New rule of Student Direct Stream (SDS) Canada for Indian student

Last Updated: 15/10/2018

Canada is one of the top destinations for students to visit and pursue their educational goals. Indians, in particular have been attracted to the Canadian education system and hundreds of them migrate to Canada every year, taking up different professional courses in order to make their career a worthy one.

Not only that, apart from different educational courses, Canada also has a friendly and multicultural environment which makes it possible for international students to come and study in Canada. For the international students coming to Canada, the Canadian government have implemented a new Study Permit rule, which is the Student Direct Stream or SDS. The new SDS Program has replaced the previous SPP (Student Partnership Program) rule, which was in existance from 2009. Let us talk about more about this new SDS rule in detail in this article.

What is The New Rule of SDS?

The new Student Direct Stream Program will help to speed up the Canadian Student VISA application process for those who have applied for full-time studies in the Colleges or Universities of Canada. The SDS program is currently applicable for students who are coming from Philippines, Vietnam, China, and India. The SDS program has been financially backed up by Scotiabank. The bank will provide the eligible students a GIC Certificate (Guaranteed Investment Certificate), which will help the financial needs of the students for a stay of one year while they Study in Canada.

This has been a welcome change for many students who are financially not strong enough but have the ambition to study in Canada. The SDS program has also reduced the amount of paperwork required for the Canadian Study Permit and other official processes that a student had to go through. Therefore, with the help of the SDS program more students who are eligible would be able to get admission to the Canadian Colleges and Universities.

SDS Program Requirements/Eligibility

The SDS program has different requirements that need to be fulfilled by the candidates who want to study in Canada when compared to SPP. Here are the most important requirements for SDS eligibility.

• The student must have an IELTS score which has been taken within the past two years, with a minimum band of 6.5 overall, and 6.0 in all the modules that have been listed- listening, reading, writing and speaking.
• Students are needed to purchase the Guaranteed Investment Certificate from Scotiabank which is worth of CAD $10,000 (5,66,750 INR Approx.), which covers the living expenses for one year stay in Canada.
• The student must produce the proof of the purchased certificate for at least one year. He or she also has to appear for a medical examination at least a week before the final date of submission of the application.
• Candidates must have proper admission to a full-time educational program to a publicly funded University or College or CEGEP (Collège d'enseignement général et professionnel- General and Vocational college) in Canada.

Summary of Documents Required:

• Acceptance Letter from a DLI in Canada.
• Proof of the medical examination
• Proof of the GIC purchased
• Proof of the paid fees for year one of the study
• IELTS Scores of 6.5 overall, and 6.0 in each.

So here is the important eligibility requirements that has been listed under the SDS program for the students who want to study in Canada and are coming from the countries that are mentioned previously.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Will SPP still be considered for the students who are not eligible for SDS?

No, Your process will go to the SDS rule only. If you are not eligible as per requirements, it will be treated as a general Canada Study Permit Application.

What is a DLI?

DLI is Designated Listed Institute. It is approved by a government authority to host international students and enrol them for courses. The SDS rule only applies to the DLIs.

What is GIC?

GIC is Guaranteed Investment Certificate, it is a proof that you can sustain yourself financially in Canada for one year. It is for CA$10,000, and you have to submit the proof of purchasing the GIC at the time of application.

Will SDS make the process faster for Study Permit in Canada?

Yes, student oriented approach and less paperwork means the process of visa approval will be faster than SPP process.

Do SDS include the same ammount of colleges & Universities in Canada as SPP?

No, the SPP Program only had 47 institutes. SDS has a much wider range and many options available. You can check them out here.

Will SDS provide same Stay Back and Work options in Canada after studies?

The Stay Back options and work permits depend on the DLI you apply to. Before applying, check with your institute about the options.

Is there any other way to prove my English Language Proficiency apart from IELTS?

No, IELTS is compulsory for the SDS process, and the required bands are 6.5 overall with 6.0 in each module.

What happens if the Student Visa is refused?

In that case, contact your bank for the GIC refund and the University to refund the tuition fees. You are eligible for a refund.

Now that you are aware of the rule, the next step would be applying to a college or one of the Universities in Canada. You can find the listed colleges and Universities that fall under the new SDS rule here: List of Top SDS Colleges in Canada

Read Also:

• Visa Entry and Requirements for Canada: Detailed Guide
• Study in Canada: Admission Process to Visa
• Best Courses to Study in Canada