Canada’s International Student Numbers Plunge by 60% as Policy Shifts Bite
2 Min Read
The landscape of Canadian higher education is undergoing a seismic shift. New data reveals that international student arrivals have plummeted by a staggering 60% year-on-year, marking one of the most significant contractions in the country’s modern history.
For years, Canada was the go-to destination for global talent, praised for its welcoming atmosphere and clear pathways to residency. However, the latest figures from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) tell a different story. The influx of new students has effectively hit a wall, following a series of federal “hard caps” on study permits designed to ease the country’s housing and infrastructure crises.
A Sector Under Pressure
The human and economic cost of this decline is becoming impossible to ignore. From the bustling lecture halls of Toronto to smaller community colleges in the Maritimes, the “one-in, one-out” model—aimed at keeping temporary resident numbers at roughly 5% of the population—is sending shockwaves through the system.
University leaders are sounding the alarm, with many institutions reporting multi-million-pound budget deficits. Some have already been forced into difficult decisions, including program closures and significant redundancies. It isn’t just the institutions feeling the pinch; local businesses that rely on the student economy, from hospitality to retail, are seeing a marked drop in footfall.
Shifting Ambitions
The decline isn’t solely down to government quotas. Potential students are also voting with their feet. Stricter financial requirements, limited work rights for spouses, and a narrower path to Post-Graduation Work Permits have made many reconsider their “Canadian Dream.” For many aspiring scholars, particularly from major hubs like India and Nigeria, the math simply no longer adds up.
Conclusion
As Canada recalibrates its immigration strategy, the education sector finds itself at a crossroads. While the government remains firm that these measures are necessary for “sustainable growth,” the immediate reality is a hollowed-out pipeline of international talent. The challenge for Canada now is to find a balance: protecting its national infrastructure without permanently damaging its reputation as a premier global destination for learning.
Source: THE PIE NEWS
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