International students can now return to 23 colleges and universities in Nova Scotia

Twenty-three designated learning institutions (DLIs), which include language schools, colleges and universities in Nova Scotia are now ready to welcome back international students to Canada. On Nov. 3, 2020, the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) added the institutions to their list of learning institutions that are ready to receive international students. 

The Canadian government reopened the country’s borders to international students from Oct 20, 2020 if their DLI has an approved COVID-19 readiness plan in place. “If a DLI on the list has multiple campuses, all campuses in that province or territory are included in the DLI’s approval,” it said. Students must quarantine for 14 days upon arrival.

Colleges and universities in Nova Scotia that can welcome students 

Among the 23 institutions in Nova Scotia that are ready to welcome back international students include:

• Acadia University
• Cape Breton University
• Dalhousie University
• Eastern College – (Halifax)
• Halifax Language Institute of Canada
• Mount Saint Vincent University
• Nova Scotia College of Art and Design (NSCAD)
• Nova Scotia Community College
• Saint Mary’s University
• St. Francis Xavier University
• Université Sainte-Anne
• University of King’s College

As of Nov. 4, 2020, the list includes post-secondary DLIs in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan and Yukon. There are currently no approved post-secondary DLIs in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut. 

IRCC said, “If international students’ DLI isn’t included in the list, you can’t travel to Canada to study at this time. If you try to travel to Canada when your DLI isn’t included, you may not be allowed to board your flight or you may be turned away at the port of entry.” Any DLI that no longer meets its provincial or territorial public health requirements will be removed.