A tremendous shift has been marked in the international education sector. The post-pandemic effects are witnessed across the globe within the international sector too; this leads to countries changing their policies. There is a need to make informed decisions and understand how the changes can impact prospective students.
Recently, the changes in Canadian student-visa policy have proven to be of tremendous importance. The new policy announced by Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) reveals a 35% reduction in study permits. This alteration in the policy has increased the competition in admissions, making Canada less appealing to students.
The housing crisis in the country indicates no imminent plan to change this reduction in visas at the moment; these effects don’t appear to be temporary. Considering the difficulties in getting the Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) and fulfilling the new requirement, Canada has lost its appeal among Indian students. However, it has been witnessed that students haven’t really given up on their dreams to study abroad as they continue to search for more options.
The attention of students has been shifted to the US and the UK. The applications to the universities in these countries have seen new heights, while the number of seats remains the same.
There are several factors that have made a greater number of students interested in applying to the UK. However, with the increase in applications, there has also been a considerable increase in rejection rates. The high rejection rate certainly signals a decrease in the acceptance rate.
Most of the students, instead of choosing the US, are heading towards the UK. The contributing reasons are the comparatively lower average cost of studying in the UK and the unstable nature of the job market in the US.
Moreover, following the post-pandemic, enormous layoffs have been witnessed in the tech industry, and many students are fearful of the uncertainties associated with US education. This anxiety is heightened by the anticipation that the Trump administration may reinstate unfavourable H-1B visa restrictions that expired in March 2021. If the prohibition is reinstated, many overseas students will be unable to work following graduation.
