International student services are the services, supports and programming available to undergraduate and graduate international students provided by the institution at which they are studying. These services have been developed to meet international students' specific needs during their post-secondary studies and can include: orientation programming, immigration advising, academic and language support, financial aid support, employment services, health and wellness support, residence and housing support, social programming, and post-graduation planning support.
History
Canada
Student affairs services began to emerge in Canada at the end of the 19th century but it was only with the formation of the University Counselling and Placement Association in 1958 that international student advising was included as a service provided by student affairs professionals. Students from other countries had been coming to study at colleges and universities in Canada since the late 1800s but increased greatly after World War II, which led to the founding of the national organization Friendly Relations with Overseas Students. When the Friendly Relations with Overseas Students was founded, there were 6,000 international students in Canada; by 2017 there were 494,525 international students in Canada, with 370,710 studying in higher education.
Specific international student services are provided by student affairs professionals who often work within the institution's international office or international centre, or by student affairs professionals from other departments who work in tandem with the international office to develop and deliver services for international students. International centres or offices are often part of the institutions' student affairs or student services department. Institutions with smaller student populations may not have a dedicated international office but should still have student affairs professionals dedicated to working with international students.
Orientation and transition programming
It is common for international students to experience culture shock when they arrive in a new country, a new culture and a new academic setting. Orientation and transition programming allows international student adjust to their new surroundings and begin meeting people and making friends. Orientation and transition programming can include:
Online resources: Institutional websites with extensive information for international students, emailing pre-arrival information to students before they arrive on campus and webinar programs
Engagement on arrival: Assist new international students with any immediate needs or concerns, help them settle in with their new surroundings and provide opportunities to meet new people and make friends
Continued support: Follow-up sessions throughout the year that cover topics such as academics, study skills and cultural adjustment
It is important that all information provided during orientation and transition programming is presented in a way that is easy for international students to absorb and understand. Newly arrived international students may be tired and experiencing jet lag, and too much information provided too quickly can cause them to feel stressed and overwhelmed.
Immigration advising
Immigration advising for international students includes advising on:
Study permit applications and renewals
Permits allowing students to work in the country where the student is studying, both during their time as a student and after graduation
Documentation and paperwork required for travel within the country where the student is studying as well as to other countries
In Canada, advisors who provide immigration advising to international students are required to be certified as a Regulated International Student Immigration Advisor or a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant.
Academic and language support
International students can experience academic challenges if they are studying in a country where the language of instruction is not the student's first language or when the classroom style is different from the student's home country.
Post-graduation planning support
After graduation, international students can return to their home country but they may also want to stay in the country where they are studying, to work and become a permanent resident or to continue their education. These options require additional immigration permits and international student services can provide information and support on:
How and when students can apply for a post-graduate work permit
Becoming a permanent resident of the country in which the student is studying
Continued education, such as postgraduate education or additional undergraduate studies at a different institution
Services Provided by Other Student Services Offices
International students have many of the same needs as domestic students so they will seek services from departments and offices outside of the international office. These services include:
It is important that social and cultural programming for international students involve both international and domestic students, which can be achieved through collaborations between the international office and other student services departments at the institution. Often, the international office will take the lead role in these collaborations. The international office will also take the lead role in peer-to-peer programs for international students, which help international students to adjust to their new academic setting and build their interpersonal skills.
