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Pakistanis can get Canadian student visa in 20 Days

The Canadian government has decided to expand the Student Direct Stream (SDS) programme to include international students from Pakistan, enabling them to get a student visa in 'less than three weeks'.

Pakistan was recently included in the SDS programme by the Canadian Immigration Department, according to a press release issued on July 26. The Canadian government had initiated the programme for students from India, China, Philippines and Vietnam last year.

"The Student Direct Stream (SDS) is now available to study permit applicants who are living in Pakistan," the press release stated, adding that most SDS applications from countries already part of the programme were being processed in under three weeks.

"SDS applications require prospective students to provide more up-front information to officers, including meeting language test requirements in English or French and providing additional information that shows their ability to finance their education. With additional information, officers can process applications more efficiently," it read.

According to the press release, the expansion of the SDS supported the Canadian government's "goal of attracting students from a more diverse range of countries".

"Many international students who graduate from a program in Canada often become eligible for a post-graduation work permit. With a Canadian education and skilled work experience in Canada, former international students are well positioned for success in applying for permanent residence through Express Entry, the Provincial Nominee Program or the Atlantic Immigration Pilot."

"In 2018, in fact, nearly 54,000 former students transitioned to permanent residence, an all-time high," the press release added.

High Commissioner of Pakistan to Canada Raza Bashir Tarar welcomed the decision, adding that it would facilitate students who desired to study in Canada.

He appreciated the goodwill gesture of the Canadian government and appreciated the special efforts of Immigration Minister Ahmed Hussen and the members of the Canadian Parliament for fulfilling their commitment.

The high commissioner, in his meetings with the Canadian officials, had urged them to include Pakistani students in the SDS programme as "academically, Pakistani students are second to none".

study in canada for Pakistani students 2019

Study Abroad Scholarships

Any hesitation about studying abroad is typically related to the cost. However, what most students don't know is that they can actually apply their current on-campus financial aid package to their study abroad trip in addition to scholarships. In fact, for some students, particularly those who pay out-of-state-tuition, studying abroad can sometimes be cheaper than a traditional on-campus semester. A study abroad scholarship is a monetary award for students to use toward the expenses of their program such as travel, course, credits, books, and lodging. Students must apply for scholarships and some can be very competitive while others are underutilized. There are several types of study abroad scholarships to apply for such as:

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  Merit-based: These awards are based on a student's academic, artistic, athletic or other abilities, and often factor in an applicant's extracurricular activities and community service record. It's important to note that qualifications will vary based on the particular scholarship.
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  Student-specific: These are scholarships for applicants who initially qualify based on factors such as gender, race, religion, family and medical history, or many other student-specific factors. Minority scholarships are the most common awards in this category, but qualifications will vary based on the particular scholarship.
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  Destination-specific: These are scholarships awarded by a country to students planning to pursue a study abroad program in that particular country. They are awarded as an incentive to study in that country instead of elsewhere. Check with government-sponsored travel websites of the country where you wish to study to see what scholarships are available.
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  Program-specific: Program-specific scholarships are offered by individual study abroad programs and/or the colleges and universities where they may be associated with qualified applicants. These scholarships are often given based on academic and personal achievement, but qualifications will vary based on the particular scholarship. Check with your study abroad program and university to see what scholarships are available.
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  Subject-specific: Subject-specific scholarships are awarded by study abroad programs or institutions to students based on their particular major or field of study. These scholarships may require the recipients to enroll in subject-specific courses while abroad or conduct subject-specific research while abroad, but it's important to note that qualifications will vary based on each scholarship.