If you're just starting to plan out the next four years of your post-secondary education, it's worth it to consult an expert in the international education industry says Karunn Kandoi
Studying abroad is an exciting venture that opens many doors and allows an individual to acquire significant international exposure. It plays a critical role in a well-rounded education. Have you been planning to pursue your higher education abroad? If yes, then Canada should be your first choice. The country is so popular among Indian students that in 2019, Indian students accounted for more than a third of all study permits issued, and in 2020, the number rose to almost half, according to the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.
Here are a few of the most popular courses for Indian students in Canada.
Science, Technology, Engineering and Math: The STEM, in any vertical, plays a crucial part in the world's economy. Canadian colleges offer several programs across various STEM disciplines. STEM programs like mathematics or computer science are quite popular amongst Indian students. As per the IRCC, for IT and computing studies in particular, Indian students accounted for 67.4 per cent of all new Canadian study permits issued in 2019 and 2020.
An engineering degree from Canada is strongly perceived internationally and has a high employability factor. These subjects are taught with hands-on practices by the best faculties in the world. It must be noted that universities in Canada are among the best globally and are accredited by the Accreditation Board of Engineering and Technology (ABET). Canadian institutions provide low-cost yet high-quality education and offer a ton of public and private scholarships for international students. Some of the courses that students can pursue are software or computer engineering, mechanical engineering and chemical engineering.
Business and finance: When it comes to becoming a successful business leader and entrepreneur, it demands proper skills, innovation, as well as a strong execution strategy. Enrolling yourself in the right business school is, indeed, fundamental to long-term career success.
It will help to develop an individuals’ entrepreneurial skills and enable them to test their launch ideas. As far as international applicants are concerned, business management and finance courses are very popular. The MBA is among the most sought-after programs in this particular field. After all, the line of management consulting, finance, and banking never goes out of style. There’s also a lot of interest in this field from international students based in India.
Between the years 2017 and 2019, the number of Canadian study permits issued to Indian students for business, marketing, and management programmes grew by 256 per cent according to the IRCC.
Health and medicine: The pandemic wreaked havoc across the world, and the need and demand for healthcare workers in each and every country is rising rapidly. Job vacancies in the Canadian healthcare and social assistance industry hit nearly 1.1 lakh in June 2021. Attracting newcomers into these fields will be critical for Canada's long-term growth.
Due to Canada’s high standard of medical education curriculum, many international students prefer Canada as one of their study destinations. Healthcare verticals such as preventive drugs, human psychology, and managing illness are in higher demand as they help increase public safety during pandemics and disasters.
Employers are progressively searching for professionals who possess culturally-diverse abilities and cutting-edge skills. Indeed, studying abroad can be a life-changing experience and has been proven to positively impact your career trajectory.
If you’re just starting to plan out the next four years of your post-secondary education, it’s worth it to consult an expert in the international education industry or speak to a previous student to learn about their experience.
The writer is Head of India Operations, ApplyBoard