Canadian Colleges See 30% Surge in International Students, Driven by Indian Enrolments

By Siya November 30, 2024
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Canadian colleges experienced a 30% rise in international student enrolments in 2022/23, according to newly released data from Statistics Canada. This surge was a significant driver behind a modest overall enrolment increase of 0.6% across Canada’s post secondary sector, despite a decline in domestic student numbers.

International students accounted for 21% of all college and university enrolments in Canada, continuing a decade-long trend of growing overseas student numbers. The majority of this growth came from Indian students, whose enrolments in Canadian colleges rose by 32%, representing over half of all international college enrolments in 2022/23.

In contrast, Canadian domestic student enrolments dropped by 4% in colleges and 2% in universities. Overall, university enrolments saw their first decline in a decade, falling by 0.5%, while colleges recorded a 2.7% increase.

The rise in international student numbers comes amid increasing reliance on international tuition fees, which averaged CAD$33,561 in 2022/23, compared to CAD$6,435 for domestic students. However, recent government measures to cap international student recruitment have begun to take effect.

Immigration Minister Marc Miller announced a cap in January 2024 to address what he called “unsustainable” levels of international recruitment, aiming to reduce student numbers by 35%. Stakeholders have criticised the cap as an “overcorrection,” and early immigration data for 2024 indicates a sharp decline in study permit applications.

Despite diplomatic tensions between Canada and India, Indian students remained the largest cohort of international students in H1 2024. However, stakeholders warn that stricter visa policies may push Indian students to consider alternative destinations in Europe, while Canadian institutions are seeking to diversify their international student base.

The long-term impact of these measures remains uncertain, but experts predict a dramatic reduction in international enrolments in future years.

Source: THE PIE NEWS

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