IRCC Releases Latest Study Permit Data for Canada

Statistics from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) show that Canada issued 22,495 new study permits worldwide in February 2023. This figure represents a 10% drop compared with February 2022, yet it remains the second-highest number for the same month over the past eight years. By contrast, it fell by nearly half from the 41,405 permits issued in January 2023. The number of approved study permits for applicants from Chinese mainland also declined year-on-year, with a total of 2,875 approvals recorded in February.

Safety Tops International Students’ Considerations for Canada

The Canadian Bureau for International Education (CBIE) recently released its 2021 survey of international students. Nearly 80% of respondents cited safety as Canada’s greatest appeal. Approximately 70% regarded the academic reputation of Canadian educational institutions as the second key factor. Over half of the interviewees stated that Canada’s tolerance, diversity and inclusiveness make it an attractive destination for overseas study.

Major Reform to Ontario’s OUAC University Application System

Starting this September, the Ontario Universities’ Application Centre (OUAC) will merge its two separate application streams, 101 and 105, into one unified undergraduate application platform. Although applicants will no longer use the 101 and 105 portals, universities will still receive academic transcripts and conduct statistics based on two distinct student groups, with substantial differences retained between them. Previously, the 105 stream opened in mid-September and the 101 stream in early October. This year, the unified platform will open on September 21.

Canada Extends Biometrics Collection Deadline to 60 Days

IRCC introduced a temporary policy update amid disruptions caused by the strike. The validity period for in-Canada biometrics collection has been extended from 30 days to 60 days. Applicants do not need to submit a separate extension request; the 60-day window applies automatically.

U.S. News Releases 2024 Rankings of Best US Graduate Schools

U.S. News has published its 2024 rankings of top graduate schools in the United States.

Top 5 Business Schools: University of Chicago, Northwestern University, University of Pennsylvania, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Harvard University.

Top 5 Engineering Schools: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Stanford University, University of California, Berkeley, Purdue University West Lafayette, Carnegie Mellon University.

Top 5 Education Schools: Columbia University, University of Michigan Ann Arbor, Northwestern University, University of Pennsylvania, University of Wisconsin-Madison.

StudentCrowd Publishes 2023 UK University Rankings

StudentCrowd compiled its 2023 UK university rankings based on feedback collected from more than 25,000 former UK students. The top 10 are as follows: University of Greenwich, University of Cambridge, University of Sheffield, University College London, University of Birmingham, University of St Andrews, University of Glasgow, Ulster University, University of Exeter, University of Warwick.

UK Government Supports International Students for Work Visas

The UK government has announced a GBP 4 million fund for Sponsor Licences to help international students obtain work visas. In addition, the UK plans a substantial increase in immigration numbers to boost its economy, including a doubling of overseas work visa places.

Latest UK Graduate Salary Rankings

UK job portal Adzuna released findings from its survey on graduate employment. According to Adzuna’s analysis, graduates from some UK universities can earn an average of around GBP 40,000 or more within the first five years after graduation. The top 10 highest-paying majors five years after graduation are: Business Analytics, Electronic and Communications Engineering, Computer Science, Petroleum Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Project Management, Information Technology, Entrepreneurship, Software Engineering, and Automotive Engineering.

Ministry of Education Releases 2022 Blue Book on Employment of Returned Chinese Overseas Students

The Chinese Service Center for Scholarly Exchange under the Ministry of Education issued the 2022 Blue Book on Employment of Returned Overseas Students. Most returnees hold master’s degrees (76.04%). The UK was the primary country where they obtained master’s qualifications (37.51%), followed by the US (19.37%) and Australia (16.07%). Over half of the returning graduates chose Beijing as their workplace. State-owned enterprises were the most popular employer, recruiting 49.94% of returnees.

Australia Announces Major Immigration System Reform

Clare O’Neil, Minister for Home Affairs of Australia, delivered a speech outlining the immigration reform plan. She stated that the much-criticized Skilled Occupation List will be abolished. Meanwhile, the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT) will rise from AUD 53,900 to AUD 70,000 starting July 1 this year. The government will create pathways to permanent residency for all temporary skilled migrants by the end of 2023.

Chinese Embassy in Australia Issues Notice on Passport and Visa Services

According to the WeChat official account of the Chinese Embassy in Australia, a notice on document services and convenience measures was released. Applications for passports and travel documents must be submitted online via the China Consular App. Ordinary visa applicants need to complete forms and make appointments through the website of the Chinese Visa Application Service Center and attend in-person submissions at the center at the appointed time.

Employment Outcomes for Graduates from Singapore’s Private Education Institutions

Singapore’s Council for Private Education released its latest Graduate Employment Survey. Among students graduating between May of the year before last and April last year, 86.5% secured employment within six months after graduation, and 60.9% obtained full-time jobs. The full-time employment rate marked an improvement from the previous cohort’s 46.4%, while the overall employment rate edged up from 85.3%. By comparison, graduates from Singapore’s public universities recorded an employment rate of 93.8% and a full-time employment rate of 87.5%.

Chinese Embassy in Singapore Updates Document Mailing Service Notice

As stated on the website of the Chinese Embassy in Singapore, starting April 27, applicants who apply for passports or travel documents via the China Consular App and choose to receive documents by post must follow the new postal fee rules. The application process remains unchanged for applicants opting for in-person collection at the embassy.