“International students in BC are frequently stuck in a cycle of multiple work permits at employment not related to their studies; education makes practically no difference in their employment outcomes,” reads the unpublished report.
“International students in BC are frequently stuck in a cycle of multiple work permits at employment not related to their studies; education makes practically no difference in their employment outcomes,” reads the unpublished report.
International students in Canada’s Langara College in Vancouver and Prince George’s College of New Caledonia are facing challenges when it comes to obtaining work related to their field of study and staying in Canada after graduation, according to a three-year survey of 1,300 students.
New research reveals that despite attracting the second-highest number of international students who choose to stay in the province after graduation, British Columbia has the lowest rate of offering permanent residency among all Canadian provinces.
International students, who have paid up to five times more in tuition fees than domestic students, are largely unable to obtain permanent residency within 10 years of living in Canada. This is the case for 70 percent of those with bachelor’s degrees, 50 percent of those with master’s degrees, and 60 percent of doctoral degree holders.
Jenny Francis, the project director of “Study, Work, Stay? Pathways & Outcomes for International Students in BC,” has shared the unpublished version and data of the forthcoming report with New Canadian Media.
“International students in BC are frequently stuck in a cycle of multiple work permits at employment not related to their studies; education makes practically no difference in their employment outcomes,” reads the unpublished report.
A survey conducted as part of the study found that 56 percent of students intend to stay in Canada and become citizens or permanent residents. However, federal immigration policies fail to consider this, still expecting them to return to their home countries.
The unpublished research suggests that post-secondary institutions are recruiting international students, who make up a significant portion of Canada’s temporary foreign work force, without providing sufficient pathways to employment in their chosen fields of study. The report indicates that recruiting new students takes priority over ensuring their success.
Nearly 75 percent of survey respondents identified affording tuition fees, in addition to other expenses, as their top challenge while studying in Canada. The increasing cost of living is making it difficult for international students to make ends meet.
International students pay tuition fees up to five times higher than local students and are typically restricted to working 20 hours a week. However, this limitation was lifted by the government in October 2022 to address worker shortages until December 2023. This move was made to bolster the labor market.
The issues faced by Canada’s international students, including rising costs, food insecurity, and workplace exploitation, are not limited to British Columbia alone.
In Ontario, higher tuition fees have pushed international students to turn to food banks, depriving them of traditional meals and a connection to their home countries due to limited availability of ethnic foods.
The report recommends that the Canadian government consider implementing more flexible breaks for foreign students, provide settlement services to postgraduate work permit holders, require English language testing as part of study permit applications, and increase the initial required sum for entry into Canada to $20,000.
The study also suggests that post-secondary institutions end their reliance on profit-driven immigration consultants, increase transparency regarding the use of international student tuition fees, provide employment and career counseling services, and recruit students from a wider range of countries.
