Market intelligence for international student recruitment from ICEF
14th Apr 2020

Canada eases immigration rules to allow incoming students to begin studies online

Short on time? Here are the highlights:
  • International students planning to begin studies in Canada this spring are now permitted to complete up to 50% of their programmes online if restrictions prevent them from travelling from their home countries

There is more reassuring news for international students who have received a study permit for Canada for spring 2020. Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has announced those planning to begin studies in Canada in May or June can begin their programmes online from their home country in preparation for coming to Canada.

IRCC explains, “Students who have a study permit or who have been approved for a study permit for a programme starting in May or June but who are unable to travel to Canada at this time due to travel restrictions…may begin their classes while outside Canada and may complete up to 50% of their programme while outside Canada if they cannot travel to Canada sooner.”

Last week, IRCC announced that international students whose classes have moved online due to COVID-19 will still be eligible for the Canadian Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) Program. The very-popular PGWP allows international students who have completed a programme of at least eight months’ duration to stay on to gain valuable work experience in Canada, experience that can count towards a future application for permanent residency in the country.

The peak body Colleges and Institutes Canada welcomed the news and said that it will continue to work with IRCC officials for the duration of the COVID-19 outbreak, noting that the pandemic’s course is incredibly difficult to predict:

“While our hope is that students can transition to Canada, or begin new programmes in the fall, we will continue to ask for flexibility should the situation not improve and students remain unable to travel to Canada for reasons beyond their control.”

Speaking to local newspaper The Record, John Tibbits, president of Ontario-based Conestoga College, called the announcements “good news” for the spring semester. The college had feared that there would be 2,500 fewer international students in the spring because of the pandemic, but it now expects to see enrolment decline by 1,800 students “at most”. Still, added Mr Tibbits, "The cloud hanging over us is what's happening in the fall. We don't know."

The uncertainty of the pandemic is one of the most difficult aspects for international educators. But already, one key market is planning to move toward more normal operations in its higher education system. China, the first country to be hit by COVID-19, announced today that there is a plan for colleges and universities to reopen “in an orderly manner.” Local authorities will be given the discretion to decide which institutions to reopen in a staggered manner and with new safety precautions in place.

For additional background, please see:

Most Recent

  • UK’s stiffening compliance regime already having an impact on international student recruitment Read More
  • Search data highlights surge in student interest in Asian and Middle Eastern destinations at mid-year Read More
  • Australia raises enrolment limits for 2025/26 but are they reachable? Read More

Most Popular

  • Which countries will contribute the most to global student mobility in 2030? Read More
  • Research shows link between study abroad and poverty alleviation  Read More
  • Beyond the Big Four: How demand for study abroad is shifting to destinations in Asia and Europe Read More

Because you found this article interesting

UK’s stiffening compliance regime already having an impact on international student recruitment It would be fair to say that compliance is top of mind for international educators in the United...
Read more
Search data highlights surge in student interest in Asian and Middle Eastern destinations at mid-year Aggregated search data from Keystone Education Group reveals a distinct spike in student interest in destinations across the...
Read more
Australia raises enrolment limits for 2025/26 but are they reachable? A joint 4 August 2025 media release from the Ministers for Education, Home Affairs, Immigration and Citizenship, and...
Read more
US: International commencements could drop by 30-40% this September A new analysis from NAFSA and the research consultancy JB International projects that international student commencements in the...
Read more
Nearly 30 Canadian language programmes closed in Q1, marking the “sharpest decline in the sector’s history” The peak body for Canada’s language training sector is sounding the alarm. Languages Canada reports that more than...
Read more
Recruiting in Taiwan: An established student market adapting to demographic change Fast Facts Population: 23.4 million Youth population: 9.8% aged 15–24, but the population is ageing Youth unemployment rate:...
Read more
Australia’s central bank highlights importance of international students to national economy The Reserve Bank of Australia, the country’s central bank, has released a special bulletin on the economic impact...
Read more
Measuring the impacts of the first full year of Canada’s foreign student enrolment cap In January 2024, Canada’s immigration ministry (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, or IRCC) announced a two-year cap on...
Read more
What are you looking for?
Quick Links