Looking for study options beyond Canada? Here’s a practical guide

Expense-wise, the closest would be the United Kingdom (UK), followed by the United States (US). (Illustration by Suneesh Kalarickal)

The current diplomatic stand-off between India and Canada has been having an indirect impact on international students. Candidates who have applied or are planning to apply for courses in the country fear delays in visa processing, changes in immigration policies, or perceptions of safety and security concerns. Such developments are deterring prospective Indian students from choosing Canada as their study-abroad destination, even after full-fledged planning.

Although Canada has built a strong reputation as a welcoming and diverse country for international students, overseas education consultants say there are other options in terms of distance from India and overall expenditure.

Moneycontrol had earlier reported on how many students are now looking at other options such as the US or Europe, especially after threats were made against Indians by a Khalistani extremist.

However, completely switching the study-abroad destination is easier said than done. It involves various aspects that need to be inspected thoroughly, such as a change in tuition fees, accommodation charges, and daily expenses.

Overall expenses

Expense-wise, the closest would be the United Kingdom (UK), followed by the United States (US). There are other similarly priced or even cheaper universities available in parts of Western Europe but again, if the objective is to build a career in the host country, then these two are the next best options, if not better options, Akshay Chaturvedi, Founder & CEO of Leverage Edu told Moneycontrol.

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According to Chaturvedi, even if hopefuls apply in the January-March quarter, they can safely get into a September/October (fall) intake program. However for those who are about to start the program or had started in the last fall intake, the process will be a little more complicated, but there are options.

“In most scenarios, universities across countries have long-standing partnerships, and they try to make it as smooth as they possibly can. That said, of course, there will be some administrative hassle, and moreover, till now, we haven’t seen a single scenario where a student already in Canada wants to transition to another place,” he added.

Employability factor

Getting a job immediately after the competition of education is a dream for every student, irrespective of where they pursue graduation. On the employability factor, study-abroad consultants say the UK and Ireland are good alternatives to Canada.

“Students that have gone in the last few years have tended to find skilled employment. Canada has always been popular for its ‘easy to get employment’ factor, but a lot of the students would probably get semi-skilled employment, and not necessarily skilled,” said Suneet Singh Kochar, CEO of Fateh Education.

Indian students are second only to Romanians on a list of international students most likely to be employed in England and Wales, Census 2021 data released by the UK’s Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed.

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Indian students in England and Wales constitute the largest population, at 11.6 percent, of over 3.7 lakh international students, followed by China (11.2 percent), Romania (9.5 percent) and Nigeria (5.3 percent).

Being a gateway to Europe and part of the European Union (EU), Ireland has many advantages. As per Kochar, almost 80 percent of all Indian students have found skilled employment within the first 12 months of clearing the course, that, too, in bellwethers such as Amazon, Facebook, Apple, X (formerly Twitter).

He also highlighted that the UK has better connectivity to India compared to Canada in terms of availability of direct flights and time taken for travel. This could turn advantageous in unforeseen situations such as an emergency at home or something similar to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Question of accommodation

There are three categories of accommodation for international students: purpose-built student accommodation or PBSA, Uni halls, and apartments.
Canada tends to have higher purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) prices compared to Australia, Ireland, and the United Kingdom but lower than the United States, as per data gathered for Moneycontrol by student accommodation consultant University Living.

The PBSA is a type of housing specifically designed and constructed to meet the needs of university and college students. PBSA provides students with a safe, comfortable, and convenient place to live while pursuing their higher education.

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In terms of apartments, Canada has the highest average prices among these countries. Unihalls data is available for Australia and the United Kingdom, and prices in the UK are lower, on average.

Motto of permanent residency

Several students opt for Canada as it is known for granting permanent residency or PR. A permanent resident is someone who has been given that status by immigrating to Canada but is not a Canadian citizen.

Other than the North American country, Gaurav Batra, Founder and CEO of Infinite Group, said Australia is an ideal destination for establishing permanent residency, offering a comprehensive process that evaluates candidates based on eligibility criteria.

“This includes a thorough assessment of factors and, in some cases, a mandatory interview. This rigorous process aims to ascertain the genuine intentions of individuals seeking residency. Despite the varied evaluation criteria, it can be noted that Australia maintains consistent standards across its permanent residency arrangements,” he added.

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Indians have been among the top nationalities receiving invitations for skilled migration in Australia. The country also has options for a family reunion, such as Partner visas and Parent visas, but these may have longer processing times.

Sharing details, Amit Singh, Founder of UniScholars, said applicants must secure a minimum of 65 points, showcasing proficiency and relevant experience. The immigration procedure involves selecting a profession from the ROL, MLTSSL, or STSOL categories. This process attracts those aspiring to international residency due to Australia's robust immigration system.

“The Subclass 189 (Skilled Independent Visa) is often sought after for its independence from employer sponsorship, providing flexibility to pursue various professions,” he said.