Latest news with #MetiBasiri
Hamilton Spectator
26-06-2025
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
Over half of Canada's 2025 study permits going to international students already here
The number of new study permits approved in 2025 is expected to drop by 50 per cent from last year as a growing number of the permits are going to international students changing schools or programs, or extending their studies in Canada, according to new projections. Fewer new international students — the result of a decline in new study permit applications and approval rates — could spell trouble for the postsecondary education sector, which will continue to see enrolment drop for at least the next three years, warns an analysis by ApplyBoard based on the latest government data. 'Onshore students and students extending their studies may help Canada reach its cap targets in 2025, but this trend is unlikely to hold in future years,' said the forecast released Wednesday. 'Search engine data has shown that interest in studying in Canada has fallen at a greater rate than for Australia, the U.K. or the U.S. And with issued study permit extensions now outpacing new study permits, the flow of new international students toward Canadian institutions is weakening.' Canada should be alarmed by the low new student count, said Meti Basiri, CEO and co-founder of the online marketplace for learning institutions and international students. 'We have effectively closed the tap,' he told the Star. 'When your graduation exceeds significantly your entry into the process ... two years from now you will have no students because you graduated everyone.' Last year, Ottawa capped the number of new study permits issued in order to reduce international student admission by 35 per cent, as Canada's temporary resident population was soaring. The cap did not apply to students for master's and doctoral programs or in elementary and secondary schools. This year, the study permit caps were reduced by another 10 per cent and include those pursuing post-graduate studies in the country. Leveraging early 2025 study permit data, ApplyBoard projects the total number of study permits issued may reach 420,000, just short of the overall cap (437,000). However, Basiri said that's deceiving because only 163,000 of these permits are going to new international students, half of the volume admitted in 2024 and nearly 70 per cent fewer than 2023. 'The total number of students still seems high, but give it 18 months or 24 months from now, you all of a sudden have a significant shortage of the students,' he said. 'Why? Because the top of the funnel wasn't filling up.' Lisa Brunner, a research fellow at the UBC Centre for Migration Studies, believes the softened demand has to do more with the post-graduation work permit changes than the cap. Many international students study abroad to ultimately obtain permanent residence but the changing policies have made it difficult to plan toward that goal. On Wednesday, the Immigration Department added 119 and removed 178 fields of study in key sectors from the work permit eligibility list for international graduates . 'Many international students in Canada today feel betrayed by the lack of permanent residency options that were promised to them,' said Brunner, who studies migration and education. 'If Canada does not make viable, predictable permanent residency pathways clear for international students, a portion of new students will turn to other so-called competitor countries.' ApplyBoard's projection takes into account two significant shifts that have occurred in the past 18 months: falling study permit approval rates and a significant increase in study permit extensions. Study permit extensions will account for over 60 per cent or 260,000 of the 420,000 total study permits issued in 2025, it noted, up from 44 per cent in 2024 and 29 per cent in 2023. Between January and April of this year, there was a 30 per cent drop in new study permit applications compared to the same months in 2024 and 70 per cent compared to 2023. The new study permit approval rates also declined to 33 per cent over the first four months of 2025, resulting in less than 31,000 new approvals. Basiri said Ottawa's study permit caps were established in part on the 60 per cent approval rate in 2023, almost double the current rate. It means a bigger pool of applicants is required to meet the targets. While colleges faced the most direct impacts of the caps in 2024 and continue to experience substantially lower demand in 2025, universities are now seeing a broader weakening of student demand, said ApplyBoard. According to the 2025 data, it said study permit applications for university bachelor programs dropped 39 per cent year-over-year, with applications for university graduate programs declining by 32 per cent. Many educational institutions have already laid of staff and cancelled programs . 'Fewer study permit applications are not necessarily bad,' said Brunner. 'The question is how institutions, provinces and the federal government manage the economic consequences rippling across the higher education sector.' Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
20-06-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
Indian students eye Germany, but US, UK, Canada remain top study choices
Over the past decade, a growing number of Indian families have planned for their children's overseas education with four destinations in mind: the US, the UK, Canada, and Australia. A degree from these countries brought prestige, exposure, and, often, a foot in the door to global careers. Today, however, that picture is changing. Rising costs and tighter visa rules are prompting many to ask a different question: Where else can students study? Data from India's Bureau of Immigration (BoI) shows that more students are now picking countries outside the traditional Big Four. In 2024, nearly 35,000 Indian students declared Germany as their destination—almost double the 2019 figure. Russia saw a similar trend, with 31,400 Indian students heading there in 2024. And Uzbekistan, once a negligible option with just 300 Indian students in 2019, saw close to 10,000 declarations last year. 'The global race to attract Indian talent will intensify, and emerging destinations that align education with employability, affordability, and long-term opportunities will attract the best and brightest minds,' said Meti Basiri, co-founder and CEO, ApplyBoard. Canada: 137,608 USA: 204,058 Australia: 68,572 UK: 98,890 Germany: 34,702 Russia: 31,444 Bangladesh: 29,232 Singapore: 14,547 Kyrgyz Republic: 11,875 Kazakhstan: 11,638 Shift students didn't ask for In the past year, major destination countries have announced policies that have made it harder or more expensive for Indian students. • Canada has capped study permits • The UK reduced dependant visas and is reviewing the Graduate visa • The US has paused some student visa interviews • Australia raised financial requirements and tightened post-study work rules As a result, many Indian parents are now reconsidering long-held assumptions about overseas education. 'The parents, who were once focused on how much they need to save, are now asking, 'Where should we even send them?'' said Basiri. Alternative destinations growing, but Big Four still dominate An analysis by ApplyBoard confirms that Indian students are still heading to the US, UK, Canada and Australia in large numbers—but the numbers show clear signs of disruption. Australia In 2024, about 139,000 Indian students held Australian student visas—up 11% from 2023. This included students benefiting from favourable terms under the Australia-India Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (AI-ECTA), such as longer post-study work visas. However, new policies have made entry tougher: • Directive 111 has limited student visas • Applications from Indian students dropped 20% in 2023/24 • Higher visa fees and language requirements are in place Canada The total number of Indian study permit holders in Canada dipped by 8% to 393,000 in 2024. While approval rates for Indians were still about 30% higher than the global average, new permit caps and backlogs meant fewer fresh approvals. As students who enrolled in 2021 start to graduate, overall permit holder numbers are expected to drop further over the next two years. United Kingdom Indian student numbers in the UK declined 4% in the 2023/24 academic year, according to figures based on students with an Indian permanent address. Policy changes like the bar on dependants for non-research students may have contributed to the dip. But Q1 2025 figures show signs of a rebound: • Global student visa applications rose 30% over Q1 2024 • Indian main applicant visa submissions rose 29% Still, the UK's new Immigration White Paper—proposing a shorter 18-month Graduate visa—could affect future plans for many. United States Indian student visa holders in the US rose 23% year-over-year in 2023/24 to nearly 332,000, driven in part by the Optional Practical Training (OPT) programme for STEM graduates. India overtook China as the largest source of international students in the US. Around 75% of Indian students were either pursuing STEM programmes or completing OPT. However, 2025 has brought new hurdles: • Pausing of the Fulbright scholarship programme • Suspension of new visa interviews in late May • Cutbacks at the federal Department of Education These changes are expected to affect the next wave of applicants. More Indians are declaring education as their reason for travel In 2024, nearly 760,000 Indian nationals told BoI officials that education was the reason they were leaving the country. This marks a steady increase from previous years, although 2024's numbers reflect a stabilisation after the post-pandemic spike of 2023. 'As more students plan to study abroad than ever before, affordability, safety, and return on investment have become key decision factors,' said Basiri.
Fashion Value Chain
19-05-2025
- Business
- Fashion Value Chain
ApplyBoard Launches in Germany, Opening Doors to Europe's Top Study Destination for International Students
ApplyBoard, the world's leading platform for international student mobility, is proud to announce the launch of Germany as its newest study destination. This marks a major step in ApplyBoard's European expansion and introduces its first primarily non-English-speaking market, underscoring the company's commitment to supporting the diverse needs and goals of international students worldwide. Germany is set to welcome more than 400,000 international students in 2025, making it one of the fastest-growing and most sought-after destinations in Europe. With this expansion, Germany joins ApplyBoard's existing list of top study-abroad destinations: Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Ireland. ApplyBoard is also establishing partnerships with more than 10 leading German universities and colleges, with more institutions expected to join in the coming months. 'International students are shaping the future of global education,' says Meti Basiri, Co-founder & CEO of ApplyBoard. 'Our launch in Germany directly reflects what students are telling us-they want more choice, more affordable education, and better post-study opportunities. In fact, over 50% of students in our Fall 2024 Pulse Survey expressed strong interest in studying in Germany. This expansion is a major milestone toward our goal of supporting 20 global study destinations by 2030.' Germany's appeal lies not just in its academic excellence, but also in its affordability and strong career pathways. According to ApplyBoard's Fall 2024 Recruitment Partner Pulse Survey, 72% of education counsellors identified Germany as the most cost-effective study destination within ApplyBoard's six countries. This, combined with post-study work options and access to globally respected degrees, makes Germany a top choice for students everywhere. As global demand for international education continues to rise, ApplyBoard is helping students explore new possibilities. The company's platform simplifies the entire process, from exploring programs to submitting applications, making it easier for students from India to pursue a world-class education in Germany. 'Partnering with ApplyBoard opens the doors of German education to the world,' says Bryan Palmer, Interim Chief Commercial Officer EMENA at Global University Systems. 'The platform makes it easier for international students to apply and succeed, while helping institutions welcome more diverse and talented students who contribute greatly to academic communities.' Since its founding in 2015, ApplyBoard has helped over 1.3 million students from more than 150 countries access educational opportunities through its network of 1,500+ institutions. The company's expansion into Germany reinforces its mission to eliminate barriers and expand access to education for students across the globe. About ApplyBoard ApplyBoard empowers students around the world to access the best education by simplifying the study abroad search, application, and acceptance process to more than 1,500 institutions across Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Ireland and now Germany. Headquartered in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada, ApplyBoard has helped over 1 million students from more than 150 countries along their educational journeys since 2015. To learn more, visit
