has been supported by policy changes. On November 19, 2016, Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) introduced additional points under the Express Entry for candidates in the pool with a Canadian educational credential. These changes have served to make international graduate candidates more competitive in the Express Entry pool.
| Level of education | Additional CRS points |
|---|---|
| One- or two-year post-secondary program | 15 |
| Post-secondary program of three years or more, or Master鈥檚, Doctoral, or eligible entry-to-practice professional degree | 30 |
Over the first three months following the changes, 46 percent of ITAs were issued to international graduates, compared to an average of 31 percent before the changes.
Of the 55,475 candidates in the Express Entry pool as of January 19, 2017, 14听percent had a Canadian educational credential. The median score of these international graduate candidates was 423, compared to a median score of 373 among candidates without a Canadian educational credential. Considering听the latest Express Entry draw saw a record low CRS听score requirement听of 415, it is clear to see that these candidates benefit greatly from their Canadian educational experience when it comes to their position in the Express Entry pool.
International students and post-graduate workers in Canada can join the for a chance to win a $2,500 scholarship. Members also get access to exclusive notifications, tools and resources to help maximize their time in Canada and pursue a pathway to permanent residence.
If you want to discover your options for studying in Canada, or staying in Canada after graduation, complete the free today.
To find out if you are eligible to immigrate to Canada permanently, .
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