Canada processed around 740,000 student visa applications in 2022, and it is poised for another all-time high in 2023, according to the “Top Trends in International Education for 2024 and Beyond” report.
Canada processed around 740,000 student visa applications in 2022, and it is poised for another all-time high in 2023, according to the “Top Trends in International Education for 2024 and Beyond” report.
Canada is seeing a surge in the processing of study permits for international students, making it a leading destination among English-speaking Western countries, a report from EdTech firm ApplyBoard showed.
The country processed around 740,000 student visa applications in 2022, and it is poised for another all-time high in 2023, according to the “Top Trends in International Education for 2024 and Beyond” report.
The United States and other European countries are also gaining momentum in attracting international students, the report showed.
In 2022, the US processed over 630,000 F-1 visa applications, a 42 percent increase from the previous year, the highest since 2016.
UK, meanwhile, processed over 490,000 study visa applications in 2022, reflecting a 26 percent increase. However, some experts are concerned that international student growth in the UK may have plateaued.
For the first six months of 2023, the UK processed 105,000 visas for sponsored study, marking a four percent increase compared to the same period in 2022. The growth was lower than the 58 percent increase observed between 2021 and 2022, the report noted.
Moreover, some UK institutions reported lower-than-expected enrollment for the September 2023 intake, and there has been a decline in applications for January 2024 and beyond.
Germany, on the other hand, is emerging as a strong contender in international education, hosting nearly 368,000 students in the academic year 2022-2023. This figure represents a five percent increase over the previous academic year and sets a new record high for Germany as a destination for international students.
The country’s appeal to international students is enhanced by its policy of offering free tuition for most study programs at public universities. Additionally, students in Germany can apply for an extended 18-month job-seeking visa, allowing them to search for employment related to their field of study.
The attractive post-study opportunities contribute to the fact that nearly 40 percent of international students in Germany choose to stay in the country for the long term, the report said.
Canada cracks down on fraudulently obtained admission letters
In other news, immigration authorities in Canada are cracking down on international students who have fraudulently obtained admission letters from Canadian post-secondary institutions.
According to Immigration Minister Sean Fraser, Canada attributes the exploitation and abuse of international students to “bad actors” from abroad, saying these individuals take advantage of the lack of protection international students have in the country.
International students provide a significant amount of inexpensive labor, income for landlords, and revenue for universities and colleges. Canada’s two-stage migration system enables employers to hire foreign workers without completing a Labour Market Impact Assessment.
