Why read this: Many of your students know friends or family who have thought about studying abroad. This short text tells the story of one big change: Canada used to be the top choice for Indian students, but now far fewer go. The article gives three plain reasons (visa rules, costs, and a fight between two governments) and one short human story. It is a simple way to talk about real news with your class, and to show that big numbers and easy words can work together.
What to notice: Watch the numbers. The article uses clear pairs: more than half in 2023, then 8 in 100 in 2025; C$10,000 then C$20,000. These pairs tell the story all by themselves. Notice also the three signal words "First", "Second", "Third". They make the three reasons easy to find. The closing line, "Canada is no longer a sure plan", tells the main idea in plain words.
Skills practised: Students practise reading short, simple sentences with everyday words. They also practise finding key facts (who, what, when, how much) and listing reasons in order. The text uses one common idiom, "make ends meet", and one short phrase, "in limbo". These are good chances to teach how a fixed phrase can mean something different from its single words. Students also practise reading number pairs (from X to Y) and saying what the change means.
Canada was the dream. For many Indian students, it isn’t anymore.
Indian students used to love Canada. Today, far fewer want to go. Here are three reasons why.
Tap any green word in the article to see its meaning.
In Delhi, India, students sit with their parents at a study advice office. They look at brochures from many countries. They check schools in Italy, Germany, and Australia. But not many ask about Canada anymore. Shobhit Anand runs the office. He says, “Until 2023, most of our students wanted to go to Canada. Now we see almost 80% fewer.”
The numbers tell the same story. In 2023, more than half of all new foreign students in Canada came from India. By September 2025, only about 8 in 100 did. So why did so many Indian students stop choosing Canada? There are three main reasons.
First, the visa rules got harder. For a long time, Canada was a popular choice for . Students could take a short , find work, and later apply for . Then in 2024, Canada set a . It limited how many it would give each year. Students also had to show more money in the bank, about C$20,000 instead of C$10,000. The went up. More than half of new requests were turned down in 2024.
Second, life in Canada got more expensive. Rents went up fast in big cities. Food and bills cost more too. At the same time, good jobs were hard to find. Many small colleges had grown very quickly. They took in lots of students. But there were not enough jobs after graduation. One former student moved back to India. He could not .
Third, in 2023, India and Canada had a . The two governments stopped being friendly for a while. Things are better now, and Canada still offers a for up to three years. But many students worry. Some who finished their studies are stuck . They can stay in Canada, but they cannot build the life they came for. For many young people in India, Canada is no longer a sure plan.
In Delhi, India, students sit with their parents at a study advice office. They look at brochures from many countries. They check schools in Italy, Germany, and Australia. But not many ask about Canada anymore. Shobhit Anand runs the office. He says, “Until 2023, most of our students wanted to go to Canada. Now we see almost 80% fewer.”
The numbers tell the same story. In 2023, more than half of all new foreign students in Canada came from India. By September 2025, only about 8 in 100 did. So why did so many Indian students stop choosing Canada? There are three main reasons.
First, the visa rules got harder. For a long time, Canada was a popular choice for . Students could take a short , find work, and later apply for . Then in 2024, Canada set a . It limited how many it would give each year. Students also had to show more money in the bank, about C$20,000 instead of C$10,000. The went up. More than half of new requests were turned down in 2024.
Second, life in Canada got more expensive. Rents went up fast in big cities. Food and bills cost more too. At the same time, good jobs were hard to find. Many small colleges had grown very quickly. They took in lots of students. But there were not enough jobs after graduation. One former student moved back to India. He could not .
Third, in 2023, India and Canada had a . The two governments stopped being friendly for a while. Things are better now, and Canada still offers a for up to three years. But many students worry. Some who finished their studies are stuck . They can stay in Canada, but they cannot build the life they came for. For many young people in India, Canada is no longer a sure plan.
Questions
Check your understanding
- 01
What change does the article describe?
- 02
How much money do students now need to show in the bank to study in Canada?
- 03
Why did the former student in the story move back to India?
- 04
List the three main reasons the article gives for fewer Indian students going to Canada.
Suggested length: ~50 words
- 05
Describe how Indian student numbers in Canada changed between 2023 and 2025. Use the numbers from the article.
Suggested length: ~50 words
Questions
Check your understanding
- 01
What change does the article describe?
- 02
How much money do students now need to show in the bank to study in Canada?
- 03
Why did the former student in the story move back to India?
- 04
List the three main reasons the article gives for fewer Indian students going to Canada.
Suggested length: ~50 words
- 05
Describe how Indian student numbers in Canada changed between 2023 and 2025. Use the numbers from the article.
Suggested length: ~50 words