CANADA: Colleges see surge in Indian students

Canada, which has long promoted its eagerness to attract foreigners, is experiencing a surge in the number of Indian students heading there for higher education, writes Vir Singh for The New York Times.

Besides the country's positive attitude toward outsiders, the chief attractions for Indian students are lower costs [than many other destinations] for both tuition and living expenses, in addition to its lenient visa requirements, according to students and consultants who advise them about overseas study options.

The number of Canadian student visas issued in India jumped to more than 12,000 in 2010, from 3,152 in 2008. While applications have increased at all levels, growth has been greatest at community colleges, which typically offer career-focused certificate and diploma programmes, according to Simon Cridland, a spokesman at the Canadian High Commission in New Delhi.
Full report on The New York Times site