Nova Scotia to Resume Welcoming International Post-Secondary Students

Nova Scotia will resume welcoming international students to its post-secondary institutions in early November, with almost two dozen institutions ready with additional COVID-19 precautions.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada maintains the list of designated learning institutions approved by their province or territory to receive international students. The Nova Scotia institutions are expected to be on its next updated list, which will be published on Nov. 3.

To ensure the safe transition of international students to Nova Scotia, there are strict public health protocols in place. These include:

• all international students arriving to Nova Scotia from another country must quarantine for 14 days
• designated learning institutions, such as universities and language schools, are required to have oversight responsibility for international students during their quarantine, whether on or off-campus
• institutions must provide or arrange quarantine accommodations and suitable transportation for international students from the airport, as well as ensure meals and other supports are provided to the students during their quarantine period
• institutions must provide students with information on health and travel requirements before they arrive in Canada to ensure they are fully prepared to meet the requirements
• international students arriving to Nova Scotia from outside the Atlantic Bubble must complete the Nova Scotia Safe Check-In form prior to their arrival

“International students play a vital role in Nova Scotia’s social and economic well-being,” said Labour and Advanced Education Minister Lena Metlege Diab. “We are thrilled to begin welcoming them to our post-secondary institutions again, knowing that we have the necessary protocols in place to keep both students and communities safe.”

Nova Scotia Public Health has been working closely with post-secondary designated learning institutions to prepare for the arrival of students. International post-secondary students are expected to begin arriving over the next few months, starting in early November.

Quick Facts:

• students can quarantine in a residence on campus, or off campus in a hotel or other location that meets all necessary requirements, as arranged by their institution
• Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada updates the list of Canadian designated learning institutions approved by their province or territory to receive international students every two weeks
• last year, Nova Scotia welcomed more than 12,000 international post-secondary students from more than 150 countries

Additional Resources:

Information on Nova Scotia’s response to COVID-19: https://novascotia.ca/coronavirus

Nova Scotia Safe Check-in form: https://travel-declaration.novascotia.ca/en