Amidst legislative changes, housing concerns, and reductions in visas, Canada experiences a 35% decline in the interest of foreign students, which affects enrollment and future growth prospects.

Eindhoven, Netherlands-based Study portals, an education network, reports a 35% decline in interest in studying in Canada. This decrease comes after the Canadian government declared in January that fewer new visas for international students will be issued. Studyportals provided University World News with unique data that indicated a 35.3% decline in interest from potential international students compared to a year earlier.

This decrease is a reflection of the 35% cut in foreign student visas that Canada’s Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship, Marc Miller, announced for 2024. Undergraduate and graduate programs are also impacted by the downturn; master’s programs are more severely affected, falling by 36.7%, while bachelor’s programs are down 23.5%.

The data from Studyportals, which monitors prospective students’ page views, is thought to be a trustworthy predictor of enrollment patterns for the next 12 to 24 months. This information was made public the same week that Miller disclosed a further 10% drop in foreign visas for the following two academic years, resulting in a net decrease of about 240,000 visas by 2026.

Miller also said that doctoral students would henceforth be bound by similar limitations, even though they had previously been exempt from visa constraints. Additionally, there will be restrictions on eligibility for spousal work visas and post-graduate work permits.

Studyportals President Edwin van Rest offered his thoughts on the matter, pointing out that it is evident that students are being discouraged from coming due to changes in Canada’s visa regulations, processing delays, and unfavorable publicity toward international students. He stressed that the effects might go beyond the immigration cap’s intended boundaries and even impact PhD and master’s students.

Students are evaluating Canada as a study destination and choosing nations with more hospitable regulations due to the increasing number of study possibilities in locations like Europe and Asia, according to van Rest.

A Change in Immigration Laws in Canada

The visa regulations in place for Canada now differ significantly from those that existed a few years ago. Over a million foreign students and 471,771 permanent residents were admitted to the nation in 2023. But according to a September Nanos Research survey, 55% of Canadians supported limiting the number of foreign students admitted, primarily as a response to the country’s ongoing housing issue.

Ivey School of Business professor Mike Moffatt observed that housing shortages are being exacerbated by international students, particularly in smaller areas where there is a dearth of housing offered by universities. The rising conversion of single-family houses into student rentals is boosting housing costs for locals.

Financial Prioritization Over Education

Instead of prioritizing international student recruiting for academic purposes, Canadian universities and colleges have done so in order to make up for provincial funding reductions. To make up for financial shortfalls, these universities have depended on the higher tuition fees paid by overseas students.

At universities such as Cape Breton University, where more than 7,000 of the 9,000 students are international, David Robinson, executive director of the Canadian Association of University Teachers, emphasized the significant reliance on international students. In comparison to students from within the country, these students have far higher fees.

Robinson contended that the primary motivation for recruiting international students has changed from being academic to being money. Rather than only focusing on increasing income, he asked colleges to take into account how these students contribute to the educational goal.

Reducing Factors of Enrollment

Although final enrollment figures for autumn 2024 are still waiting, preliminary data indicates Canada might not be able to reach its goal of 291,914 new foreign visas. The greater than anticipated decrease in the number of students is caused by several variables.

First, starting in January, the required minimum income to qualify for a student visa quadrupled to CA$20,650. Backlogs in visa processing have also resulted from delays, especially since the implementation of provincial attestation letters, which certify to an institution’s capacity to accept new students. Finally, strained political relations with India, one of the main countries from which overseas students come, have also decreased demand.

Possibility of Additional Limitations

Although Miller did not declare any new limitations in a recent interview, worries about foreign students requesting asylum—such as in Muhammad Shahzeb’s case—may result in future adjustments to visa regulations. The goal of the Canadian government is to address possible systemic abuse while managing the number of overseas students in a sustainable manner.

Future Perspectives

There was a forewarning that Canada’s policy change ought to serve as a lesson. Policies that are inhospitable can damage a nation’s standing as a destination for students, possibly having long-term effects. It was underlined how crucial it is for institutions and governments to acknowledge the wider advantages of having international students, not only in terms of their economic contributions but also in terms of filling vital skill shortages in fields like research, healthcare, and technology.

Parallels were made between Australia, which is likewise imposing limitations on international student visas, and Canada about these difficulties. Other countries might find valuable insights from Canada’s experience.