Canada, US most preferred study destinations

Canada, 1st September: Canada and the US are becoming highly attractive destinations for studying abroad.

This becomes clear from the figures for the last decade showing significant increase in the number of international students coming to study either in Canada or in the US.

Canada becomes attractive study nation—Canada has become a hot destination for studying abroad. And the fact that it also offers international students an opportunity to apply for Canada permanent residency after successful completion of graduation programs is making the nation a preferred choice for foreign students.

Canada Experience Class- a route to Canada permanent resident status--The official data shows that out of the total applications submitted by international students pursuing post-secondary education programs in Canada, nearly 86 percent have already got approval.

Majority of the applications for gaining Canada permanent resident status were made either through Canada PNP (Provincial Nominee Programs) or through Canadian Experience Class.

Under the Canadian Experience Class program launched way back in the year 2008, foreign students are allowed to gain Canada permanent residence status.

As per the plans of Canadian government, the annual quota for providing Canada permanent resident status has been fixed to 25,000 immigrants and this includes temporary foreign workers as well as foreign students.

Since the international education sector in Canada contributes around $6.5 billion(Canada dollars) to the nation’s economy, it is of great significance to the nation.

No wonder, the federal government as well as various Canadian educational institutes have a top priority to allure more and more international students in to Canada. The government is keen to implement strategies aimed at harnessing the skills of foreign students studying post-secondary education in Canada.

US- another favorite study destination—According to latest official figures, the number of foreign students getting admission in US graduate schools has soared up in the last five years showing an increase of 11 percent over the year 2010.

No wonder, this rise in the number of international students coming to the US to study here is a welcome relief for various US educational institutes especially after sharp drop in the number of admissions following 9/11 attacks.

And the numbers are going to show a further increase this fall, states Director of Research and Policy Analysis at US graduate schools group, Nathan E Bell, while quoting the findings of the latest report by Council of Graduate Schools. Chinese and Indian students comprise a major source of foreign students in the US.

The number of offers of admission to potential foreign students from China, Turkey and India has gone up by 23 percent, 16 percent and 8 percent respectively.

And the programs in Physical and Earth Sciences and Business show an increase of 15 percent and 16 percent respectively in the number of foreign offers of admission by the US.