In a recent move that benefits international students significantly, the Federal Court in Canada removed the requirement of having to pay all or part of their tuition fees, to be considered as eligible to apply for a study permit application in Canada.
Taking the stance in an important ruling, the Federal Court stated that international students should be able to prove their ability to pay the tuition and cover all expenses as and when required. Those able to meet this criterion can be invited to apply for the study permit and would not face a penalty for unpaid tuition during the application period.
Reports stated that the move was related to an Iranian student’s case, i.e. Tehrani v Canada, where the study permit application of the student had been rejected by the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) as a result of their inability to pay the tuition fee.
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With this step, foreign national students will now be able to overcome a barrier that had restricted a number of students from studying in Canada because of their inability to pay the entire or part of the tuition fee during the application stage. Media reports state that thousands of Indians who plan to study in Canada can finally take a breather.
Immigration records in 2022 show a significant increase in the number of international students entering the country for higher studies. Reports reveal that more than 550,000 new international students enrolled in 2022. IRCC data further revealed that Indian students retained the category of the largest benefactors, with more than 226,460 visas approved and issued.
According to the latest information, a total of 807,750 international students held valid study permits as of 31 December 2022, which reports call to be an “all-time high”. Among these students, it was the Indians again that took the first spot with 319,130 students currently enrolled in Canada.
Canada being one of the most popular study-abroad destinations among students wishing to pursue higher studies abroad, is backed by these numbers. A 2022 study revealed that Canada emerged as the top destination for 27% of the 11,271 respondents.
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The hike in the number of Indians and other international students choosing to study in Canada can be attributed to the “smooth immigration process, student-friendly policies, high employability rate and multicultural environment” that the country has presented over the years. Thus, making it one of the top destinations for anyone seeking quality education or building their career.
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Source: The Economic Times
