International Students Can Now Join More Canadian Universities

Good news for the international students as more Canadian universities are going to open in 2021. Canada is one of the most popular international student study destinations in the world. Its student-friendly education policies and responsible handling of the pandemic has increased his popularity among the international students. 

Universities in Ontario are likely to open in 2021

It looks like 2021 will bring good fortune for the international students. Many Canadian universities have received approval from the local government to reopen in 2021. They have made it to the list of approved designated learning institutions. Hence they can reopen and welcome the international students in the New Year. 

The Canadian government had announced that designated learning institutions could reopen after sending their proposals to the local government regarding how they are planning to maintain safety precautions during the pandemic. They need to clearly explain the steps to maintain public safety and quarantine for international students in their Covid-19 readiness plan. They need to elucidate how universities will take care of international students after arriving in the country. If the local government is happy with the universities’ proposal, only international students can enter the college campus.

Several universities have already reopened from October 2020. All these are DLI universities. Some universities have multiple campuses in the province. All of them have to seek permission from the local government. The government has made it clear that international students have to be in quarantine for 14 days. That is something mandatory.

What are the designated learning institutions? 

Designated learning institutions are the schools or colleges that have received permission from the local government to host international students during the pandemic. 

Ontario has many colleges and universities where international students study every year. Some top-notch universities include Ryerson University, the University of Windsor, and the University of Waterloo.

Which colleges are reopening in 2021? 

Wycliffe College

Herzing College

International Test Pilot School

University of Trinity College

Knox College,

Emmanuel College of Victoria University,

Sprott Shaw Language College

Redeemer University College

North American Business College of Sciences & Languages

Regis College

St. Augustine’s Seminary of Toronto

Ontario is a famous province in Canada because nearly 50% of the total international students study here. It boasts of having the highest number of international students every year. In 2019, about 307,000 students studied in Ontario. Around 23% of the Canadian international students, which is about 145,000 people study in British Columbia. Approximately 87,000 international students study in Quebec, which accounts for 14 percent of international students. 

Some other provinces in Canada are Nova Scotia and Manitoba. Nearly 19000 international students study in these provinces. 

Which DLIs need approval from the provincial government?

The DLIs in the following provinces need permission from the local government to welcomeinternational students.

Prince Edward Island

Alberta

Newfoundland

British Columbia

Labrador

New Brunswick

Manitoba

Ontario

Quebec

Yukon

Saskatchewan

Is there any drop in the international student enrollments in the country?

A survey conducted by the Course Compare revealed a drop in the international student enrollment in the country despite its new education policies. Course Compare is a popular platform that connects students to training programs. They have observed a 9% drop in the international student enrollment this year as per the official figures. More domestic students have applied to Canadian universities in 2020. There are various reasons behind the drop in international student enrollment in the country. 

Some Canadian universities are continuing their online education programs in the next year. Now international students are not in favor of online education programs. And they have a logical reason behind it. International students have to pay double or triple the amount for tuition fees than domestic students. So, if everything is online, then why should they pay so much money for remote learning? They cannot use the labs or any other facilities.

International students who enroll for nursing, acting, film production, electrical engineering, civil engineering, or lab dependent programs cannot study online. They need face to face interactions and practical classes. Some universities have suspended all these programs owing to the infrastructural difficulties. It is a fact that these education programs cannot be operated while maintaining social distancing.

As a result, there is a drop in international student enrollment in over 50 colleges in Canada. As per the official figures, international student enrolment is down by 19.8 percent in Cambrian College in Sudbury.

Some Canadian universities are not even ready to open up for international students. They are still making plans and updating proposals. It is evident that unless they have prepared the Covid-19 readiness plan, the question of enrolling students is not possible.

Not everything is bad

Despite the bleak reports in several Canadian colleges, there is some positive news too. There is a 9.1 % increase in international student enrollment in UBC Okanagan in British Columbia. Plus, the Canadian government is working on new education plans and immigration laws to lure international students. They have already introduced an immigration law where international students can set up their entrepreneurial venture after finishing their higher studies. They can stay in the country for a few more years after completing their graduation to set up their business and establish their career. Their families can also enter the country and work here when international students study here after getting the required permissions. Not many countries offer these kinds of immigration laws, which allow international students and their families to build a stable financial life. Hopefully, international students will take advantage of this friendly immigration law and apply to Canadian universities in 2021.

Final note 

International students are happy to know that many top-notch universities in Ontario are reopening in 2021. The Canadian government has issued the safety guidelines that international students have to follow after arriving in the country. The international students have no problem in following those guidelines. Students feel that Canada has handled the pandemic situation and the international students quite well. They consider Canada as one of the safest study destinations in the world.