After the federal government announced a cap on international student admissions this year, British Columbia revealed its plan to allocate 83,000 undergraduate study permit applications. In 2023, the province, known for its popularity among international students, received approximately 97,000 study permits for undergraduate courses. Beginning March 4, provincial attestation letters are being issued to eligible post-secondary institutions. This issuance will ensure a fair distribution of applications between private and public institutions.
The federal government anticipates approving 50,000 study permit applications in 2024, based on past acceptance rates, despite having approved around 60,000 applications in 2023. Former post-secondary education minister Selina Robinson initially stated that no new approvals for international student enrollment would be granted until 2026. Moreover, she emphasised the introduction of stricter language requirements and increased inspections for private institutions. However, she stepped down from her position.
Lisa Beare, the current Minister of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills in British Columbia, is committed to mitigating the negative impacts of these changes. She also asserts that the province will collaborate with the federal government to address the situation.
The Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) clarified on January 22 that provincial attestation letters are now mandatory for new study permit applications, indicating a division between public and private institutions. It is estimated that 53% of applications will be directed to public post-secondary institutions, with the remainder going to private institutions. The federal government plans to issue 605,000 provincial attestation letters to institutions nationwide. Out of 605,000 PALs, an expected 60% acceptance rate resulted in approximately 360,000 applicants accepting offers. Based on the previous acceptance rates, Ontario is projected to have a study permit limit of 140,000, followed by Alberta with 43,000 permits.
