In a recent agent survey, Canada was voted the most attractive study destination. Its appeal continues to grow, boosted by a strong government policy response to COVID-19. Despite the pandemic, international students can enter Canada, provided they meet certain criteria.
The situation is vastly different in Australia, where students still cannot return, sparking frustration. The country has announced pilot plans to facilitate students’ return, but many remain skeptical as past pilot plans have been mooted and shelved.
These factors are swaying those interested in Australian universities to look elsewhere, surveys suggest. Reports by university vice-chancellors and international education agents say students from India, Nepal and China are heading to universities in Canada and the UK to seek on-campus experiences instead of online study. Some students originally bound for Sydney have reportedly given up on waiting for Australia’s borders to reopen and take up alternative offers at Canadian universities.
What Canada has done in regards to the pandemic, and what measures have been put in place for international students:
Re-opening borders
Canada reopened its borders to international students on Oct. 20, 2020, allowing them to take in displaced students unable to fulfil their plans to study in Australia and New Zealand. In Canada, designated learning institutions (DLI) must have an approved COVID-19 readiness plan in place before welcoming international students back — a prerequisite to the federal government’s decision to open the borders to international students.
Quarantine
Fully vaccinated international students will no longer have to quarantine in Canada if they test negative for COVID-19 upon arrival, according to the latest guidelines for the country’s phased reopening. Canada will relax its border measures beginning July 5, at which point fully-vaccinated travellers permitted to enter the country will no longer need to quarantine.
Easing international students’ PGWP eligibility
The Canadian government previously announced temporary changes to its Post Graduate Work Permit Programme (PGWP), allowing international students to complete their studies online from abroad without affecting their PGWP eligibility. They also announced a pathway to permanent residence for 40,000 international graduates, recognising them as valuable contributors to the country’s social and economic fabric.
Vaccination
Students must show proof of vaccination in English or French, including the date of vaccination and what vaccination brand they received. As of June 18, 12.82% of Canadian’s are fully vaccinated, while 64.23% of the total population have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. Conversely, just 3.3% of Australians are fully vaccinated. Australia currently approved two vaccines: Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine and the Oxford/Astrazeneca vaccine.
Students who are not vaccinated may still enter Canada but will be required to test thrice (pre-departure, upon arrival, and on the eighth day) and quarantine in the country. To be considered fully vaccinated, students must have received the complete dose of a vaccine accepted by the Canadian government at least 14 days before arrival.
