Earlier this year the Federal government announced they would only approve approximately 360,000 international study permits which is a 35 per cent reduction from 2023.
That change is causing concern at many post-secondary institutions around the country, many of whom rely on higher tuition fees paid by international students.
“While it’s still very early and we can’t predict what the results will be we are very concerned for the future of higher learning in Canada,” said Universities Canada VP Julia Scott. “With the revenue losses, this could mean fewer programs or courses as well as a reduction of student services for both Canadian and international students.”
Scott also says if universities lack the resources to make facility upgrades and retain staff it will hurt the communities they operate in.
“Lots of communities rely on higher education as a key economic driver, so if they lose their ability to offer high-quality programs those communities and the Canadian economy will suffer,” said Scott.
When the federal government announced the reduction it was explained as a way of getting population growth back to a sustainable rate.
At that time, Immigration Minister Marc Miller also indicated it was intended to deter fraudulent applications, “Enough is enough. through the decisive measures announced today, we are striking the right balance for Canada and ensuring the integrity of our immigration system while setting students up for the success they hope for,” Miller said.
How much money the change will cost post-secondary institutions remains to be seen but Scott says the losses are already in the millions.
Scott feels recent changes to the international student cap in addition to other policy changes surrounding immigration are beginning to erode the international reputation of Canada has a welcoming nation. As evidence of this, she says application numbers are down even further than they anticipated with the change, suggesting international students are considering studying in places other than Canada.
The Universities Canada VP is now calling on the federal government to take full stock of all their recent policy changes for international students before making any further cuts or policy changes.