On June 8, 2018, the Student Partnership Programme (SPP) was replaced by the Student Direct Stream (SDS) Programme in India and other pre-existing reinforcement programmesaimed at students from China, Vietnam and Philippines. Significant changes and revisions have been made by the Canadian government to ease and fasten the procedure of applying for student visas by reducing its processing time. To the relief of students from the aforementioned South East Asian countries, accelerated student permits will be issued through the Student Direct Stream Programme. For the SDS permit applications, the procedure will be expedited to 45 days (approx) whereas normal processing time will continue for the non-SDSpermit applications.

The SDS scheme, unlike the SPP scheme also opens opportunities for potential students to pursue higher education in any Designated Learning Institution (DLI) in Canada, which includes publicly funded and private post-secondary institutions alike. In order to apply for the SDS programme, the following criteria must be fulfilled by allapplicants

• The student must have already been offered an acceptance letter at a Canadian University
• Proof of paid tuition fee for the year of study

Documents like an upfront medical exam confirmation and a statement of purpose need to be produced with the application. Once the application procedure reaches completion, the application will be studied to check whether or not it meets the SDS criteria. After approval of the application, an introduction letter will be sent to the selected applicants which they need to produce to the immigration official on their arrival in Canada. However, students who dont satisfy these requirements can still apply through the regular study permit application.

As one of the most sought-afterdestinations for international students to pursue quality higher education on a global platform, Canada's welcoming, all accommodating and respectful environment has been a key attraction for students. Providing affordable costs and numerous funding opportunities, the country has seen a boom in its education sector. To benefit students from across the globe, Canada is also deliberating on extending the programme to countries like Kenya and Senegal. Universities in Canada have openly welcomed this new initiative by stating that it will make it easier and faster for students who want to study in Canada.

For more information, visithttps://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/study-canada/study-permit.html