Tight Canada visa scrutiny hits Indian students hard
New Delhi: The number of Indian students seeking admission to Canadian universities is declining, with nearly half the applicants for this year's autumn intake facing visa rejections due to a clampdown on study permits.
Canadian universities such as the University of Regina and the University of British Columbia, confirmed in response to ET's queries that there has been a dip in international students, including those from India. Isabelle Dubois, senior communications advisor for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), acknowledged that there has been a decline in visa approval rates.
Most colleges are refunding the full fee, while some are giving an option for deferral, according to study abroad firms such as IDP Education, MSM Unify and Collegify. Rejection rates are especially high for lower-ranked colleges and short-duration courses, which are facing seven to eight rejections in 10 applications, they said.
All study permit applications are assessed equally and against the same criteria, regardless of the country of origin, according to Dubois. "Over the past two years, reforms to improve the International Student Programme may have lowered approval rates," she said. "Education is a provincial and territorial responsibility in Canada. Applications are considered on a case-by-case basis, based on the information the applicant has provided in their application."
Experts said increasing difficulties in obtaining post-study employment opportunities have also contributed to the decline in applications from Indian students.
Indian students comprise about 16% of undergraduate international students at the University of British Columbia, making them the second-largest international student group at the institution.
"Recent federal immigration policy changes have impacted enrolment, and we have seen a decline," said Heinrich Kurt, associate vice president, communications, University of British Columbia. "We have experienced a notable decline in Indian student enrolment over the last few years."
Changes to IRCC regulations, coupled with the slowing of student visa processing, have negatively affected international student enrolment, University of Regina's senior public affairs strategist, Mindy Ellis, said in an emailed response.
However, most institutions like the University of Toronto are flexible when it comes to international students "who are unable to start their programmes of study on schedule because of delays in obtaining study permits, including deferring offers of admission", said its vice-president, international, Joseph Wong.
Canadian universities such as the University of Regina and the University of British Columbia, confirmed in response to ET's queries that there has been a dip in international students, including those from India. Isabelle Dubois, senior communications advisor for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), acknowledged that there has been a decline in visa approval rates.
Most colleges are refunding the full fee, while some are giving an option for deferral, according to study abroad firms such as IDP Education, MSM Unify and Collegify. Rejection rates are especially high for lower-ranked colleges and short-duration courses, which are facing seven to eight rejections in 10 applications, they said.
Experts said increasing difficulties in obtaining post-study employment opportunities have also contributed to the decline in applications from Indian students.
Indian students comprise about 16% of undergraduate international students at the University of British Columbia, making them the second-largest international student group at the institution.
"Recent federal immigration policy changes have impacted enrolment, and we have seen a decline," said Heinrich Kurt, associate vice president, communications, University of British Columbia. "We have experienced a notable decline in Indian student enrolment over the last few years."
Changes to IRCC regulations, coupled with the slowing of student visa processing, have negatively affected international student enrolment, University of Regina's senior public affairs strategist, Mindy Ellis, said in an emailed response.
However, most institutions like the University of Toronto are flexible when it comes to international students "who are unable to start their programmes of study on schedule because of delays in obtaining study permits, including deferring offers of admission", said its vice-president, international, Joseph Wong.
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