By EMILY YATES

Staff Writer

The doors of Niagara College re-opened last week to returning and new students alike. With them came a crop of new international students to brave the frigid and snowy weather.

"There are about 50 to 60 new international students this January," said Sean Coote, director of international services and recruitment. In total, Niagara's international student population has reached approximately 650, shared Coote.

Returning international student Samir Farooq from Jeddah City, Saudi Arabia, found out about the college through an Ontario college website. 

"I applied to UNIS, but the only [university] that accepted me was Ryerson and I didn't want to go there, so I applied to colleges to get a transfer to a better university later on and I saw, ‘Number 1 in student satisfaction five years in a row!' I was, like, God damn, this is where I'm going." 

The college has seen an increase in enrolment from China, India, Japan, Korea, South American and the Caribbean. Niagara College will be hosting students from approximately 65 countries this semester.

New-to-Canada students will be provided with a two-day orientation in order to help them adjust with the transition to a new country in the hope they have the opportunity to reach their goals as comfortably as possible.

The main complaint overall?

"We've heard lots of stories from students saying it's too cold," said Coote, with a chuckle.