Canadian Universities Report International Student Enrolment below Federal Cap
According to Universities Canada, the enrolment of students from outside Canada has dropped below the cap set by the federal government for international student visas this year.
In January, the immigration minister introduced a cap to address the rapid growth in international student numbers due to pressure on housing, healthcare, and other services.
The new policy limits the number of student visa applications the government will process, resulting in an expected 35% decrease in student numbers in 2024 compared to the previous year.
Gabriel Miller, president of Universities Canada, believes the impact will be greater than anticipated by the government, leading to a significant financial strain on schools.
He notes that the cap has created uncertainty for potential students, and the pause in visa processing by the Immigration Department during cap implementation may have prompted students to explore other options.
Miller suggests that the full impact will only be clear once schools determine how many students show up in September.
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