Canada sees dip in post-secondary Indian students – Times of India

In the first half of 2024 (Jan – June), Canada approved 55,500 post-secondary study permits for Indian students, constituting 49% of the nation’s incoming international post-secondary students. This proportion remained consistent with the full-year 2023 figures and only marginally lower than the first half of 2023 (51%). With an impressive study permit approval rate of 85% from January to June 2024, prospective Indian students are not encountering significant rejection rates.This research was carried out by ApplyBoard, an online platform that facilitates overseas study.
Instead, the reduced volume of submitted study permit applications in the first half of 2024 indicates a persistent decline in their interest in pursuing education in Canada, however country-wise data was not available as regards submitted applications.
Indian students are not the sole demographic contemplating alternative study abroad destinations. Global searches for “study in Canada” have experienced a nearly 20% decrease compared to 2023, signifying shifts in the international education landscape as other countries gain prominence and a diminishing of Canada’s overall appeal to prospective students, states the study.
Examining the student populations that secured the highest number of study permit approvals in 2023, the approval numbers for the first half of 2024 (January to June) are substantially lower than those of H1 2023, albeit with notable exceptions such as China, Ghana, and Guinea, states ApplyBoard.

Top 3 Post-Secondary student populations by study permit approval,

Aiming to address the rapid increase in international students, Canada introduced a two year cap on international student permit applications in Jan. This was initially expected to result in 3,64,000 approved study permits or a 35 percent drop from the number of permits issued to students in 2023.
According to ApplyBoard, given depressed student demand, rising global student interest in diversified study destinatons and a lower study permit approval rate, we expect that 2025 study permit cap levels will climb above 2024 levels.
What lies ahead – especially with elections looming ahead in the months to come?
Manish Kapoor, a regulated Canadian immigration consultant, believes that if Pierre Poilievre becomes a Prime Minister, he would still support international students, with the opportunity to become residents, as long as the number is controlled and limited in light of the population.