Bright Spots for Canadian Universities as Student Visa Approvals Bounce Back
2 Min Read
After half a decade of tightening belts and mounting hurdles, Canada’s universities are finally seeing a glimmer of light. For the first time in five years, approval rates for undergraduate study permits have climbed, signalling a potential turning point for a sector that has been weathered by policy shifts and pandemic aftershocks.
According to the latest data from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), approval rates for university-level bachelor’s programmes rebounded to 57% in the first eight months of 2025. This return to 2022-level stability suggests that the “course correction” of previous years is beginning to bear fruit. Experts suggest the rise isn’t just luck; it’s the result of prospective students submitting “rock solid” applications with meticulous financial documentation and a clearer alignment with academic goals.
However, the news is a tale of two sectors. While universities are finding their footing, Canada’s colleges are facing a far frostier climate. Approval rates for college programmes have plummeted to an all-time low of just 24%. This sharp divide highlights a federal preference for university pathways, leaving colleges to grapple with the brunt of stricter scrutiny regarding “genuine intent” and long-term labour needs.
For university leaders, the 16% rise in approvals compared to 2024’s average is an “encouraging” sign of stabilisation. It appears that bachelor’s degrees have successfully weathered the recent “policy turbulence,” offering a more predictable route for international talent. Yet, the road remains steep for others; postgraduate approval rates still languish below 50%, despite government efforts to exempt them from certain intake caps.
This uptick in university approvals is a hard-won victory for an industry that has faced relentless uncertainty. It proves that when students match high academic ambition with “gold-standard” applications, the doors to Canada remain open. While the college sector still faces an uphill battle to prove its value to regulators, the recovery in undergraduate figures offers a vital blueprint for how the wider education system might eventually find its balance again.
Source: THE PIE NEWS
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