COVID19 and Online Classes:
What to do?
This document is originally written by Abdullah Al Maruf, PhD (University of Toronto).
Year of Publication: 2020
©PBSCU Any unauthorized use of this article, including copying or editing is prohibited. If you want to use the article, you need to take permission from us: pbscuadm@gmail.com or from the author and you must mention the author's name and the group's name in all cases.
This discussion is my personal advice in collaboration with PBSCU. Your decision is your own.
Before we start:
Let’s acknowledge the fact that this is an unprecedented time. Rules are being changed here and there and be very sure these changes are NOT permanent. Therefore, take them as temporary changes and a change can come anytime. Second, many are spreading rumours to recruit clients for you know what. Do NOT pay heed to any rumours. Do NOT assume anything unless there is a decision comes from the Government of Canada or IRCC. Is there any IRCC or Government of Canada link? If there is no link, take all information as personal, not official.
What do we know so far?
1. Most Universities and Colleges in Canada will offer courses for Fall 2020 either completely online or through a blend of online and on-campus. Universities have plans to open the research lab when it’s safe.
2. If you take classes online or from out of the country for Summer 2020/Fall 2020, it will not affect your PGWP as long as you 50% of the course in Canada.
Link: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/news/notices/pgwpp-rules-covid19.html
3. If you got your visa (letter of introduction) before March 18, 2020, you are allowed to travel to Canada. However, you need to make sure you will be home-quarantined for 14 days which is mandatory.
4. If you are taking online classes, you are allowed to work 20 hours/week during the academic year if you have an off-campus work-permit and full time during a scheduled break. If you are working in the essential services, there are no hour limitations only during this summer 2020.
Scenario-1: I have got the visa (letter of Introduction) for Fall 2020 or Summer 2020 (deferred to Fall 2020)
Option-1: You can come to Canada sometime in August if there are flights:
Pros:
You can enter Canada, study inside Canada, and see what Canada has to offer.
You can check out the campus and decide whether this is the right place for you.
Cons:
You need to quarantine for 14 days. You need to have a support system for this.
Follow this instruction: https://www.facebook.com/bdhcottawa/photos/a.1709310176051703/2594991250816920
Not sure what job situation will be like in Canada in the near future. If you do not have a proper financial backup, you may face trouble in these 4 months.
Personal Advice: I would suggest research-based and graduate students to try to enter Canada. Talk to your supervisor about it. There could be funding complications.
Option-2: You can stay in Bangladesh and study online:
Pros:
Learning Management Systems are pretty good. You will not miss much.
Save the living cost.
Not sure, when flights will be available and whether they will be costly.
Cons:
Paying a significant tuition fee for online classes.
There could be a reduction in student fees, but there is no such notice from any University or College that they will reduce tuition fees. But they may.
Not everyone will be comfortable with online classes.
Personal Advice: I would suggest undergrad and course-based students to do this, if possible. But it’s up to you.
Option-3: You can defer and come in Winter 2020
Pros:
Hopefully, things may get better by the end of the year and you start on-campus classes in Winter 2021. But there is no guarantee of it.
On-campus classes are important for full international student experience.
Cons:
Not every university or college will allow it and if your offer letter gets cancelled, there is no guarantee that you will be an offer letter again, especially for competitive programs.
You will be delaying your studies for 4 months.
Personal Advice: I would suggest anyone who is not comfortable with online classes to follow this option.
Scenario-2: I have got the visa (letter of Introduction) for Summer 2020, doing online classes, and thinking what to do for Fall 2020.
You can choose any of the above three options keeping in mind that 50% of your course must be done on-campus to not effect PGWP.
Personal Advice: If you like online courses, do online courses in Bangladesh. If not, you can try to take a leave of studies. Remember, whether you come to Canada or stay in Bangladesh, courses will be online anyways.
Scenario-3: I have an offer letter for Fall 2020 and I would like to apply for the visa
You can apply for the Visa and then Follow Scenario-1 options.
Pros:
If you get the visa (letter of introduction), you can start studying in Bangladesh even without getting the physical study Permit and with no effect on PGWP.
If you get the visa and if you defer, you can enter Canada with the same visa with a letter of deferral.
Cons:
It will be tough to gather all visa related documents and if self-funded, without proper documents, there will be a strong chance of visa rejections.
Personal Advice: I would suggest everyone who got an offer letter, try to gather documents and apply for the Visa. Whether you decide to come to Canada or do classes online, it’s always better to have the visa on hand. But how are you going to arrange all documents?
Wait till Jul 30, see what happens to Bangladesh. Last year, some study permits were approved in 7-10 days in the month of August. So, there’s time.
Collect documents that you can gather online.
Biometrics timeline has been extended to 90 days. So, wait until VFS opens
Worst case scenario, you would not be able to collect required documents/medical; you can ask for a letter of deferral from your university and college and come in Winter 2021.
Do not apply without proper documents. Don’t forget fraudsters will also be applying with fake documents and you need to make sure your documents are well prepared and not get confused for suspected ones.
Some Q/As:
Q: What if I apply for visa, meanwhile my class starts and I don't get any update from vo, in this situation can I start attending online classes?
Answer: It depends on your University or College. Ask them. There is a small problem with this: If you don’t get the visa, will they refund your tuition fees? Ask them about their refund policies.
Q. In that case will it be wise to pay such high tuition for online courses. Or if he manages to get visa, but university informs that they will conduct online classes, can he refuse and ask for deposit back? Or defer?
Answer: Whether you should pay such a high tuition fee for online classes? It’s up to you. Even if you are in Canada, the classes will be online. My personal view is that the lecturers will be almost the same. What you will miss IS “campus life”. If you are an undergrad, 4 months will not be a big deal. If you are in a 1-year program, you need to think about priorities. Will they refund your tuition fees if you opt no to take online classes? Ask them about their refund policies. They will be flexible with this.
Q. Given the scenario, would it be wise to go for online classes at such high tuitions from BD - given that its impossible to get VISA before September 2020. Also, if someone doesn’t get visa, would it be wise to defer...??
Answer: As classes will be online, there will be no difference between doing it in Canada vs Bangladesh. Read the post for other answers.
Q. At first, I applied for summer session in International College of Manitoba and applied for my visa on 18th of March 2020 from VFS Dhaka, and my file reached Singapore at 23rd March 2020. But because of the pandemic, I didn't get any update of my visa application and my classes were about to start as well, so I deferred my session to Fall 2020, and got the new offer letter the next day I applied for defer. Still now, I didn't get any update on my visa application, and if the same situation happens to appear this time as well, should I start online classes? And if I do, then will the university deduct the amount of course fees from the initial tuition fees I've sent? Or paying the course fees later will be possible?
Answer: IRCC services in Singapore are now essential only. They have posted multiple notices that decision will take time. If you have deferred, you should send them the deferral letter. About tuition fees, your college should charge you if you start classes. So, if you start classes, your tuition deposit will be used for that session.
Q. Given the scenario, would it be wise to go for online classes at such high tutions from BD (starting of the MSc with online classes ☹)- given that its impossible to get VISA before September 2020. Also, if someone doesn’t get visa, would it be wise to defer...??
Answer: If you are funded, talk with your supervisor. If its course-based, read the different options mentioned above.
Q. What will be the possible scenario for thesis-based MSc course or PhD course?
Answer: Talk to your supervisor. I personally suggest coming to Canada as soon as possible when its safe to do so.
Q. What a student can do if the university do not offer to defer the session?
Answer: Do online classes.
Q. I am confused about getting Visa. If classes are shifted to online, will they provide visa before September? If no, I think Students are not interested to take online class. Because a risk factor involved to get the refund of tuition fees if they didn’t ger visa but started online class. Please discuss your view also.
Answer: My personal view is that if the University does not clearly state the refund policy of what they will do if you are rejected, you should not start online classes before getting approved. Fall Visas will be coming out in June/July/August.
Q. What about funded PhD students for fall 2020? I cannot submit my visa application yet. Hope to apply by June. Is it ok? Should I request defer to Winter 2021 from fall 2020? Would it hamper my funding opportunities? Thank you vaiya...
Answer: You can even apply for the visa in August. But make sure not to submit any incomplete documents. The deferral can hamper funding. Talk to your supervisor or Graduate Coordinator.
Q. I got an offer for Msc (thesis-based) from my University for fall 2020. In my funding letter (TA + Uni scholarship), there had a condition written that "Start your graduate program on the date that is specified in this letter. Funds are not transferable to another start date". I was confused then I mailed the admission office asking that if I defer my starting date will my funding will automatically defer or not. They replied that funding will also defer if I want to defer my semester due to this pandemic. I am really confused about these two points (a financial condition in my letter and their reply). Can you please clarify this point viya. Should I go for online classes in this scenario?
Answer: Talk to your supervisor and university and get a written confirmation that your new offer also has the full funding opportunities. If your supervisor allows, you can start online classes too.
Q. The concern about online classes will probably vary with the field of study, but in general will it be wise to enroll in online classes? Are these going to be live/interactive classes?
Answer: Yes, there will be. But you are right, based on the field of study, these experiences can significantly vary.
Q. Can someone enrol and start online classes if he/she hasn't received the study permit yet?
Answer: It will depend on the University. But if visa gets rejected, not sure whether you will get a tuition fee refund or not. Ask them.
Q. If someone, who has already got the study permit, decides to defer - will he/she need to apply for a new study permit?
Answer: No.
Q. Can someone cancel enrolment and get a refund if the tuition fee is already paid?
Answer: Some universities and colleges may not refund money. You need to ask yours.
Q. If the 14-day mandatory quarantine is still there in august/September, we'll ideally need to be in Canada by mid august to catch the September 1 start. What's a reasonable date by which we should apply for the study permit? Mid June? Or is this too late?
Answer: The ideal time would be anytime in the first week of July. But many students got Fall visa applying in August.
If you have any other questions, ask under this document.
Thank you.