Canada’s Witnesses Decline in Indian Study Permits

Canada’s Witnesses: Canada’s appeal for Indian students appears to be diminishing, as recent data reveals a sharp decline in study permit applications. Processed by the Canadian government, applications for Indian students plummeted from nearly 146K to fewer than 87K between July and October 2022 and 2023, indicating a substantial decrease.

Canada’s Witnesses Updates

Contrary to the earlier enthusiasm shown by Indian students in the first half of the year, with a 25% increase in study permit applications processed compared to 2022, the sudden drop raises concerns in the education sector.

While diplomatic tensions between India and Canada may seem a likely cause. Social media platforms have become forums for international students to share challenges in Canada, highlighting the high cost of living and unmet promises of opportunities.

In response to soaring living costs and inflation, the Canadian government introduced an Affordability Plan. Despite the decline in processed applications, study permit approval rates for Indian students have risen. From January to September, an additional 32K Indian students gained approval to study in Canada compared to the previous year.

Amidst these challenges, there is a silver lining in sustained interest from students of other nationalities in Canadian education. This shift has resulted in a more diverse applicant pool for Canadian institutions, with Indian students constituting 36% of study permit applications in 2023, down from nearly half in the previous year.

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