Indian Diplomat Warns Students About Studying in Canada

Indian diplomat Sanjeev Kumar Verma has warned students and their parents about studying in Canada.

In an interview with PII, he shared serious concerns. He said that many students spend a lot of money on education but struggle to find jobs afterward.

This has led to some students feeling hopeless and, sadly, committing suicide.

Sanjeev, who recently served as Canada's High Commissioner until returning to India earlier this month due to a diplomatic dispute, shared alarming statistics.

“When I worked in Canada, at one point, we were sending the bodies of at least two students back to India each week. These were suicides. They arrive in Canada with dreams for the future and return as corpses. Parents should carefully consider their children's admissions after thoroughly researching the colleges.”

He criticised institutions that only hold classes once a week and mentioned that brokers play a role in this situation.

Students often live in bad conditions, sharing rooms with up to eight people.

Many come from good families and spend all their savings on education. However, with few classes, they learn very little.

Instead of getting professional jobs after their studies, they often end up working as cab drivers or selling snacks.

Sanjeev Verma also highlighted the financial burden on Indian students, noting that they pay four times the fees compared to local Canadian students.

He urged parents to be aware of the costs and the realities of studying in Canada.

“If parents are selling land or taking loans to send their children abroad, they risk their future. Many students find themselves trapped and unable to return to India, leading to tragic outcomes.”

He warned Indian students in Canada to be cautious of their surroundings and watch for Khalistani separatists who might exploit them with offers of money and food. Some students have been pushed to protest against the Indian embassy.

He stressed that parents should keep in touch with their children to understand their situations and offer support.

As of August, there are 1,335,878 Indian students studying abroad. Of these, 427,000 are in Canada and 337,630 are in the U.S.

Many want to go to top schools like the University of Toronto and McGill University, but only a few hundred get in. Most attend less well-known colleges.