We often form perceptions based on quick information grabbed from a random source on the internet. Mostly, such a source leads to more confusion and queries rather than a clear-cut answer. Canada has been a hot cake for the last two weeks surrounded by a similar scenario. Different queries are asked from various segments of students, including those who want to pursue graduate or post-graduate studies. Every question seeks one answer, which course to do, which course will be eligible for PGWP, and how they will achieve their ultimate goal of becoming permanent residents.

A student’s overseas study journey starts with preparing for and clearing an English proficiency test. Then comes the course and university selection and what will happen to them after two years. The entire journey can be divided into different steps, first is the study visa, next is to get the post-graduate work permit, and what you have to do during PGWP to enable you to become a permanent resident. In continuation of ESS Global’s conversation with Scott Harper, here we interact with Arti Rawat, Laurentian University, Sudbury, Ontario, Canada. She will address some of the questions and concerns that many of us have.

This conversation is important because students have multiple queries when they want to study in Canada. The changes that have taken place recently have confused students and parents, so this interaction seeks to iron out all such confusion. It reinstates that Canada is still welcoming to international students and many are still moving there provided they have the right approach.

Canada caught everyone by surprise as it abolished the Student Direct Stream. How do the universities in Canada take this move?

Removal of SDS is good not only for universities but also for students globally. With SDS students had the burden to pay GIC for one year or institution’s tuition fees for the first year. Now, it is an optional thing. If you are accepted by a highly reputed university for a course that will get you a high-paying job in future, you will not face any difficulty in getting the visa.

What are the advantages of studying at Laurentian University based on the current changes?

Laurentian University is a public research-based university located in Sudbury and was in the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot programme (RNIP). This means there is a shortage of skilled manpower at this place. The first benefit of studying at this university is the affordability as the tuition fees here are highly competitive. Plus, it provides scholarships of up to CAD 60,000. Students from all the boards are accepted and it has a standard criteria of 70%, and this applies to any programme that a student wants to pursue.

What are the eligibility criteria for being awarded this scholarship?

There are no specific criteria to be eligible for the scholarship, other than achieving an overall 70% from any board. Students can have any subject combination to attain the required percentage, however, one needs to have the subjects required to be eligible for a particular programme. For example, one should have maths to pursue nursing. The good thing is that scholarships are given only based on percentages. There is no requirement to write an essay or fulfil any other thing. 

Among the five categories of healthcare, engineering, nursing, trade, and agriculture, in how many does the university offer courses?

The university has more than 100 programmes, including those in kinesiology, orthophony, biomedical, and biology. In engineering, there are three specialisations and it also has programmes in pharmaceuticals. The university has many programmes that fall into the five categories listed by the government.

When we talk about becoming eligible for a post-graduate work permit, one should pursue a degree in the five categories listed by the Canadian government. Laurentian University has ample programmes that fall under these categories. Pursuing a degree in a generic field may get an easy visa acceptance but it will become difficult to get PGWP.

Nursing is a highly popular profession, especially in Punjab. Many universities require a background in mathematics at the school level for nursing programme eligibility. In cases where a student does not have mathematics, could universities offer a math test to allow students to demonstrate their eligibility?

For direct entry, maths is required for admission to the nursing programme. However, most of the students in India who want to pursue nursing have PCB (physics, chemistry, and biology). Students who do not have maths can pursue a Bachelor of Biomedical Biology, for one year and from the second year they can transition to the main course. After completion of the four-year programme, students will receive a nursing degree. This means if you are not directly eligible for nursing, you can study the same subject combination for another degree for one year and then return to the main programme. 

When we transition to the main nursing programme, is there a condition of cumulative grade point average (CGPA)?

Since nursing is one of the most competitive professions in the world, students have to maintain 80-85% in the first year to facilitate an easy transition to the main nursing programme. Talking about the language proficiency requirement, students need to have 6.5 bands each, with no less than 6 in IELTS. Laurentian University also accepts Duolingo and PTE as well. Students who are not able to score the required bands in IELTS can appear for Duolingo, and with a score of 125 with not less than 110, it will be possible to get the visa.

Nursing and Engineering are a few programmes in which a spouse can accompany the main applicant through an open work permit. No other country provides this facility except Canada. What specialisations are available in Engineering at Laurentian University?

In a Master of Engineering, one can specialise in mining, mechanical, chemical, and mechatronics. The benefit of pursuing engineering from this institute is that two years of master of engineering programmes can be completed in one year. The number of credits provided in two years will be given in one year, so it will not affect the minimum credit requirement to award a master’s degree in Canada. The plus point here is that a spousal work permit is allowed even in that one-year master’s degree programme.

In other words, students can move to Canada to pursue a master’s degree with a two-year visa. While pursuing the programme, if the student can take the study load, the course can be completed as early as one year. Talk to overseas education consultants in Chandigarh to reap the maximum benefits of your study abroad experience.

What about part-time job opportunities? There is a common perception that the PNP or RNIP does not offer sufficient job prospects.

The Provincial Nominee Programme, RNIP, or the recently launched RCIP (Rural Community Immigration Pilot) in which Sudbury has ample job opportunities. This programme is popular there because there are mostly mines in Sudbury and the mining programme offered by Laurentian University has maintained a 96% employment rate. This is because the curriculum of these programmes is designed to match the requirements of the mining industry. There are jobs in the mining sector but right people are required. Students who pursue this programme will have a better chance of becoming permanent residents because the Sudbury mining sector is a regional area.

One of the most important questions asked by students pursuing higher education is about the institution’s placement rate. In India, the success of an educational programme is often measured by the quality of placements it offers, whether it’s at IITs, IIMs, or any other institution. While Sudbury is well-known for its mining industry, what about opportunities in the healthcare sector?

Sudbury has the biggest hospital in the northeastern Ontario region. Students who are pursuing healthcare programmes from this institution are undertaking assignments from this hospital and are absorbed in the job market.