If you’re in any way interested in studying in Canada, or are interested in international study generally, then you must have heard that Canada announced new restrictions affecting international students.
Well, whether you’re up to date on these new rules or not, we aim to give you the low-down here on TheGlobalWin Blog.
Remember how I said in the last blog post that after the UK released its immigration restrictions, other countries would follow suit?
Well, e don happen!
So what exactly happened?
The Canadian Government, through its Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship, Marc Miller, announced on Monday, January 22, 2024, three new measures aimed to improve the quality of education for international students in Canada.
These measures are especially aimed at stopping some private institutions who are “taking advantage of international students by operating under-resourced campuses, lacking supports for students, and charging high tuition fees—all the while significantly increasing their intake of international students.”
This is according to the Minister.
In simpler words, there are some private colleges in Canada that are licensed to deliver the courses of associated public colleges to international students.
These private colleges have less eyes on them unlike public colleges. So, they take advantage of this “loophole” to bring into Canada more students than they can handle, in order to increase their revenue, without providing adequate support for these students.
This is what the government of Canada is trying to control.
Now let’s discuss the three measures.
The new measures
1. Two-year cap on new study permits.
The most notable of the new measurements is a temporary two-year cap on new international study permits.
That is, they’ll be reducing the number of international students that come into Canada – and this could result in as much as a 35% reduction in study permits in 2024, compared to 2023.
This cap will vary from province to province, based on population. This means some provinces will be heavily affected and experience even over 50% reduction in new students, while some will have “room to [grow] if they so choose.”
There is good news however: the Minister also stated that the cap will not apply to students in graduate-level programmes, including master’s or doctoral studies.
Why is this good news?
Most Nigerians who travel to Canada for international studies go there for their Master’s program – especially those who actually want to japa.
More about that soon.
2. Provincial attestation.
Effective immediately (as at time of announcement), in addition to their study permit applications, applicants must now get attestation letters from their provinces. (Mor like provinces of the schools they intend to attend.)
Individual provinces and territories have been directed to establish criteria for issuing such provincial attestations.
If Canada is on your radar, you should do well to look out for the criteria released by your desired province or territory.
3. Post-Graduation Work Permit Program eligibility criteria.
The Honorable Minister also announced that as of 1st September 2024, post-graduate work permits will no longer be available to students enrolled in programs delivered via public-private partnerships. (Those schools I mentioned earlier.)
More so, open work permits will only be granted to spouses of international students enrolled in master’s and Ph.D. programs, as well as those enrolled in professional programs like medicine and law.
Spouses of students enrolled in other levels of study, including undergraduate and college programs, will no longer be eligible for work permits (unless they are studying law, medicine, engineering, etc.).
And finally – Good News Alert!!! – graduates of master’s programs will soon be eligible to apply for a three-year work permit. This is better than the current arrangement where the length of your work permit is based on the duration of your study program.
These are the major takeaways from the new measures announced by the Canadian Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship.
How do these affect you and how does TheGlobalWin help you?
Like I said earlier, most Nigerians who go to Canada for study go for their master’s and doctoral programs. So if these are the programs you’re interested in, then these don’t affect you.
In fact, these new measures favour you more.
How?
Your spouse will not just be able to work while you study, you’ll get a longer post-graduation work permit – three years!
So, yea, your Canadian study (or japa) dreams are still very valid.
If, however, funding your Canadian studies is a problem, then I have good news for you:
TheGlobalWin gives you the opportunity to get your international study fully funded. Be it in Canada or even the UK or the US, you can get a full scholarship for your master’s and PhD program.
This scholarship covers your tuition, visa, ticket and accommodation.
All you have to do is to play our International Study Games {insert hyperlink} – Master’s or PhD, and you stand a chance of winning this scholarship.
Obviously, the more you play, the higher your chances of winning the game.
We already have winners of this and other games on our website, so you can verify by yourself.
Once you’re ready to make your international study and travel dreams come true, simply click here to find our International Study Games and play immediately: {insert link}
May the odds forever be with you!
PS: Things can only get worse. I predicted that other countries will follow the UK’s restrictions. The truth is, too many people are taking advantage of these immigration opportunities, so it’s normal they become harder with time.
Luckily for you, Canada’s rules aren’t as strict as the UK’s, and the US hasn’t followed suit yet. So you still have the opportunity to relocate abroad via the study route.
Don’t wait till you have the funds to pursue these opportunities; play TheGlobalWin International Study Games now to stand a chance to win a full scholarship to study in any University of your choice in the UK, US or Canada.
