Canada-based study abroad platform extends financial aid to Indian students after admission cancellation

NEW DELHI: A Canada-based study abroad platform, Halp, has announced to provide financial and legal help to 500 students, including Indian students, whose admission offers were revoked by the Northern College, Scarborough campus, in Ontario. Halp will offer a financial aid of 800 Canadian dollars, ie, Rs 49,157.35, to alleviate their initial arrival expenses.

As part of the legal aid, the study abroad platform said that the Canada-based immigration lawyers will help in creating, reviewing and submitting their study permit applications to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

Just months before the academic session which was slated to begin in September this year, Canada’s Northern College, Scarborough campus, cancelled admissions citing an overwhelming influx of applications. However, many of these students had already invested in accommodations, and air tickets.

“The college had issued more offer letters than available seats, anticipating a certain rate of rejections due to embassy clearance and visa procedures. However, this year’s lower rejection rate caught the college off guard, necessitating the unfortunate step of rescinding admissions,” it said.

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Halp.co said that it has also informed about the support offered to the chief minister’s office, Punjab; ministry of higher education, Punjab; Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan; and the High Commissions of both the countries.

“The affected students can reach out for Halp’s Assistance at its official website halp.co,” it said.

Besides the financial and legal help, it will also assist these students in the admission process by providing a 1:1 admissions coach, based in Canada, “who will work tirelessly to guide towards the right academic program and in securing scholarships”.

The comprehensive programme which costs 3,000 Canadian dollars, ie Rs 1,84,324.21, is being offered free of cost for these 500 students, it added.