Backdoor to Permanent Residency in Canda

[UKsounding]

I am curious... Many people post on MN that they would like to move to Canada for various reasons (and I am constantly posting "have you check the visa requirements?"). However, I never really come across students from Britain here in Canada who want to live/work here, so they choose to do university here. This back door easier entry path seems to be well known to Asian, Middle Eastern, South American and African young people, but not those from the UK.

The universities in Canada are reasonably priced, a good level of education even if the classes are large in the early years, and welcome students from the UK. However, I don't come across many of them at the large Toronto university that I teach at. Here is the official information about getting PR after graduating from Canadian universities in case anyone disbelieves....

My DH is interested in the potential for studying in Canada as a way to get us over there with a temp work visa and then work to get PR. He thinks a 1yr post grad course can do this but we need to research more.

This was really helpful - thank you!!

The risk with using this “back door” is that you can be left hanging if the rules change during your degree/course.

Thousands of overseas students got stuck when Quebec changed their PR rules for students last year.

It’s a big gamble.

Reasonably priced for Canadians maybe. A quick look at the University of Toronto website tells me that their undergrad tuition is in the region of 59000CAD/year (£34000). York University in Toronto charges about half of that, but that's still £17,000/year without access to student loans. And for 4 years rather than 3 years for most English degree courses.

Surely it's not that strange that not many choose this option, especially when they have the choice of a good/internationally renowned education at home (which is something that students from the countries you mention won't necessarily have access to)?

And a degree from Humber College is more like $20K Canadian dollars which is 11,161 GBP... Funeral director course (I think that Funeral Directors are in short supply here) is $16k (9,365 GBP). international.humber.ca/study-at-humber/application-process/fees.html

Anyway - it was just a thought for those who are looking for options. I have no dog in the fight...

Well lots of people on the Brits in Canada FB page seem to know that study is a good way in, especially as you are allowed to work part time whilst studying, but these are mainly adults who are looking for ways to get PR, not traditional aged 18 year old students.

As a Brit who moved to Canada for a few years (with the idea to stay) and came back, I have a few observations...

UK high education institutions are highly reputable and globally recognised so degrees from top UK universities (compared to top in Canada) are highly desirable.

As someone mentioned above, an 18yr old will be likely thinking about job opportunities which are not that great in Toronto. It's a relatively small market compared to the UK or the US, in almost any field.

Toronto is SO expensive to live! Uni fees are no exception..

Canada seems to appeal to slightly older people who are settled, have a family and financially secured. Sorry, we found it a bit on the boring side and a bit conservative...

London as a centre of education is such an inspiring place to study, and close to Europe, all rich in culture and history..

BUT! If you want to be a dentist, look no further. Canada have the best dentists in the world! 😬

We have a number of excellent universities in Canada, with international standing. DS got his undergrad degree in Canada and then studied on a full scholarship for his PhD at a highly regarded British uni. He is still in Britain working in his field. His partner is the same.

He was told many times that graduates in his field from his undergrad uni in Canada were highly sought after as graduate students due to the quality of the program.

I am sure this is true for all, but there are some excellent programs.

Thank you for this info, OP!

I'm giving serious consideration to doing this as we've wanted to relocate for a long time, will look into this more!

Londin is quite frankly unaffordable for the vast majority of Brits, they'd probably be better off financially in Canada.

And Canada isn't just Toronto. It's huge and diverse with good universities in every major city.

If you like the outdoors and bears and the cold places like Yukon have really cheap courses. Canada is bigger than Toronto.