Thousands of Indian Students Left in Limbo as Canadian Colleges Grapple with Seat Shortage

CHANDIGARH: The Aspirations of hundreds of Indian students to pursue higher education in Canada have been shattered as colleges in the country canceled admissions, citing a lack of available seats. This unfortunate development has left around a thousand students from one college disheartened, as they were preparing to commence their studies with the September 23 intake. Additionally, numerous other private and government colleges have postponed the admissions of thousands of students who now face the uncertainty of re-admission.

The distressing news came to light when students who had paid their fees through various IELTS centers in Raikot began receiving emails from the Canadian colleges, notifying them of the abrupt cancellation of their admissions. The sudden decision left the affected students and their families in shock and dismay.

Sources indicate that this year, the Canadian government and the immigration department granted visas to an unprecedented 90 to 95 percent of students, a significant increase compared to the past when the visa rate ranged from 50 to 60 percent. The surge in successful visa applications is believed to be the primary reason behind the decrease in available seats in Canadian colleges.

Consequently, thousands of students now find themselves grappling with the repercussions of the miscommunication between the Canadian government, the Immigration Department, and the colleges. Many of these aspiring scholars had invested substantial sums, from booking flights to shopping, in preparation for their regular September-23 intake. However, the non-refundable deductions for flights booked in August have resulted in significant financial losses for the affected students.

Seeking resolution, Canadian colleges have asked these students to provide detailed accounts to process refunds for the fees they had deposited. Meanwhile, some other colleges have urged students to consider deferring their admissions from the 2023 intake to the January-24 intake.