This Week in Study Abroad (TWISA) is a weekly read on what current and prospective international students should be paying attention to, powered by Radius.
Vol. 15 · July 21st - July 28th , 2026.
TL;DR
TOP STORIES FROM ACROSS GLOBE
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Half of Student Visa refusals in Canada were avoidable
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Digital Nomad Visa Trial Program Introduced in South Korea
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Seoul crowned world’s best Student City
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Immigrant employment in the EU reaches record high
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Iceland; Students from outside the EEA to pay full tuition fees
CANADA
A new dashboard analysing Canadian study permit refusals has found financial documentation to be by far the most prominent reason for students being denied.
Launched by ApplyBoard, the new public ‘Trust Centre’ analysed over 2,800 Canadian study permit decisions in June 2026, of which 1,370 (49%) were rejected. Across the denials, lack of financial documentation was cited as a reason for refusal in 47% of cases – a factor ApplyBoard CEO Meti Basiri said was mostly avoidable.
“Students who very likely had the funds to study, were refused because they could not prove it in a way a visa officer could trust. That tells us most were preventable,” Basiri told The PIE News.
Source; PIE News
SOUTH KOREA
The government of South Korea announced that a digital nomad visa called the ‘Workcation Visa’ is now available. It is currently in a trial program for an indefinite period.
The visa will allow eligible foreign nationals (and family members) to reside in South Korea while teleworking for their home employer for up to two years.
Eligibility requirements include a sufficient minimum income according to government regulations; a clean criminal record; and work experience in their field for at least one year, among other requirements.
Source; Fragomen
SEOUL
Seoul has been named the world’s best student city for the second consecutive year, while Tokyo retains second place and London takes third in the QS Best Student Cities 2027 index.
The Korean capital was the only city to gain an overall score of 100, with the rankings based on various measures from the strength of its universities and their appeal to employers, to affordability and the views of students.
Source; PIE News
EUROPE
Immigrant employment in the European Union rose to a record high in 2025, narrowing the gap with workers born in the country but leaving significant labour potential untapped, according to a report from the ROCKWOOL Foundation Berlin (RFBerlin) seen by Reuters on Thursday.
The employment rate among immigrants increased to 68.2% last year from 67.8% in 2024, according to the study by the Centre for Research and Analysis of Migration (CReAM) at RFBerlin, based on Eurostat data.
Source; Reuters
ICELAND
Students from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) will be required to pay full tuition fees at Iceland’s public universities for the 2027 to 2028 academic year under legislation approved by parliament last month before the end of the parliamentary session, as reported by Iceland Review.
The new bill ends state funding for most non-EEA students and brings Iceland into line with all other Nordic countries, becoming the last to switch to charging tuition fees for international students from outside the EEA
Although the law was not passed in time for the fees to take effect in the 2026 to 2027 academic year, the changes were widely expected during the admissions period. The fees will instead be introduced for the 2027 and 2028 academic year.
Source; University World News
What to do this week
Based on this week's developments, here is exactly what a prospective international student should be doing right now:
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If you are applying to a Canadian school, be sure to pay attention to your proof of funds claims. Vet properly.
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South Korea is expanding opportunities to immigrants with the Workcation Visa. Take advantage of this.
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Thinking about studying in Seoul, recent rankings prove that this could be the best city to live in as a student. Browse the schools available and start planning early.
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Europe remains a solid option for studying and immigrating abroad. Studies have shown that more and more immigrants are getting jobs in the workforce, making studying in Europe a high-yield investment.
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Planning to Apply to Iceland in 2027? Counter in the tuition fee changes and budget accordingly.
IN SUMMARY;
Studying abroad presents a lot of opportunities beyond the academic pursuit and investing in your study abroad plans is worth getting right. Paying attention to details and global data reports will help you arrive at the most efficient route suitable for you. Stay informed.
We'll be back next Tuesday. Until then, your only job is to act on what you've just read.
Regards,
The Radius Team
