A recent survey indicates that the Canadian government probably needs to be more precise about the cost of living for international students when determining whether they can support themselves financially.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s projected living expenses used during the application process are about half of what an average student in Toronto spends, according to a recent Daily Bread food bank survey released Wednesday.
Applicants for international study permits must provide “proof of financial support.” Therefore, they must demonstrate their ability to support themselves in Canada.
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- Shocking fact: Do Canadians underestimate the chances of international students surviving?
- A 2015 report said the government needed to review the assessment.
- The possibility of food insecurity for domestic students
- Difficulties faced by students
- Ontario government provides support
Shocking fact: Do Canadians underestimate the chances of international students surviving?
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Applicants must demonstrate that they have $10,000, or $833 per month, to cover their living and tuition expenses.
The applicant must also demonstrate an additional $4,000 or $333 per month to bring a family member.
They must contribute $3,000, or $255 a month, for each additional family member.
Daily Bread surveyed 180 international students who frequently use four major food banks in Toronto, but the results should accurately reflect many students’ situations.
By contrast, respondents reported paying an average of $1,517 a month in living expenses, excluding tuition, which is almost double what the Canadian government promoted as a cost of living, according to the study report.
The article continued: “Respondents commented that Canada was significantly more expensive than they anticipated, particularly when it came to accommodation and food, when asked how their experience in Canada compared to what they expected.
“This is not surprising,” the report says, “given that rents in Toronto increased by 29% in 2022 for vacant units and that food inflation was 9.1% from June 2022 to June 2023.” .
A 2015 report said the government needed to review the assessment.
The report also states that as of 2015, the government still needs to review its assessment of the cost of living for foreign students.
“The financial requirements for a study permit application are not based on a static figure,” an IRCC spokeswoman told Global News.
The student’s proof of financial support must include accurate tuition prices, return travel costs for the student and accompanying family members, and living expenses for the student and accompanying family members.
The spokesperson should have specified when the $10,000 proof of finance requirement for international students was last updated.
We surveyed 180 food bank clients who are international students, according to Talia Bronstein, vice president of research and advocacy at Daily Bread.
And we discovered that their expectations and the reality of living in Canada were at odds.
According to the study, while all students face the danger of food insecurity, international students are three times more likely to experience it than domestic students due to their high living expenses and expensive tuition.
The possibility of food insecurity for domestic students
According to a comment in the report, living and rent expenses increased too quickly for a respondent to keep up.
According to Bronstein, “We examined the external literature and found that there is undeniable evidence that foreign students are more likely than domestic students to experience food insecurity. However, we also understand that, compared to the general community, all university students and Postsecondary students are more likely to be food insecure.
The average university tuition in Ontario is $7,920, while intermediate education for foreign students is $40,525. Even if the disparity between Ontario and the rest of the country is greater, the numbers are quite similar.
In Canada, the average domestic student spent $6,872 on tuition, while the average international student paid $35,836.
While respondents were from Toronto and the surrounding area, according to Bronstein, the rising cost of living and expensive tuition across Canada suggests this may be a national problem.
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Difficulties faced by students
The report also mentions how difficult it was for students to find safe and reasonably priced housing.
The survey suggested that the lack of a Canadian credit rating or the housing market’s general bias against post-secondary students may make landlords less willing to rent to foreign students.
He also mentioned that many people found employment more difficult than expected. 61% of students earned between $15.50 (the federal minimum wage) and $18.50 per hour.
About 17% of respondents reported earning less than the minimum wage.
In addition to colleges and universities, the report includes suggestions for all three levels of government.
Requests that Ottawa evaluate and review the amount of money students must have available for monthly costs and permanently increase the number of hours foreign students can work off-campus.
He urged universities and institutions to do more to help foreign students find accommodation and work on campus. She even encouraged the city of Toronto to reduce the cost of public transportation for university students.
However, according to Bronstein, the province received the most important recommendation.
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Ontario government provides support
The most important recommendation, she says, is for the Ontario government to increase support for colleges and universities.
“We receive the lowest per capita national student support from the government among all provinces, and that really shows that universities are using foreign students to pay local students,” the student says.
And that’s not a fair approach to managing a facility.
According to Bronstein, food banks play a critical role in the fight against hunger, but they cannot serve as a long-term solution.
“As a solution, we must look beyond food banks. We must consider options to address it through public policy.
The three areas we should prioritize are excellent employment, affordable housing and income support.
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Source: vtt.edu.vn