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Struggle Of International Students In Canada You Must Know!

Last Updated On 29 March 2023, 10:28 AM EDT (Toronto Time)

Struggle Of International Students In Canada: If you are planning to move to Canada for your studies, you must have heard a lot of amazing things about this country.

One of the safest countries for students, Canada is home to some of the best universities.

Furthermore, it has a high standard of living, offers a great deal of culture, and is very welcoming to all. 

However, there is a flip side to studying in Canada too. A lot of international students in Canada face different kinds of challenges that people rarely talk about. 

This article speaks out the struggle of international student. It discusses the flip side of the story and how to overcome it so that you are well prepared.

5 Major Challenges faced by international students in Canada!

1. Academic Struggles

Education in Canada is all about essays, assignments (group and individual), tests, school work, and projects.

Most students aren’t used to such an academic style, which is one of the basic reason they struggle with new education system.

Moreover, the language barrier is another major issue faced by students. All lectures and assignments are in English and many students are not able to understand it well; although, they clear English proficiency exam to get the study visa for Canada.

Therefore, it is very important that you work to have a good fluency of the English language before moving here.

Also, don’t hesitate in asking for help from your classmates or professors whenever you get stuck. A lot of academic resources are often available online. So, take benefit of these resources to succeed.

2. Finding a job in Canada

Finding a job in Canada as a student can be very difficult. Though the labor market in Canada is large, finding a suitable job takes a lot of time and patience.

This is because most companies want you to have some Canadian experience.

Also, a lot of companies are hesitant in hiring international students, given their young age and lacking basic professional ethics.

Most of the international students come for higher education after their secondary education, so they do not have any professional experience.

This is mostly when the resume is not up to the standard or when they feel that students have language barriers.

Therefore, you should always take some time out to familiarize yourself with the Canadian labor market before applying for jobs.

3. Exploitation by Employers

Living expenses like rent, grocery, transportation, internet, and so on are very high in Canada. This makes students struggle financially.

Most employers tend to take advantage of this situation and end up exploiting the students.

They pay students less than the minimum wage because they know that students need money. Moreover, most students can work only 20 hours a week.

However, recent temporary allowance by IRCC to work unlimited hours provided some relief, but its temporary.

Employers tend to offer additional hours to students on a cash basis. They pay very low wages when hiring people on a cash basis.

Since students need the money, they have no choice but to work at a low wage rate. 

4. Finding accommodation

Finding suitable accommodation can be very difficult for a new immigrants and same is the case with international students.

Getting a place near to your college is always a great option because it saves a lot of commute time.

However, places near colleges/universities’ tend to be expensive.

So, it’s a struggle to look for an affordable place to live, which also has good connectivity in terms of transport.

Recently, rents have increased significantly across Canada which is putting extra burden on international students.

Therefore, it is very important that you start your research early so that you can find affordable accommodation that best suits your needs.

Also, sharing an apartment with someone else is a great option. 

5. Homesickness

Homesickness is one of the most common difficulties that almost every student faces as they leave their family at young age.

Leaving your family and loved ones can have a very negative impact on mental health.

Students often feel very alone because they have no support system. Feeling homesick is a very natural feeling and you are not alone in this.

New students moving to Canada going through this phase should understand that it is normal and almost all the students go through it after landing in Canada.

To deal with this, you should try to make good friends here and attend social events.

It takes time to do so but once you are able to do this, you will be able to create a home away from home. 

Thus, like any country, Canada has its own cons. Doing your research can help you to prepare better and adapt well to this county. 

A week ago, the Fifth Estate did investigation on “How recruiters in India use false promises to lure students to Canada.”

How to get help in Canada

If you or someone you know is struggling, here are some resources:
Suicide Prevention Canada: 1-833-456-4566 (phone) | 45645 (text between 4 p.m. and midnight ET).
Kids Help Phone: 1-800-668-6868 (phone), live chat counselling at http://www.kidshelpphone.ca. Suicide Prevention Canada: http://www.suicideprevention.ca/resources

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