Imagine yourself travelling on a road or highway with no signboards. There is nothing to tell you where you are heading, the distance between the destination or where you are. It is difficult to imagine the amount of illusion one can have on such a road. The situation discussed is not hypothetical though.
The journey of most international students starts the same way. They learn about things as they go and in most cases, start without any blueprint plan. Things become more confusing as immigration rules keep changing. Canada recently has undertaken a lot of revamping of its immigration policies. Those planning to study in Canada are left on a highway without knowing their whereabouts.
The current situation is spoiled further by elements that have barely been in business for two or three years. They are spreading a lot of negativity and discouragement about these changes. Lack of complete information and proper guidance wastes international students’ time, money, and resources.
In this tumultuous time, prospective international students need motivation and the right guidance to move ahead in life. The rules announced by Canada have fetched multiple interpretations, here we dissect them in a way to help students move in the right direction to apply for a Canada study visa. Our analysis of the rules to be effective from November 1, 2024, will serve as signboards to fulfil your dream of studying in Canada.
Changes Announced on Post-graduate Work Permit
Since the beginning of 2024, the Canadian government has made regular announcements on post-graduate work permits (PGWP). These announcements are pointing us in a particular direction with certain expectations from us. The duration of PGWP has remained the same, and it continues to be granted for one year or three years. PGWP is granted when you study at an approved institution in Canada, including a government institution or a university that provides bachelor’s or master’s degrees.
Starting November 1, 2024, IELTS will be compulsory for students applying for PGWP. This rule applies irrespective of the course you are pursuing and the institution you are studying. English language test is one of the requirements to be eligible for PGWP for student visas granted before November 1, 2024.
Students applying for a study visa after November 1, 2024, should fulfil two conditions to be eligible for PGWP. The first condition is to appear for IELTS once their studies are complete, and the second is to meet the field of study requirement. Students should study in a sector which falls into the five broad categories. These five sectors are agriculture, healthcare, STEM programmes, trade, and transport.
In simple terms, if you pursue your education in any of these five sectors, you have a much higher chance of receiving PGWP and will be able to apply for permanent residency. This is what Canada is expecting from you. If you are planning to study in Canada, study in a field that is in demand there. Pursuing education in generic fields, having no job requirements such as hospitality and management, will make things difficult for you. When there are no jobs in your field of study, a PGWP will be of little use.
The Education System in Canada
Overseas education has two parts, one is studying for a diploma and the other is for acquiring a degree. Almost every country, including Canada, is working to bring down diploma courses. They don’t want an international student to spend a fortune pursuing education and end up being of no use to them or in their home country. Other countries like Australia and the UK have stopped promoting diploma courses to international students and Canada is following suit.
When investing in international education in Canada, study a programme linked with one of the five fields of study requirements, as mentioned above. Following the Canadian government’s expectations will make it easy for you to get PGWP and then apply for permanent residency. Over 900 occupations under the five broad categories are on the long-term shortage list. Students in any field of study be it medical or non-medical will find an occupation in the list linked with their area of study. Talk to overseas education consultants in Chandigarh for more clarification on how to travel the path of a Canada student visa.
Meeting the Expectations
Canada is very clear about what it wants from international students coming to study. The actual situation is that we do not have the will to understand what Canada expects from us. We should come out of the zone where we can pick any random programme which is easy for us to study and we will be granted a study visa and work permit later on. We should apply for a Canada student visa by understanding the expectations from us to ensure the outcome is what we want.
