The impact of COVID-19 pandemic on international students in Canada

Abstract

The rate at which the coronavirus (aka COVID-19) pandemic is exterminating thousands of people and leaving millions sick has pushed the International Federation of Social Workers to call on scholars to examine the impact of the pandemic on vulnerable populations. One of the most vulnerable population groups ignored by social work research on COVID-19 is international students. Drawing on media sources, academic literature, and the author’s interactions with international students, this essay argues that international students are more vulnerable during this pandemic. The essay contributes to our holistic understanding of how social work can mitigate the impact of the pandemic in general.