2024 brought significant changes to policies around international study in Canada, impacting students, their families, and educational institutions alike. But there’s good news on the horizon! As we look ahead, some of these changes promise a smoother path for international students– including the simplification of the process for study permits for Canada.
A simpler path to studying in Canada
In November, Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced the end of the Student Direct Stream (SDS) and Nigerian Student Express (NSE) programs. These programs provided faster study permit processing for students from select countries like India, China and Nigeria but they also had strict requirements, including mandates around the use of government approved English language tests.
Now, all students—regardless of where they’re from—will apply through the regular study permit process. This new approach is simpler and fairer, and offers some additional benefits including more options for proving English language proficiency. Students can use any English language proficiency test accepted for admission by the academic institution they’re applying to – we know because we asked IRCC and they confirmed that for us!
Getting your study permit
Before arriving in Canada, every international student needs a study permit. To apply, you will need documents specified by the IRCC, including a letter of acceptance from the school you will be attending and other documents as outlined on the IRCC website.
Once you have your documents, you can apply for a study permit online. We recommend applying as soon as you receive your required documents from your institution to avoid any delays.
Avoid extra stress and costs
We know the admissions and study permit processes can be stressful and costly —an English test shouldn’t add to that. Designed with this in mind, the Duolingo English Test (DET) offers an affordable and accessible way to prove English proficiency. Here’s why it’s an ideal choice for students:
- Convenience: Take the test entirely online, anytime, from anywhere in the world.
- Affordability: At just $65 USD, the DET is much more cost-effective than other tests, which range from $300 to $400 USD. Plus, there are no travel costs to go to a test center or hidden fees for sending scores to multiple schools.
- Fast Results: Receive your results within 48 hours, helping you move quickly through the application process.
- Wide Acceptance: The DET is trusted by more than 300 institutions in Canada, including top universities and publicly funded colleges—visit our list of accepting institutions to see them all!
For higher education institutions, choosing the DET means they can offer a secure and reliable testing option that fits test-taker preferences and their budgets. Each institution has its own admission requirements, including accepted English tests, which are posted on their website.
The path to Canada is exciting - and the DET can take you there!
The end of the SDS and NSE programs signals a fairer study permit process for all international students.The DET is your key to unlocking study in Canada and as an added bonus, the Duolingo learning app can be your companion to help you learn French (or another language) to enrich your Canadian experience!