Over the last decade, Canada has grown in popularity as a study abroad destination for international students. In 2015, there were approximately 352,365 international students, whereas, in 2019, this number was 642,000–an increase of over 80 percent with Indian students accounting for approximately 34.5 percent of the study permits issued. Ken Withers, Director of the Office of Student Recruitment, University of Toronto, says, "International students are valued members of the community in Canada and important contributors to the globally diverse learning experience the university offers and they account for nearly a quarter of our student population" Canada's growth as a higher education destination is fuelled by many reasons, some of which are detailed below:

1. Straightforward Immigration Policies:
Last year, Canada opened its doors to more than 300,000 immigrants. However, considering the current pandemic, the July immigration numbers fell by 63 percent as compared to last year. To help the economy recover, the Government of Canada plans to welcome a total of 1,233,000 new permanent residents between 2021 and 2023. Before the pandemic, almost one-third of international bachelor's graduates and half of the master's graduates became permanent residents in the 10 years after they received a study permit.