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Highlights: Canada tops as the most desirable study abroad destinations 

• The Student Pulse Survey ranked Canada as the top study abroad destination for 2025.
• Reports suggest that around 94% of international students expressed their interest in studying in Canada.
• The Canadian government announced a study permit cap of 437,000 for 2025.
• Despite the new student visa policies, nearly 30% of international students were interested in studying in Canada.
   

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Spring 2025 Student Pulse Survey ranks Canada as the best country to study abroad

The recent Spring 2025 Student Pulse Survey results were released on March 26, 2025. According to the survey, Canada was ranked the most preferred study abroad destination for 2025, followed by the US, the UK, and Australia. The Canada study permit cap for 2025 is set at 437,000. International students graduating from eligible Canadian post-secondary institutions can qualify for a PGWP (post-graduation work permit).
 

Given below is the list of top study abroad countries for 2025:
 

1. Canada
2. USA
3. UK
4. Australia
5. Germany
6. Ireland|
    

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Key driving factors that influence international students to study abroad

International students consider 5 main factors that influence their decision-making process in deciding which country and program to choose for overseas education.

The top 5 factors that influence a student’s decision-making process are given in the below image:

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Graduate programs with an increased level of interest in 2025

The Spring 2025 Student Pulse Survey showed an increased level of interest in graduate programs, with most international graduates looking to pursue careers in engineering and nursing.

The table below has the list of study programs along with the percentage of students willing to pursue them:

Study programs	% of students interested in pursuing them
Master's degree	57%
Undergraduate degrees	25.50%
Post-graduate certificates or diplomas	18%
Undergraduate certificates or diplomas	12%

 

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The impact of government policy changes on International students

The Canadian Federal Government announced a new policy, capping the overall number of study permit applications to 437,000 for 2025. Despite the changes, around 30% of international students are considering studying in Canada, while 18% are somewhat interested. Around 29% of international students have said that the recent changes have made no difference to their decision to choose Canada as their study abroad destination.
 

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Highlights: New U.S. rules require immigrants to carry ID 

• US non-citizens are required to carry ID at all times.
• H-1B. F-1, B1/B2, and Green Card holders too must have an ID.
• Recent rules require U.S. immigrants to register with the federal government.
• Immigrants in the U.S. above 14 years are required to submit their biometric information.
• The rule came into effect on April 11, 2025.
   

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Recent U.S rules direct immigrants to carry ID at all times

The U.S. introduced new rules to identify legal immigrants. The recent rules direct immigrants to carry their IDs at all times for easy identification. U.S. immigrants are required to register with the U.S. federal government and submit their biometric information. International individuals who hold an H-1B, B1/B2 visa, F1 visa, or Green Visa must also carry an ID proof.
 

The H-1B visa is issued to international professionals temporarily working in the U.S. in a specialty occupation, the F-1 visa is issued to international students, the B1/B2 visa facilitates business or tourist activities, and the Green Card authorizes permanent residency.
 

The rules came into effect on April 11, 2025, through the Alien Registration Act.
 

Also read…

Wait times for US visitor visas drop sharply across India
 

What is the U.S. Alien Registration Act?

According to the USCIS, or U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, all immigrants are required to register with the federal government and provide biometric information. International individuals arriving in the U.S. after April 11 must register within 30 days of arrival.|
 

Individuals 14 years old and above who are not registered when applying for a U.S. visa must register. The new rule directs legal guardians register of children below 14 to have their children register again and submit biometric information within 30 days.
 

*Are you looking for step-by-step assistance with US immigration? Contact Y-Axis, the world’s No.1 overseas immigration consultancy, for end-to-end assistance!
 

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Highlights: US Visitor visa’s wait time decreases across India

• B1/B2 visitor visa wait times to the US have decreased across India.
• Individuals traveling to the US can avail of reduced wait time for appointments.
• Hyderabad, Mumbai, and New Delhi have seen a decrease from the post-pandemic rush.
• The decreased waiting time eases travel plans for tourists and business people.
• Increased staffing and efficient processing have reduced the waiting time.
   

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Wait time for US Visitor Visa decreases across India

The waiting time for US Visitor visa appointments at US consulates has been reduced across India. The candidates who have applied for the B1/B2 visa interviews can now attend their visa appointment in 140 days in Hyderabad, 151 days in Mumbai, and 156 days in New Delhi.
 

The decline in waiting time is attributed to the changes made in the US embassy and its consulates. The US embassy has increased staffing, changed processing windows, and enhanced appointment availability to resolve the backlog that had impacted the travel plans of tourists and business visitors.
 

However, the Chennai US consulate's waiting period is 407 days, the highest among all consular locations in the country.
 

Also read…

US to remove interview requirement for few H-1B, B-1 & B-2 Visa applicants

 

What is the B1/B2 visa?

The B1/B2 visa facilitates Indian travelers to stay in the US for short-term business or tourist activities. The visa process involves a detailed assessment. Consular officers review B1/B2 visa applications to assess the purpose of the visit, financial stability, and ties to the home country. First-time applicants or those with inadequate travel history have their visa application scrutinized.
 

In 2023, the US issued more than 1 million visas in India—the highest number ever. B1/B2 visas made up a significant portion of the visas issued. The US embassy has advised travelers to apply early for ease of travel.
 

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Highlights: $100 million to support women in STEM programs in Australia

• The University of Sydney received a donation of $100 million.
• The donation would address the underrepresentation of women in STEM programs.
• It aims to attract women students in high school for STEM courses and encourage them to pursue a career in this sector.
• Women hold 15 percent of STEM jobs in Australia.
• The Khuda Family Foundation donated of $100 million to the University of Sydney.
   

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$100 million support for women in Australian STEM programs

The University of Sydney received AUD 100 million in donations. The funds would address the underrepresentation of women in STEM study programs in Australia. The program aims to encourage women to join STEM (science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) study programs in high school, and retain and encourage women to pursue careers in STEM.
 

Khuda Family Foundation led the philanthropic act. The tech founder, Robin Khuda, supports the program and is known for positively impacting society. In 2024, Robin Khuda’s company sold his company AirTrunk, a data center specialist, to global asset manager Blackstone for $24 billion. This fund was used for donations to make a positive impact in western Sydney. It is the largest data center deal in the world and the largest transaction in Australia in 2024.
 

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Women in STEM sectors of Australia

According to reports by STEM Equity Monitor 2024, women represent 15 percent of the people working in STEM jobs in Australia. However, women and other people in Australia are underrepresented in engineering and computing.
 

The STEM program aims to attract women to relevant STEM courses in high school and support them in higher studies so that they can pursue careers in STEM. The first scholars are expected to enroll at the university by 2027.
 

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Progress for Australian STEM sector

Diversity and inclusion would benefit the STEM sector of Australia. Diverse groups create better results and a higher success rate for companies and governmental agencies. From July this year, the STEM programs at the University of Sydney will start outreach programs in public and private high schools in West Sydney. The program aims to reach 40,000 high school students in Western Sydney.
 

Over a decade, the University of Sydney received funds from 64,000 donors on seven continents. In 2019, it reached its goal of receiving $1 billion in donations.  
 

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Highlights: Federal wages in Canada rise to $17.75 per hour from April 2025

• Canada has recently announced a rise in federal wages to $17.75 per hour.
• The new hike of 2.4% is to be in line with the annual Consumer Price Index.
• Employees regulated at the federal level sectors will be affected by the new hike.
• The revised wages are a part of the federal government’s approach to streamlining income stability.

 

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Rise in Canadian Federal Wages

The Canadian government has increased the federal wages to 17.75 per hour, accounting for a 2.4% hike. The wage revision is a part of Canada’s approach towards bringing stability in income and is aligned with the annual Consumer Price Index.

The wage revision will impact employees associated with industries regulated by the federal government, such as telecommunication, interprovincial transportation, and banking. The payroll has to be updated to check the new rate. If the territorial or provincial minimum wage appears to be higher than the federal rate, then the higher wage is to be paid.

 

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Canadian Federal Minimum Wage

Canada recalculates the federal minimum wage each year on April 01 on the basis of the average Consumer Price Index of the previous year. The rate is rounded to the nearest $0.05. The table below shows the consistent increase in annual wages:

Year	Minimum Federal Wage
2021	$15.00
2022	$15.55
2023	$16.65
2024	$17.30
2025	$17.75

 

The 2021 Census by Statistics Canada had revealed that around 1.3 million immigrants are Indians by nationality, accounting for 3.7% of the total population of Canada.  Most of the Indian Canadians usually live in Alberta, Quebec, Ontario and British Columbia.

 

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