More than half of international students wishing to study at Canadian colleges and universities were denied study permits over the last winter and spring.
Between January and May 2019, Canadian immigration officers rejected 53% of applications for study permits submitted by foreigners in the hope of enrolling in Canadian undergraduate programs, according to the data provided by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
The record refusal rate is due to the fact that international demand for Canadian education has risen sharply.
The total percentage of refusals, including applications for study permits for primary and secondary schools, universities and language programs in Canada in the first five months of the year was 39%.
Canadian immigration officers may refuse to issue a study permit if they suspect that the applicant:
- Cannot return to their country after graduation
- Does not have sufficient funds to pay for tuition and accommodation during their stay in Canada
- Is a threat to Canada’s public health or safety
- Provided an education plan that does not make sense
- Provided an incomplete or inaccurate application or an application with signs of fraud
The lowest refusal rates at the beginning of 2019 were for students wishing to enroll in a doctoral program (11%), secondary school (20%), elementary school (20%), master’s program (31%) or language program (31%).
The visa refusal rate for students who wish to enroll in undergraduate programs is the highest and continues to grow.
The refusal rate also varies significantly from country to country. Students from Africa are much less likely to get a study permit in Canada than students from Asian or European countries.