Hi everyone,
(Indian) I’m in a complicated situation and would really appreciate honest feedback from anyone who’s been through something similar or has knowledge of how IRCC evaluates these cases.
My visa history:
• 2017 — US B1 visa rejected
• 2023 — Two US F1 (Masters) rejections
• 2024 — Two US F1 (PhD) rejections
• 2026 — US B1 rejection again
• Total: 7 US visa rejections
Current situation:
• I have an active Express Entry profile
• I have an admission offer from a Canadian university for a graduate program
• I’m planning to apply for a Canadian study permit in 2027
• Considering withdrawing EE but unsure if that actually helps since IRCC already has the record
My specific questions:
1. Has anyone successfully gotten a study permit approved while having an active EE profile? How did you handle the dual intent explanation?
2. Does withdrawing EE actually help, or does IRCC retain the record regardless?
3. How heavily do Canadian officers weigh US visa rejections? Do they ask about them?
4. Is a strong Statement of Purpose enough to overcome the immigrant intent concern, or do I need something more?
I can’t afford an RCIC right now so genuinely relying on community experience here. Any real case experiences would mean a lot. Thank you.
u/Global-Fee3521
Hi everyone,
(Indian) I’m in a complicated situation and would really appreciate honest feedback from anyone who’s been through something similar or has knowledge of how IRCC evaluates these cases.
My visa history:
• 2017 — US B1 visa rejected
• 2023 — Two US F1 (Masters) rejections
• 2024 — Two US F1 (PhD) rejections
• 2026 — US B1 rejection again
• Total: 7 US visa rejections
Current situation:
• I have an active Express Entry profile
• I have an admission offer from a Canadian university for a graduate program
• I’m planning to apply for a Canadian study permit in 2027
• Considering withdrawing EE but unsure if that actually helps since IRCC already has the record
My specific questions:
1. Has anyone successfully gotten a study permit approved while having an active EE profile? How did you handle the dual intent explanation?
2. Does withdrawing EE actually help, or does IRCC retain the record regardless?
3. How heavily do Canadian officers weigh US visa rejections? Do they ask about them?
4. Is a strong Statement of Purpose enough to overcome the immigrant intent concern, or do I need something more?
I can’t afford an RCIC right now so genuinely relying on community experience here. Any real case experiences would mean a lot. Thank you.
Hi everyone,
I’m a PharmD graduate from India (~75%) planning to apply for fully funded PhD programs in Pharmaceutical Sciences / Pharmacology in Canada.
Profile:
- ~1 year research in pharmaceutics (drug delivery / nanosuspension, some PK exposure)
- 1 publication (clinical)
- Additional research on hospital-acquired infections
- ~1.5 years teaching experience (biopharmaceutics & PK)
- Applied to 7 US programs → received 1 admit
Questions:
Is it realistic to target a fully funded PhD in Canada directly with my profile, or is a Master’s first more practical?
How competitive is funding for international students in pharma/biomedical fields?
Any advice on effective supervisor outreach (what actually works vs gets ignored)?
Which type of labs would fit better—pharmaceutics/drug delivery vs pharmacology/PK?
Would really appreciate honest, experience-based advice. Thanks!
Hi everyone,
I’m a PharmD graduate from India (~75%) with research experience in pharmaceutics/drug development and some teaching experience. I’m trying to understand whether pursuing a PhD in pharmaceutical sciences (or related fields like pharmacology/biomedical sciences) in Canada is a good long-term decision.
I’m particularly interested in hearing from people who are currently doing or have completed a pharma/biomedical PhD in Canada:
- How is the overall experience (workload, expectations, supervisor dynamics)?
- How competitive is it to secure a supervisor and funding as an international student?
- What does the job market look like after a pharma PhD in Canada (industry vs academia)?
- Do most graduates stay in Canada, and how realistic is it to transition to PR after a PhD?
I’m trying to understand whether going directly into a PhD is worth it compared to doing a Master’s first, especially from a long-term career and settlement perspective.
Would really appreciate honest insights from those who’ve gone through this.
Thanks!
Hi everyone,
I’m a PharmD graduate from India (~75%) with research experience in pharmaceutics/drug development and some teaching experience. I’m planning to apply to Canada and trying to decide between a Master’s and a PhD in pharmaceutical sciences (or related fields like pharmacology/biomedical sciences).
I had a few questions and would really appreciate honest advice:
With my profile, is it realistic to aim directly for a PhD in pharma-related fields in Canada, or is doing a Master’s first the better route?
How competitive are pharma PhD programs in Canada, especially for international students? What do professors usually look for (publications, strong research match, etc.)?
For those who did or are doing a pharma PhD in Canada:
- How is the workload and funding?
- Is it actually worth it in terms of long-term career and PR?
If I go the Master’s route instead, which universities would you suggest that are:
- Affordable
- Realistic with my profile
- Strong in pharmaceutics/pharmacology
Are there specific universities (especially in provinces like Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta) that are better choices for pharma-related studies?
Any advice on choosing between research-based MSc vs course-based programs in this field?
I’m trying to make a practical decision that balances academics, career prospects, and long-term settlement options, so I’d really value insights from people who’ve been through this.
Thanks in advance!
Hi everyone,
I’m an international student from India planning to apply for a Master’s in Canada (Pharmacy / Pharmaceutical Sciences or related fields), and I’m trying to make a decision that’s not just affordable but also makes sense long-term for PR and job prospects.
My profile:
- PharmD graduate (~75%)
- Research experience (drug development / pharmaceutics-related work)
- Teaching experience (biopharmaceutics & pharmacokinetics)
I’m mainly looking for:
Affordable universities (tuition is a big factor for me)
Programs that are actually useful for getting a job later (not just a degree)
Programs that keep PR pathways realistic (I know it’s not guaranteed, but I want to make a smart choice)
I’ve been looking into MSc Pharmaceutical Sciences / Pharmacology / Biomedical Sciences, but I’m a bit confused between:
- Research-based vs course-based programs
- Which provinces are better (Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, etc.)
- Which universities are worth targeting with my profile
Questions:
- Which universities would you realistically recommend for someone with my background?
- Are pharmacy-related master’s degrees worth it in Canada in terms of jobs, or should I consider something like public health or regulatory affairs instead?
- How important is province choice for PR in 2026+?
- Any specific programs I should avoid?
I’d really appreciate honest advice, especially from people who’ve gone through this or are currently studying/working in Canada.
Thanks in advance!
Hi everyone,
I’m an international student from India planning to apply for a Master’s in Canada (Pharmacy / Pharmaceutical Sciences or related fields), and I’m trying to make a decision that’s not just affordable but also makes sense long-term for PR and job prospects.
My profile:
- PharmD graduate (~75%)
- Research experience (drug development / pharmaceutics-related work)
- Teaching experience (biopharmaceutics & pharmacokinetics)
I’m mainly looking for:
Affordable universities (tuition is a big factor for me)
Programs that are actually useful for getting a job later (not just a degree)
Programs that keep PR pathways realistic (I know it’s not guaranteed, but I want to make a smart choice)
I’ve been looking into MSc Pharmaceutical Sciences / Pharmacology / Biomedical Sciences, but I’m a bit confused between:
- Research-based vs course-based programs
- Which provinces are better (Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, etc.)
- Which universities are worth targeting with my profile
Questions:
- Which universities would you realistically recommend for someone with my background?
- Are pharmacy-related master’s degrees worth it in Canada in terms of jobs, or should I consider something like public health or regulatory affairs instead?
- How important is province choice for PR in 2026+?
- Any specific programs I should avoid?
I’d really appreciate honest advice, especially from people who’ve gone through this or are currently studying/working in Canada.
Thanks in advance!
Hi everyone,
I’m an international student from India planning to apply for a Master’s in Canada (Pharmacy / Pharmaceutical Sciences or related fields), and I’m trying to make a decision that’s not just affordable but also makes sense long-term for PR and job prospects.
My profile:
- PharmD graduate (~75%)
- Research experience (drug development / pharmaceutics-related work)
- Teaching experience (biopharmaceutics & pharmacokinetics)
I’m mainly looking for:
Affordable universities (tuition is a big factor for me)
Programs that are actually useful for getting a job later (not just a degree)
Programs that keep PR pathways realistic (I know it’s not guaranteed, but I want to make a smart choice)
I’ve been looking into MSc Pharmaceutical Sciences / Pharmacology / Biomedical Sciences, but I’m a bit confused between:
- Research-based vs course-based programs
- Which provinces are better (Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, etc.)
- Which universities are worth targeting with my profile
Questions:
- Which universities would you realistically recommend for someone with my background?
- Are pharmacy-related master’s degrees worth it in Canada in terms of jobs, or should I consider something like public health or regulatory affairs instead?
- How important is province choice for PR in 2026+?
- Any specific programs I should avoid?
I’d really appreciate honest advice, especially from people who’ve gone through this or are currently studying/working in Canada.
Thanks in advance!