Information

Sources

We asked highly skilled migrants and international students what kind of information did they turn to to inform their decision. We also asked them what sources did they use to find out that information.

WHAT WE LEARNED 

The individuals surveyed relied heavily on digital sources to gather information prior to migration, particularly online searches and social media. They valued visa consultants less than all factors. For both groups, friends and family in Canada were the second most important source of information.

WHAT WE HEARD

The highly skilled migrants were proactive in searching for information themselves, using different types of online platforms, from websites to social media. They relied on the Government of Canada website for trusted information, but turned to social media such as YouTube and Instagram, to get more simplified and practical information. Those who applied through visa consultants would often verify information with online searches or their social networks in Canada.  

Diego, 31-year old from Mexico

Diego entered Canada in 2017 to complete his second Master’s degree. He had to pause his PhD plans due to the financial cost. In 2019, he applied for the Temporary to Permanent Pathways program, a limited-time pathway for temporary migrants to apply for permanent residence during the pandemic period.

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"I did all the processing by myself. Yes, I didn't contact any immigration consultants or anyone. Well, what I did was read many [online] posts, information that previous international students posted on the internet or in different blogs to get an idea about how they had managed this process."

Diego

31-year old from Mexico

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“Cost of living, job opportunities and the healthcare system, basically those are three that I searched for. I just wanted to have an idea of how much I need to earn to live modestly, that jobs and career opportunities were available, and then accommodation and healthcare.”

Abeo

40-year-old male from Nigeria

WHAT WE HEARD

Our survey did not dive down about the physical location of the educational institution, but in our interviews many students said they preferred an education institution based in an urban or central location. They had a high level of knowledge of the courses and program offerings and this was the number-one driver of their decision on where to apply.

Abeo, 40-year-old male from Nigeria

Abeo was planning to come to Canada for further education because he knew of the high quality of education and the safety, standard of living, multiculturalism and healthcare that Canada offered. Aboe used diverse sources to search for information – online search engines, government websites, social media and networks in Canada. 

WHAT WE LEARNED 

Among the international students we surveyed, educational institutions were naturally the most searched topic prior to their migration to Canada, followed by immigration programs and policies, and then employment prospects, signalling their interest in finding work in Canada after their studies.

WHAT WE LEARNED 

When it came to information sources, international students also preferred to conduct their own search to ensure information was accurate and reliable, and relied less on information from visa consultants. Many international students also considered friends and family in Canada as helpful sources of information compared to other sources.

WHAT WE HEARD

During the interviews, international students shared that they explored university websites and used internet search tools and social media platforms as strategies for gathering information. International students preferred their own research or consulted with their networks in Canada to confirm information obtained through visa consultants. Some avoided visa consultants altogether.

Radha, 27 year-old-female from India

Radha came to Canada in 2022 to pursue a master’s degree in engineering at an Ontario university. She chose Canada because of the size of its Indian community, the potential for career prospects, and the level of safety she could experience in everyday life.

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“If I go to a consulting agency, it will consume my time a lot, because you don't know what they're going to need. They won't pick up the phone when you actually need them to. I did not want to depend on anyone when it came to this. I did it myself.”

Radha

27 year-old-female from India