A significant drop in international student enrollment is anticipated for Canadian universities and colleges, exceeding initial expectations. According to Universities Canada, the government’s two-year cap on study permits will lead to a 45% decline in international student numbers.
Gabriel Miller, president of Universities Canada, expressed concerns in an interview “There’s every possibility that it’s going to be even worse than we fear… We’re already in territory that no one anticipated, and that needs to set off a big alarm bell in Ottawa that we need to start turning this around right away.”
The cap, introduced in January, aims to address the rapid increase in international students. Initially expected to result in 364,000 approved study permits, the figure was revised to 292,000. Immigration Minister Marc Miller clarified that the national cap is based on expiring study permits, targeting 485,000 approved permits for 2024.
Canada hosted over one million international students in 2023, a record high and 29% increase from 2022. Ontario welcomed half of these students, while India and China remained the top sources, with 427,085 and 101,150 students, respectively. Notable increases were also seen from the Philippines and Nigeria
Impact on Canadian Education
Miller emphasized the importance of international students, describing them as an “asset” to institutions. The limit on international student enrollment will hurt Canada’s ability to compete for top talent, he warned.
“The international student community brings diverse perspectives, skills and ideas to our campuses,” Miller said. “Their contributions enrich our education system and foster global connections.”
Government Response
Immigration Minister Marc Miller stated, “The national cap on international students is set based on the number of study permits that will expire during the year.” The target for 2024 is 485,000 approved study permits.
Future Implications
The final enrollment figures will be released in October. As Canadian universities face this significant decline, concerns arise about the long-term impact on the country’s education system and competitiveness. To learn more about the impact of the study permit cap on Canadian universities and international student enrollment, consider searching online for the latest updates and expert analysis.
