the CanadaVisa Team - 09 July, 2015
The number of international students choosing to study in Canada at third-level education institutions has increased by 26 per cent since 2012, it has been revealed. 103,999 study permits were issued from January to September of 2014, an 11 per cent increase from the same period in 2013 (93,717) and a 26 per cent increase for the same period in 2012 (84,207).
More than half of international students entering Canada in 2013 were citizens of the following five countries: the People’s Republic of China (29,414), India (13,758), South Korea (7,284), France (7,045) and the United States (4,847). In 2013, Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada launched a strategy to double the number of international students coming to Canada without displacing Canadian students by 2022.
“Our government is proud that Canada continues to be a study destination of choice for international students,” said Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, Chris Alexander. “International students generate an estimated $8 billion in economic activity in Canada each year and thousands will remain in Canada permanently, putting their education and experience to work and contributing to economic and job growth in Canada.”
With foreign graduate students in Canada being issued a post-graduate work permit for three years on completion of their studies, it is likely that many of these students will remain in Canada once they have completed their studies.
