Dear Canadian Dual Citizens: Go To School In Canada!

Canada is more popular than ever with international students.

Back in December of 2016, we touched on an important bit of information that many Canadian dual citizens may not have been aware of. Post secondary school in Canada remains significantly more affordable than south of the border. Having dual Canadian and American citizenship, through parentage or birth, allows for greater and more cost effective options with respect to post secondary education and offers an opportunity to live abroad and enjoy the benefits of the citizenship you enjoy through birthright.

Since then, Canadian schools have been gaining some increased international recognition. As per CNBC, The American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers surveyed over 250 American colleges and universities and found that 39 percent of Americans schools witnessed a decline in international applications in the last year. Meanwhile, Canadian schools are enjoying a dramatic increase in applications from abroad. Wilfrid Laurier University reported a 32 percent increase in international applications, McMaster University reported a 33 percent increase and the University of Toronto (Canada’s top-ranked and largest university) saw a 20% increase.

Traditionally, Canada hasn’t been a hugely popular university destination for Americans. In 2014, it drew about 9,000 students from the U.S., compared with 57,000 from China, according to the Canadian Bureau for International Education. Many in higher education are of the opinion that there is a perception change of the United States as hostile and unwelcoming to immigrants because of the rhetoric and popularity of President Trump.

“I think everybody in international education is a little uneasy, in part because some of the rhetoric in the campaign frightened people overseas,” – Stephen Dunnett, vice-provost for international education at the University at Buffalo.

Canadian universities are renowned for their research and innovation. Canada’s higher education institutions are diverse — varying in size, scope, character and breadth of programs. Canadian universities like the University of Toronto and McGill actually rank higher than some American Ivy League schools — The University of Toronto ranks 22nd on the Times Higher Education list for 2016-2017, placing it way ahead of Brown, which clocked in at 51st place, and close behind Cornell, which ranked 19th. High academic standards and thorough quality controls mean that students may gain a high-quality education that will benefit their careers over the long term. A Canadian degree, diploma or certificate is generally recognized as being equivalent to those obtained from the United States or Commonwealth countries. Also, full time students registered in a degree or diploma-granting course are allowed to work on the campus of the institution without a work permit, which offers an advantage of being able to manage finances more effectively.