Canada is the best country in the world when it comes to getting a college or university education, say international students surveyed by IDP Connect.

The Australia-based, global education services provider’s latest Emerging Futures report shows international students prefer Canada over the United States, United Kingdom and Australia by a wide margin.

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International students told IDP that Canada was their first choice of destination for their higher education in 27 per cent of cases. 

That compares to only 20 per cent who favoured the United States, and 19 per cent for each of the United Kingdom and Australia.

CANADA’S OPEN IMMIGRATION POLICIES MAKE IT MORE POPULAR WITH INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

That means Canada is 35 per cent more popular a destination for international students than the United States.

The next most-popular countries were New Zealand and China, each of which was picked by only four per cent of international students. 

Canada’s open-door policy to immigration was a big part of the country’s appeal to international students.

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The report, released late last month, shows international students see Canada as top because of its concern for the welfare of international students, post-study work visa policies and graduate employment opportunities.

“Career development was a key motivating factor for three out of four respondents, 74 per cent, who prefer to study in Canada,” notes the report.

International students who come to Canada under a Study Permit can later apply for a Post-Graduation Work Permit, and eventually apply for permanent residence through the Express Entry system.

Canada welcomes more than 350,000 international students every year. To be eligible to study in Canada these students must demonstrate that they:

• have been accepted by a school, college, university or other educational institution in Canada;
• have enough money to pay for their tuition fees, living expenses, and return transportation;
• are law-abiding citizens with no criminal records;
• are in good health and willing to complete a medical examination, and;
• can satisfy an immigration officer that they will leave Canada at the end of their authorized stays.

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS CAN WORK ON CANADIAN CAMPUSES WITHOUT A WORK PERMIT

Once issued a study permit, these students can work in Canada under the following categories:

• on campus without a work permit;
• off campus with a work permit;
• in co-op and internship programs, where work experience is part of the curriculum, with a work permit.

Upon graduation, a foreign student may apply for a PGWP which is usually issued for the length of the study program, up to a maximum of three years.

The valuable work experience gained while an international grad works in Canada under the PGWP can count towards a permanent residence application through Canada Express Entry system.

Under the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) used by Express Entry system programs, applicants for immigration are assigned points based on:

• Skills;
• Work experience;
• Language ability;
• Language ability and education of the applicant’s spouse or common-law partner;
• Possession of a job offer supported by a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment;
• Possession of a provincial government nomination for permanent residence, and;
• Certain combinations of language skills, education and work experience result in a higher chance of the applicant becoming employed (skill transferability).