Shreetu Mohanty

If you're planning to study in Canada, there is one number you need to remember before submitting your Student visa application: CAD 23,448. Starting 1 September 2026 , a single international student applying for a Canadian study permit outside Quebec must demonstrate CAD 23,448 for annual living expenses , excluding tuition and transportation costs. That's an increase from the previous requirement of CAD 22,895 . The difference is only CAD 553 . But there is a much bigger lesson behind this update. Canada is continuing to tighten and manage its international student system, and financial preparedness is becoming an increasingly important part of the study-permit process. For Indian students planning to study in Canada in late 2026 or 2027, this means one thing: Don't prepare your visa finances using an outdated checklist. What Is the New Canada Student Visa Financial Requirement? Under Canada's updated rules, students applying on or after 1 September 2026 mu...

If Australia is on your study-abroad shortlist for 2027 , there is an important update you should know before choosing your university. The Australian Government has confirmed that the country’s National Planning Level (NPL) for new international student commencements will remain at 295,000 in 2027 , the same level set for 2026. At first glance, this may sound like Australia has introduced a strict limit of 295,000 international students. But that’s not quite what the policy means. The Australian Government specifically states that the NPL is not a cap or a fixed limit on student numbers . Instead, it is used as part of the system for prioritising offshore student visa applications. So what does this mean if you’re an Indian student planning a Bachelor’s, Master’s or other eligible programme in Australia? It means Australia remains open to international students, but choosing your university and planning your visa application carefully has become increasingly important. What Is Austral...

For years, one of the biggest attractions of studying in the United States has been the opportunity to combine a university degree with practical industry experience. For an international student, the plan often sounds straightforward: Study → Internship → Graduate → Build a career But in August 2026, an important part of that equation is facing new scrutiny. The US administration has issued a federal memo targeting how universities approve Curricular Practical Training (CPT) for international students. The guidance has already prompted some universities to pause or review certain CPT applications. For Indian students planning to study in the US in 2026 or 2027, this raises an important question: Will international students still be able to gain internship experience during their degree? The short answer is: CPT has not simply been abolished. But universities are facing increased scrutiny over how they authorize it, and students should no longer assume that every internship can autom...

If you were planning to take IELTS in India and preferred writing your answers on paper, there has been an important change you need to know about. The IELTS paper-based test is no longer available in India after August 2026. The final paper-based IELTS test date in India was 22 August 2026 , and from September, students taking IELTS in India will take the test on computer. The IELTS organisation had previously announced that paper-based testing would be phased out globally from mid-2026, with individual markets following their own timelines. For thousands of Indian students preparing for university applications abroad, this isn’t simply a change in exam format. It changes how you should prepare . The good news? The IELTS test itself has not suddenly become harder. The skills being assessed remain the same. But if you are comfortable writing essays by hand and struggle with typing, your preparation strategy needs to change. What Exactly Has Changed? The biggest change is the delivery m...