Canada
Study permit in Canada is the document that lets a foreign national to study at a designated learning institution (DLI). However, the study permit is not a visa and would not let you cross Canadian borders. You may also require a visitor visa or an electronic travel authorization (eTA), one of which will be issued along with your study permit.
If you are from countries including China, India, Pakistan, Morocco, the Philippines, Vietnam and Senegal, you may be able to avail a study permit faster through the Student Direct Stream (SDS).
An SDS is usually processed within 20 calendar days, which would also depend on when you give your biometrics.
A study permit is generally valid until the completion of the study programme, plus an additional 90 days which will let you decide on whether to extend your stay or leave Canada.
- If you are taking prerequisite courses and your school asks you to take courses before accepting you into the main programme, you can then extend your study permit as a student.
- If you finish your studies after your study permit expires, you can get your visa extended as a student.
- If you finish your studies before your study permit will expire within the next 90 days, no matter what date is mentioned on the permit. (You will complete your studies the day the school notifies you by transcript, completion letter, diploma or degree).
Colleges in Canada with the Most International Students
Have a look at the top universities in Canada with the highest percentage of international students:
| Name of the University | % of International Students |
| McGill University | 96.3 |
| University of Toronto | 94.1 |
| Concordia University | 91.2 |
| Simon Fraser University | 90.2 |
| University of Waterloo | 83.4 |
| Dalhousie University | 81 |
| University of Alberta | 79.9 |
| University of British Columbia | 78.8 |
| Université de Montréal | 59.7 |
| McMaster University | 48.1 |
Australia
If you are aspiring to study in Australia are granted the Subclass 500 Student visa which will let you participate in an eligible programme of study in the country, travel in and out of Australia and work up to 40 hours every 2-week period after your programme begins.
This, being a temporary visa, will remain valid only until the date notified or mentioned in it. The same will primarily depend on the type of course and its length.
As per regulations by the Australian government, you would be required to leave Australia as soon as your visa expires, which cannot be extended. However, you can apply for a new visa in case you wish to prolong your stay or a Student visa if you wish to study further.
If your student visa expires before you graduate, you may be able to stay in Australia on a Visitor visa, for which you would be required to submit a letter from your education provider stating your date of graduation.
You and your family members (in case they have come to Australia with you) will be allowed to work only in limited circumstances until your programme has started. Once your course has started, you can work 40 hours in a two-week period or your family members can work but only up to 40 hours per fortnight.
Colleges in Australia with the Most International Students
Have a look at the top universities in Australia with the highest percentage of international students:
| Name of the University | % of International Students |
| The University of Sydney | 100 |
| The University of Melbourne | 100 |
| Monash University | 100 |
| The University of Queensland | 99.9 |
| The Australian National University | 99.6 |
| The University of Western Australia | 99.6 |
| The University of New South Wales (UNSW Sydney) | 99.2 |
| Macquarie University | 97.5 |
| University of Technology Sydney | 94.9 |
| University of Wollongong | 86 |
Germany
If you are looking to study in Germany, you might need a visa along with a residence permit. However, it would depend entirely on the country that you belong to and for how long you intend on staying in Germany.
Applications should be made from the home country, to the German diplomatic missions (embassies or consulates general). Only if you have been accepted to a higher education institution or preparatory college in Germany, can you apply for the German national visa.
A visa issued for study purposes will be issued only for a period of three months, after which you will have to apply for a residence permit from the foreigners’ office in Germany.
In case you are still waiting for your Letter of Acceptance or have to appear for an entrance exam, you must apply for a prospective student visa which are valid for three months and can be extended by six more months after you have accepted to a German university/ college. This would also apply if you have enrolled in a preparatory German language course or foundation course within the period.
As per German immigration rules, a foreign student will be allowed to work up to 20 hours per week while they are studying. If you exceed this time limit, you would have to pay into the German social security system, which might have a negative impact on your studies.
All Non-EU and EEA students coming to Germany for higher education will be able to work for 120 full days or 240 half days per year alongside their studies.
Colleges in Germany with the Most International Students
Have a look at the top universities in Germany with the highest percentage of international students:
| Name of the University | % of International Students |
| Technical University of Munich | 84.7 |
| Technische Universität Berlin (TU Berlin) | 74.4 |
| RWTH Aachen University | 70.3 |
| Technical University of Darmstadt | 68.7 |
| Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg | 49.5 |
| Freie Universitaet Berlin | 46.6 |
| KIT, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology | 60.5 |
| Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg | 43.9 |
| Universität Stuttgart | 51.5 |
| Universität Duisburg-Essen | 47.8 |
New Zealand
In New Zealand, there are two broad categories of student visas including the Fee Paying Student Visa and Pathway Student Visa, one of which you should mandatorily possessif you wish to study in NZ for more than three months.
- For a Pathway Student Visa, you must be offered a valid study pathway from Pathway education providers, for which you must be able to provide a letter of support from your Pathway education provider, or a joint letter if your study pathway is with more than one provider. In addition, you must also have an offer of place from the education provider.
- For a Fee Paying Student Visa, you can study full-time the course mentioned on your visa. This may include schools, tertiary and English language study. Under this visa, the length of your stay may be up to 4 years.
To qualify for a student visa, you will need:
- to be accepted to an educational institution registered under the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) or Ministry of Education.
- A ticket to New Zealand or proof that you have the money to buy one.
- Money to cover your tuition fees and other expenses or proof that you have won a scholarship that will pay your fees.
Also, under the Fee Paying Student Visa, you will be allowed to work part-time up to 20 hours per week alongside studying at a German university. The visa will also allow you to live in Germany above a certain age, otherwise you may have to bring your parents or a legal guardian with you.
Colleges in New Zealand with the Most International Students
Have a look at the top universities in New Zealand with the highest percentage of international students:
| Name of the University | % of International Students |
| The University of Auckland | 94.5 |
| University of Otago | 59 |
| Massey University | 97.9 |
| Lincoln University | 99.5 |
| Auckland University of Technology (AUT) | 100 |
| University of Waikato | 85.3 |
| University of Canterbury | 60.2 |
| Victoria University of Wellington | 54.3 |
Ireland
If you are an international student from the non-European Economic Area (EEA) coming to study in Ireland must be accepted to an Irish university to study an eligible full-time course. In order to apply for a visa, you must apply for a student visa and add evidence that you will have €7,000 when you arrive in Ireland.
All non-EEA students who require a visa must register with their local immigration officer to be allowed to stay in Ireland for more than 90 days. Also, if you do not require a visa, then you must have €3,000 when you first register with your local immigration officer, if you are coming to Ireland to study for more than six months.
Under this visa, you will be allowed to work up to 40 hours per week in the holidays and 20 hours per week during term time. Holiday periods in Ireland have been standardised, which begin from June to September and from 15 December to 15 January.
Other immigration rules that you should be aware of include not being allowed to change course during your first year of study. After completion of the first year of study, you may be permitted to study your course, provided it is at the same or higher level. You may not, however, be allowed to change from a full-time to patriot-time course.
Colleges in Ireland with the Most International Students
Have a look at the top universities in Ireland with the highest percentage of international students:
| Name of the University | % of International Students |
| Trinity College Dublin, The University of Dublin | 93.7 |
| University College Dublin | 63.2 |
| National University of Ireland Galway | 58.8 |
| University College Cork | 46.4 |
| Dublin City University | 45 |
| Technological University Dublin | 44.4 |