Mid-year data indicates that international student commencements in Canada could drop by nearly 50% for 2024

An article published in the ICEF Monitor on September 11, 2024 reported that an ApplyBoard analysis found that the Canadian government’s two-year cap on new study permits, aiming for “zero growth” in international student, will severely impact demand for study in Canada.  The analysis suggests that in 2024, the number of study permits awarded could decrease by 47% compared to 2023.   In addition to study permit applications that were not approved, ApplyBoard attributes the overall drop in permits processed to students pausing or deferring their applications, or to students who pivoted to other destinations like the U.S., Germany, Italy, Australia, and the U.K., among others.

The analysis also observed that prospective international students are likely considering factors such as a new savings requirement of $20,000 CDN, the removal of the right of partners of students to receive an open work visa, and the elimination of post-study work eligibility for students enrolled in certain private-public partnership programs, among concerns for additional immigration rulings in the future. 

Canadian higher education organizations have expressed concern over the impact this trend would have in university budgets nationwide, and that some universities have already reported an impact on budgets from the decline in international enrollment. 

More information about this analysis can be found here.