According to a recent survey, Canada has once again taken its place at the top of international students' dream lists. The Student Pulse Survey of ApplyBoard’s Spring 2025 edition was published on March 26, 2025. This survey revealed that Canada is the leading study destination by weighted average among prospective international students.
An overwhelming majority of future students, nearly 94%, expressed interest in studying in Canada. This has been the highest percentage among all surveyed countries. Impressively, 65% of those who responded stated that they only considered Canada or one of five other countries as their study destination. This marks an eight percentage point increase when compared to the previous year’s survey results.
Canada continues to rank among the prestigious “Big Four” destinations for international students alongside the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia. Canada emerged as the top choice when the students were asked about their level of interest. It was among those who were “very interested” and “moderately interested” across the Big four countries.
The U.S slightly outperformed Canada among students “extremely interested” by three percentage points. Canada clinched the top spot overall when all levels of interest were averaged. In comparison to Spring 2024, the number of students “very interested” in Canada increased by 2% points. The “moderate interest” significantly increased from 8% to 12%.
Canada also boasted the lowest rate of disinterest, with only 6% of students indicating no interest in studying there. This was a much lower figure than its counterparts. Germany and Ireland completed the list by securing fifth and sixth places respectively.
| Country | Extremely Interested | Very Interested | Moderately Interested | Slightly Interested | Not Interested |
| Canada | 55% | 24% | 12% | 4% | 6% |
| US | 58% | 20% | 10% | 4% | 8% |
| UK | 35% | 25% | 19% | 10% | 11% |
| Australia | 31% | 24% | 23% | 12% | 10% |
| Germany | 25% | 26% | 22% | 13% | 14% |
| Ireland | 23% | 28% | 21% | 14% | 14% |
The survey details also showed that only 35% of contributors were considering study options outside of these 6 leading countries. It also reaffirmed the dominance of Canada.
Factors Influencing Students’ Destination Choices
When questioned about their reasons for choosing these study destinations, students highlighted some major factors. Those are listed below.
- Canada has affordable tuition fees (77%)
- The graduate employment rate is higher (54%)
- Programs leading into their chosen career (49%)
- High-quality teaching (47%)
- Program reputation (45%)
The major factor students listed was affordability. Financial concerns had an impact on more than one in four students in deciding their initial plans. This also made them consider more alternatives that were cost-effective.
European countries like Netherlands, Finland and Denmark were frequently considered as alternatives as they have a lower tuition fees.These European countries made up seven of the top 10 write-ins for alternative destinations.
Also, 11.3% of surveyed students are now considering shorter academic programs such as a three-year bachelor’s degree. This is to minimise the educational expenses. Despite all the financial concerns, only 9% of students reported plans to change their studies to a later date.
Shifting Trends in Preferred Levels of Study
The 2025 survey also shed light on changing academic preferences among international students. When compared to Spring 2024, there is a notable rise in interest in graduate-level studies.
A significant 57% of respondents indicated an interest in pursuing a master’s degree. This reflected a 7 percentage point increase. Also, interest in PhD and other doctoral programs increased by four percentage points every year.
While interest in UG programs and diplomas declined, many students still considered these programs.
- Undergraduate degrees (29.3% vs 25.5%)
- Post-graduate certificates/diplomas (20.9% vs 18%)
- Undergraduate certificates/diplomas (14.7% vs 12%)
Regarding career aspirations, the most frequently mentioned areas included engineering and nursing as healthcare professions were broadly popular. Other frequently popular roles were human resource professionals, researchers and lecturers.
The Impact of Government Policies on Student Interest
Recent Canadian government policies, particularly the cap on study permit applications, have not decreased Canada’s appeal as a study destination.
The number of study permits approved was 517,410 in 2024. It was reduced to 437,000 in 2025, but also keeping the interest robust. Nearly 30% of students who were surveyed said that their interest in Canada increased due to the recent changes. An additional 18% of students reported that their interest also increased.
Meanwhile, about 29% of the respondents said that the government policy changes made no impact on their desire to study in Canada.
This trend reflects the growing prestige of studying in Canada. Obtaining a study permit in Canada becomes a mark of distinction as Canada has limited these study permits. Getting one enhances the appeal of Canadian education credentials. Fewer international students might lead to a less saturated job market. This benefits students planning to work in Canada after graduation through a PGWP.
Among the Big Four countries, Canada and the U.S. have experienced the greatest impact of government policy changes on the interests of international students. This impact could be both positive and negative.
Understanding How to Apply for a Canadian Study Permit
Students who are planning to study at a Canadian university for more than six months should get a proper study permit from the IRCC. Some of the eligibility requirements for the application include:
- Receiving a Letter of Acceptance (LOA) from a Designated Learning Institution.
- Getting a Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL)
- Documents proving financial ability to pay for the first year's tuition fee, living expenses and round-trip travel.
Applicants should also demonstrate that they are not inadmissible to Canada for criminal or medical reasons. They should also satisfy the immigration officer of their geniune intention to stay in the country temporarily.
Most of the applicants should apply from outside Canada. However, some foreign applicants including the U.S. citizens can apply from within Canada or port of entry.
Study permit processing times vary based on several factors. This includes the home country of the applicant.
How Studying in Canada Can Lead to Immigration Opportunities
Graduating from an eligible Canadian post-secondary institution can easily pave way for a PGWP. This is an open work permit which allows graduates to work for any employer in Canada almost across most industries.
The validity of PGWP will be three years, depending upon the length of the program. Gaining a Canadian work experience will significantly strengthen the application of the candidate. This will also increase the possibilities of getting permanent residency through pathways such as Provinvial Nominee Programs or Express Entry.
For an instance, holding a three-year PGWP and getting a work experience will earn the applicant up to 64 points in their CRS score under Express Entry. Below listed are some other ways which increases the CRS score.
- Having a post-secondary education and at least two years of Canadian work experience will gain the applicants up to 50 points
- Holding a 3 years of foreign work experience and Canadian work experience will also gain up to 50 points in their CRS.
Students who are wanting to lift up their studies for immigration should ensure their program qualifies for a PGWP. Once graduated, they will have up to 180 days to apply for a work permit.