This Canadian College Attracts More Indian Students Than Locals

Every year, thousands of students aspire to pursue higher education abroad, with countries like the USA, UK, Australia, and Canada topping their lists. Canada, in particular, has witnessed a significant influx of students from India, drawn by the promise of quality education and a transformative lifestyle.

Notably, a college in Timmins, a remote city in Ontario, Canada, called Northern College, has emerged as a significant hub for Indian students. While the college may be relatively unknown among Canadians, it has become immensely popular among Indian students, with approximately 80 per cent of the student body comprising individuals from India. Interestingly, the linguistic landscape on the college campus reflects this demographic, as languages like Hindi, Punjabi, and Gujarati often dominate the auditory landscape over English.

The journey to Northern College is no small feat, taking approximately 8 hours from the bustling city centre of Toronto. Despite its remote location, the college has gained favour among Indian students, establishing itself as a preferred destination for higher education. In 2014, only 40 international students were enrolled at Northern College. However, recognizing the growth potential, the college entered into a partnership with a private institution in 2015, resulting in the opening of a campus in a Toronto suburb. This strategic move proved successful, leading to a rapid surge in enrollment. As of now, one-third of the college’s students pursue their studies at the Timmins campus.

The surge in the number of international students has presented challenges, particularly in terms of housing shortages near the campus. Responding to this issue, the Canadian government recently decided to increase house prices, a measure aimed at managing student numbers. Consequently, Northern College had to make the difficult decision to cancel the admissions of several hundred international students this year due to the accommodation shortage in Timmins.

The migration trend, especially from North India to Canada, is notable, driven by factors like student-friendly policies, affordability, streamlined paperwork, and ample employment opportunities.