Friends or Foes: Stats & Figures of Indian Students in Canada

According to the official data published by the Canadian Bureau of International Education (CBIE), over 8 lakh international students were pursuing their education in Canada at all levels of study at the end of 2022. Among them, Indian students are Canada's largest international student group, accounting for around 40% of all international students. They are also one of the fastest-growing international student groups, with the number of Indian students in Canada having increased by 47% in the past five years.

Out of 319,130 Indian students in Canada in 2022, 209,930 were pursuing undergraduate degrees in Colleges, 80,270 were pursuing graduate degrees in Universities, and 28,930 were pursuing diplomas or certificates.

Indian students travel to Canada for a variety of reasons. Many are drawn to Canada's high-quality education system and its reputation for welcoming immigrants. Others are attracted to Canada's strong job market and its relatively low cost of living. There is a huge draw of students hailing from Punjab, which happens to be India’s largest state-wise exporter of students to Canada.

Indian Students Lead From the Front

International students contributed $22.3 billion to the Canadian economy in 2022 and supported over 370,000 jobs in Canada in 2022. Indian students lead the pack making a significant contribution to the Canadian economy. In 2022, Indian students contributed $10.2 billion approximately to the Canadian economy. They also support over 170,000 jobs in Canada. International students have a positive impact on the Canadian economy in a number of ways, including:

• They contribute to tuition revenue for Canadian universities and colleges.
• They spend money on living expenses, such as housing, food, and transportation.
• They work part-time jobs to support themselves, which helps to fill labor shortages in key sectors of the economy.
• They contribute to the diversity of Canadian communities and workplaces.

Top Provinces & Universities preferred by International Students

According to the Canadian Bureau for International Education (CBIE), in 2022, the top five provinces for International students in Canada were:

These five provinces accounted for over 80% of all International students in Canada in 2022.

Some of the preferred universities for Indian students in Canada, based on the number of Indian students enrolled in 2022, were:

Source: University Website

These universities are all highly ranked and offer a variety of programs that are popular with Indian students. They are also located in major cities with large Indian populations, which can make it easier for students to adjust to life in Canada.

Some of the top fields of study that are most popular among Indian students in Canada are:

Canada’s Strong Commitment to Indian Students

The Canadian government has traditionally been committed to attracting and welcoming Indian students. In 2022, the Canadian government launched the Student Direct Stream (SDS), which is a fast-track visa processing program for students from India, China, the Philippines, and Vietnam. The SDS has been a success, with over 100,000 Indian students receiving visas through the program since its launch.

The Canadian government is also working to make Canada more affordable for Indian students. In 2022, the Canadian government launched the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) Extension program, which allows international students to stay in Canada for up to three years after graduation to work in a skilled job. This program has been welcomed by Indian students, as it gives them more time to gain work experience in Canada and potentially find a permanent job. 

Conclusion

Even though the future of the India-Canada relationship looks uncertain as of now, the deeper ties between the two countries in student export, subsequent revenue generation, and trade may work as reason enough for the countries to find a middle ground. 

However, the students, at this point, are advised to use their discretion and research when applying to a Canadian university.