Student Direct Vs Regular Stream
Are you thinking of applying to study in Canada? You might have heard that there’s more than one route to do so — and that the international student application process can seem pretty complex if you’ve never done it before. But don’t worry, we have all the details right here! We will walk you through the main differences between the Student Direct Stream and the Regular international student application process, give you all the information on how to apply, and help answer your questions about studying in Canada as an international student. Let’s get started!
A Student Direct Stream (SDS) is an expedited study permit processing program for those applying to study in Canada at a post-secondary Designated Learning Institute (DLI). The fundamental eligibility criteria to apply under SDS, one must be legally residing in one of the following countries:
- India
- China
- Morocco
- Pakistan
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Brazil
- Columbia
- Costa Rica
- Peru
- Philippines
- Senegal
- St. Vincent and the Grenadines
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Vietnam
Applicants wishing to apply under this stream will need to include the following documents as part of their application:
- You should be living outside of Canada when you apply
- Proof of a valid language test result
- Have a language result which shows either:
- An IELTS academic or general training score of 6.0 or higher in each skill (reading, writing, speaking and listening) or
- TEF score that is equal to CLB score of at least 7 in each skill ( Reading, Listening, Speaking, writing);- To be modified
- Have a language result which shows either:
- Proof of a Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) of $10,000 CAD
- Proof of full payment of tuition for the applicant’s first year of study
- Letter of acceptance from a post-secondary DLI (Designated Learning Institution)
- Most recent secondary or post-secondary educational transcript
- Proof of completion of upfront medical examination
- Obtain Police Clearance Certificate before you apply (if applicable)
Is the Student Direct Stream better than the Regular stream?
Choosing which stream is better for you depends on your financial situation and your level of English proficiency. The Student Direct Stream is a great option if you want your application to be processed faster than the regular processing times of study visa applications by the IRCC (Immigration, Refugees, Citizenship and Canada). The processing time for SDS applications is usually 20 days to 1 month, whereas, for the regular stream, it is up to 3 months. Since, through this stream, the tuition fees are paid upfront, and a GIC in Canadian Dollars is provided to cover their living expenses, the applicant’s financial ability will not be scrutinized as heavily as in the regular stream. The proof of payment for the first year’s fees and a Guaranteed Investment Certificate of CAD $10,000 or more are significant supporting documents.
Note: In spite of the information on the Canada Government website that SDS applications take 20 days to process, the actual processing time for SDS applications takes up to three months at the moment.
Will my application be rejected if I apply through the Regular Stream?
If you are worried that your application will be rejected if you apply under the regular stream, then you are wrong. The verification process by the immigration officer in this stream is a bit longer than SDS. Since the student won’t be paying the upfront one-year tuition fee and the GIC under this regular stream, they will have to convince the immigration officer by proving that they have sufficient funds to pay their tuition fee and can cover their living expenses during their study period in Canada. If students can show their funds in their bank accounts, they are just required to pay the tuition deposit (usually the first-semester fees) to apply for their study application. Whether it is a Student Direct Stream (SDS) or a Regular Stream, also known as non-SDS (non-Student Direct Stream), the approval depends on the quality of the application submitted. Error-free applications have more chances of getting approval, but again, no one can pre-guarantee the result of your application. Do not trust any consultants or agents who guarantee approval. Always find a licensed (Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant) consultant/agent to prepare and submit your study permit application to Canada.
Does Regular Stream study permit applications require a minimum amount of funds?
The amount of funds needed for a Regular Stream study permit application differs depending on the length of studies. If you are coming to Canada to study for a one-year program, you can either show one-year tuition funds in your bank account or apply for an education loan. In the case of an education loan, the loan approval letter constitutes proof of tuition funds; the funds need not be shown in your bank account. Furthermore, a minimum of $10,000 CAD should show in your bank account for one year’s living expenses in Canada.
The requirement of funds is indicated below in detail for both Student Direct Stream and Regular Stream:
Student Direct Stream: One-year program
Tuition fees: Upfront one-year tuition fees should be paid to the college
GIC: $10,000 CAD should be paid to the GIC acceptable banks of Canada
Student Direct Stream: Two-year program
Tuition fees: Upfront one-year tuition fees should be paid to the college
GIC: $10,000 CAD should be paid to the GIC acceptable banks of Canada
Regular Stream (non-SDS): One-year program
Tuition fees:
- The minimum tuition deposit mentioned by the DLI (institution you have applied to) or first-semester tuition fee should be paid to the applied institution
- Education loan: Education loan approval letter from any of the banks for the rest of your tuition fee
One year living expenses: $10,000 CAD (convert this into your home country currency) of funds should be shown in your bank account or your family members’ bank accounts.
Regular Stream (non-SDS): Two-year program
Tuition fees:
- The minimum tuition deposit mentioned by the DLI (institution you have applied to) or first-semester tuition fee should be paid to the applied institution
- Education loan: Education loan approval letter from any of the banks for the rest of your tuition fee
One year living expenses: $10,000 CAD (convert this into your home country currency) of funds should be shown in your bank account or your family members’ bank accounts.
Financial Institutions that offer GICs for international students
- Bank of Beijing
- Bank of China
- Bank of Montreal (BMO)
- Bank of Xian Co. Ltd.
- Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC)
- China Everbright Bank Desjardins
- Habib Canadian Bank
- HSBC Bank of Canada
- ICICI Bank
- Industrial and Commercial Bank of China
- RBC Royal Bank
- SBI Canada Bank
- Scotiabank
- Simplii Financial
- TD Canada Trust
Hope this article helps you in making a decision on which stream you want to apply for your study permit. If you are looking for more information, you can contact us at inquiries@adventureimmigration.com. Don’t forget to leave your comments below in the comment section.
You can also book an appointment with us to speak to our Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant or one of our immigration representatives. We are a leading immigration consultancy in Canada with 1000+ successful clients, associated with 100+ Canadian institutions, with over 90% success ratio with 5.5 ratings from 100+ clients.