Students preparing to go to Canada — one of the top three destinations for higher studies and residency — in the next academic year have put their plans on hold for the time being as tensions between the two countries escalate. Most parents said they will wait and watch the situation till December since the application deadline is January 2025.
Canada has been the most preferred destination to study abroad just after the United States (US) and United Kingdom (UK) for years, but a sentiment of uncertainty has crept in amid a fresh diplomatic row between the two countries.
Over the past year, the two nations have locked horns over Khalistani separatists and, recently, both countries withdrew their diplomatic staff. This was after Canada accused India of being involved in “serious criminal activity” on its soil, a charge that India has strongly rejected.
“We had planned to apply for all three countries — US, UK and Canada — to get the best possible university for my son but the developments earlier this week made us put our application for Canada on hold for a while now. Since we have time till January next year, we will wait and watch how things unfold on the Canada front. This time, it doesn’t seem like the tension will subside very soon,” said a Mumbai-based parent who didn’t wish to be named in order to keep his son’s application details confidential.
According to Pratibha Jain, a study-abroad expert and founder of Eduabroad consultancy, she has been flooded with calls from parents and students since the tension between the countries started earlier this week.
“The first two days after the row began, we just didn’t receive any applications for Canada. I have been getting calls from applicants. The queries are mostly about how safe it will be in Canada; should they be applying now or wait till things settle down; and if the current scenario will impact jobs later. We have been telling parents to be patient since the tension between the two countries is fresh and it will take some time for things to get clear. We have been telling them it’s their call and since there are no urgent deadlines, they can wait and watch to take a decision,” said Jain.
This is the application phase for those applying to enol in universities abroad for the Fall (September) 2025 session. The deadline for submitting applications for this session, including those for scholarships, is January 2025. Any student from India applying abroad for higher studies always considers applying to Canada as well, even though their priority destination is US, UK or Australia, she said.
“Students always apply to at least three of these destinations, which always includes Canada since for those planning to get a job and settle down, it is the best option. This is mainly because it’s easier to get a work visa and residency in Canada than say in US or UK. So, by May-June, students know and they have decided on where they plan to go,” she added.
Another parent based in Delhi said they still want to apply to Canada for their daughter who wants to pursue post-graduation abroad, but may not decide on it if the current political climate around the North American country doesn’t change.
“We are currently applying to universities across the top destinations, including Canada, for our daughter, but her safety is our top concern. If the scenario around India-Canada ties remains the same few months down the next year, we may not pick the same even if she gets through a top-end university there,” the parent said, requesting not to be named.
Most parents didn’t wish to be named, fearing that putting their concerns about the situation out in public may become a hurdle in the processing or acceptance of their children’s study abroad applications.
The Canadian government under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau put a cap on international student intake this January, cutting it down by 35 per cent. The cut is going to increase further by 10 per cent in 2025, it stated this September. The move came amid record-level immigration in the country. There was a serious crisis for housing and jobs being faced by Indian students who comprise at least 40 per cent of foreign students there.
In 2023, India accounted for around five lakh study permit holders, representing 41 per cent of the total, as per the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) year-end data.
Manan Gupta, Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant “(RCIC-IRB) from Skylake Immigration, Brampton, speaking to News18 over a phone call said on-ground, the general sentiment is that this situation between the two nations should be resolved at the earliest as there is a huge Indian diaspora living in Canada, a large part of which is students.
“While tensions have been brewing since last year, this time it doesn’t seem to be diffusing any soon and may have a long-term impact. People planning to come down here to meet family or students might be nervous for the time being. It will take some time for more clarity on the situation,” said Gupta.
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