Helping International students meet work permit requirements in Canada

Helping International students meet work permit requirements in Canada

Helping International students meet work permit requirements in Canada

Helping International students meet work permit requirements in Canada

PermitPal

PermitPal

UX Research, Design

2023

About

About

About

About

In Canada, over 20% of international students struggle to meet work permit requirements. Despite contributing $37.3 billion annually to the economy and making up 68% of universities' revenue.

In Canada, over 20% of international students struggle to meet work permit requirements. Despite contributing $37.3 billion annually to the economy and making up 68% of universities' revenue.

In Canada, over 20% of international students struggle to meet work permit requirements. Despite contributing $37.3 billion annually to the economy and making up 68% of universities' revenue.

In Canada, over 20% of international students struggle to meet work permit requirements. Despite contributing $37.3 billion annually to the economy and making up 68% of universities' revenue.

My Role

My Role

My Role

My Role

I primarily led UX research while also contributing to design decisions and refinements.

I primarily led UX research while also contributing to design decisions and refinements.

I primarily led UX research while also contributing to design decisions and refinements.

I primarily led UX research while also contributing to design decisions and refinements.

Team

Team

Team

Team

2 Designers, 1 Engineer

2 Designers, 1 Engineer

In a nutshell, my contributions include

In a nutshell, my contributions include

80%

Reduction in student anxiety

0%
290$

Saved per student

0%
50%

Questions and Doubts clarified

20+

Countries supported

80%

Reduction in student anxiety

0%
290$

Saved per student

0%
50%

Questions and Doubts clarified

20+

Countries supported

80%

Reduction in student anxiety

0%
290$

Saved per student

0%
50%

Questions and Doubts clarified

20+

Countries supported

80%

Reduction in student anxiety

0%
290$

Saved per student

0%
50%

Questions and Doubts clarified

20+

Countries supported

Research (Round 1)

Research (Round 1)

Research (Round 1)

Research (Round 1)

I interviewed 20 students and collected 60 survey responses

I interviewed 20 students and collected 60 survey responses

I interviewed 20 students and collected 60 survey responses

I interviewed 20 students and collected 60 survey responses

to understand what work permit requirements students fail to meet?

to understand what work permit requirements students fail to meet?

to understand what work permit requirements students fail to meet?

to understand what work permit requirements students fail to meet?

Research (Round 2)

Research (Round 2)

Research (Round 2)

Research (Round 2)

I interviewed 2 international advisors and reviewed 15+ discussion boards

I interviewed 2 international advisors and reviewed 15+ discussion boards

I interviewed 2 international advisors and reviewed 15+ discussion boards

I interviewed 2 international advisors and reviewed 15+ discussion boards

to identify the gaps and assess available resources and tools for international students.

to identify the gaps and assess available resources and tools for international students.

to identify the gaps and assess available resources and tools for international students.

to identify the gaps and assess available resources and tools for international students.

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3 Major insights after analyzing 125 data points

3 Major insights after analyzing 125 data points

3 Major insights after analyzing 125 data points

3 Major insights after analyzing 125 data points

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6 Families emerged from 30 distinct codes, with 3 categories accounted for over 66% all coded references

6 Families emerged from 30 distinct codes, with 3 categories accounted for over 66% all coded references

INSIGHT #1

School portal doesn’t specify whether a student is considered full-time or part-time.

School portal doesn’t specify whether a student is considered full-time or part-time.

INSIGHT #2

Information on how to deal with part-time status is not specific and reliable on forums and groups, often leading to confusion.

Information on how to deal with part-time status is not specific and reliable on forums and groups, often leading to confusion.

INSIGHT #3

Immigration consultants charge $150–$250 for a 30-minute session, which is often unaffordable for students.

Immigration consultants charge $150–$250 for a 30-minute session, which is often unaffordable for students.

Ideation

Ideation

Ideation

Ideation

I ran a 90-minute ideation workshop with a team of 5 which led to 4 key ideas.

I ran a 90-minute ideation workshop with a team of 5 which led to 4 key ideas.

I ran a 90-minute ideation workshop with a team of 5 which led to 4 key ideas.

I ran a 90-minute ideation workshop with a team of 5 which led to 4 key ideas.

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Why did we choose to integrate it with school portal?

Why did we choose to integrate it with school portal?

Why did we choose to integrate it with school portal?

Why did we choose to integrate it with school portal?

we went with Idea #4 because it directly connects to existing student data, making the solution accurate and low-effort for students. Unlike other ideas that relied on manual entry, integration ensures real-time updates on courses, credits, and semester status.

we went with Idea #4 because it directly connects to existing student data, making the solution accurate and low-effort for students. Unlike other ideas that relied on manual entry, integration ensures real-time updates on courses, credits, and semester status.

we went with Idea #4 because it directly connects to existing student data, making the solution accurate and low-effort for students. Unlike other ideas that relied on manual entry, integration ensures real-time updates on courses, credits, and semester status.

we went with Idea #4 because it directly connects to existing student data, making the solution accurate and low-effort for students. Unlike other ideas that relied on manual entry, integration ensures real-time updates on courses, credits, and semester status.

School Portal - already stores all the up-to-date student data

  1. Registered courses

  2. Total credits

  3. Year of study

However, it lacks the essential information:

Doesn't show semester status (part-time/full-time)

Doesn't show impact on work permit eligibility

PermitPal fills the Gap

Evaluates Semester Status (Full-time/part-time) for each semester

Finds work permit eligibility based on semester status

Integrating with School Portal

How I iterated on 4 Pre-designed UI Flows and screens?

How I iterated on 4 Pre-designed UI Flows and screens?

How I iterated on 4 Pre-designed UI Flows and screens?

How I iterated on 4 Pre-designed UI Flows and screens?

started with an earlier draft from another designer - refining them to improve usability, visual consistency based on user feedback.

started with an earlier draft from another designer - refining them to improve usability, visual consistency based on user feedback.

started with an earlier draft from another designer - refining them to improve usability, visual consistency based on user feedback.

started with an earlier draft from another designer - refining them to improve usability, visual consistency based on user feedback.

ADD SEMESTER

Students input courses for each semester.

ADD SEMESTER

Students input courses for each semester.

ADD SEMESTER

Students input courses for each semester.

ADD SEMESTER

Students input courses for each semester.

CHECK STATUS

Check if they meet full-time requirements.

CHECK STATUS

Check if they meet full-time requirements.

CHECK STATUS

Check if they meet full-time requirements.

CHECK STATUS

Check if they meet full-time requirements.

TRACK PROGRESS

Track their semester-by-semester status.

TRACK PROGRESS

Track their semester-by-semester status.

TRACK PROGRESS

Track their semester-by-semester status.

TRACK PROGRESS

Track their semester-by-semester status.

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Conducted a collaborative design critique with the team to review the existing screens. We identified key user pain points, usability gaps, and improvement opportunities.

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quick visual fixes in - refining them to improve usability, visual consistency based on user feedback.

quick visual fixes in - refining them to improve usability, visual consistency based on user feedback.

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Why we ended up choosing a Horizontal Pill Bar for Filters?

Why we ended up choosing a Horizontal Pill Bar for Filters?

Why we ended up choosing a Horizontal Pill Bar for Filters?

Why we ended up choosing a Horizontal Pill Bar for Filters?

because there's only a small set of filters. It lets users see and apply changes instantly without extra steps.

because there's only a small set of filters. It lets users see and apply changes instantly without extra steps.

because there's only a small set of filters. It lets users see and apply changes instantly without extra steps.

because there's only a small set of filters. It lets users see and apply changes instantly without extra steps.

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What went wrong with our design solution that led to drop in student interest?

What went wrong with our design solution that led to drop in student interest?

What went wrong with our design solution that led to drop in student interest?

What went wrong with our design solution that led to drop in student interest?

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the problem was students only saw the impact on their eligibility after they dropped or added a course. By then, the damage was already done.

the problem was students only saw the impact on their eligibility after they dropped or added a course. By then, the damage was already done.

we went back to the basics with engineers and shifted gears.. what if users can preview part-time status impact beforehand?

we went back to the basics with engineers and shifted gears.. what if users can preview part-time status impact beforehand?

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Reflections

Reflections

Reflections

Reflections

Research gets personal…

Research gets personal…

Research gets personal…

Research gets personal…

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01

Having been an international student myself, I resonated with many experiences. I had to consciously detach and set aside my own biases to stay true to participants’ voices.

Having been an international student myself, I resonated with many experiences. I had to consciously detach and set aside my own biases to stay true to participants’ voices.

Having been an international student myself, I resonated with many experiences. I had to consciously detach and set aside my own biases to stay true to participants’ voices.

Having been an international student myself, I resonated with many experiences. I had to consciously detach and set aside my own biases to stay true to participants’ voices.

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02

It is important to separate observation from interpretation. Holding back on conclusions ensured my findings were grounded in rigorous analysis rather than assumptions.

It is important to separate observation from interpretation. Holding back on conclusions ensured my findings were grounded in rigorous analysis rather than assumptions.

It is important to separate observation from interpretation. Holding back on conclusions ensured my findings were grounded in rigorous analysis rather than assumptions.

It is important to separate observation from interpretation. Holding back on conclusions ensured my findings were grounded in rigorous analysis rather than assumptions.

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03

Revisiting can feel frustrating, but it’s a reality in research. It’s important to resist making decisions too quickly and to go back to uncover user pain points

Revisiting can feel frustrating, but it’s a reality in research. It’s important to resist making decisions too quickly and to go back to uncover user pain points

Revisiting can feel frustrating, but it’s a reality in research. It’s important to resist making decisions too quickly and to go back to uncover user pain points

Revisiting can feel frustrating, but it’s a reality in research. It’s important to resist making decisions too quickly and to go back to uncover user pain points

Next Project

University of Guelph

Helping new incoming students find their first home on-campus

Helping new incoming students find their first home on-campus

Helping new incoming students find their first home on-campus

Helping new incoming students find their first home on-campus

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© 2025 Ananya Thukral. All Rights Reserved.

I'm available for UX internships from

Summer 2026

© 2025 Ananya Thukral. All Rights Reserved.

I'm available for UX internships from

Summer 2026

© 2025 Ananya Thukral. All Rights Reserved.

I'm available for UX internships from

Summer 2026

© 2025 Ananya Thukral. All Rights Reserved.

I'm available for UX internships from

Summer 2026