International Student Enrolment Cap Deals Heavy Blow To Atlantic Universities - Beritaja
A national headdress connected study permits has slashed world enrolments astatine Atlantic universities by much than a 4th successful conscionable 1 year.
International student numbers fell 28 per cent crossed the region’s universities successful 2025, a nonaccomplishment of 6,431 students, according to a caller study from the Association of Atlantic Universities (AAU).
That driblet stands successful crisp opposition to the 5.4-per cent diminution reported astatine the University of Manitoba, 1 of the fewer different Canadian post-secondary institutions to merchandise its 2025 figures truthful acold this year.
In 2024, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) introduced a nationalist headdress connected world study permits, aiming for a 35 per cent reduction. At the time, then-immigration curate Marc Miller said the world student strategy was group up to pull talent to capable cardinal roles successful the labour market, but he had to make the trim because the programme sewage “overheated.”
However, international students salary substantially much successful tuition than Canadian citizens and the drastic simplification successful their numbers has severely impacted universities’ finances, successful immoderate cases starring to layoffs.
The argumentation was expected to consequence successful about 9,400 less world students from Atlantic universities crossed Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador.
Adding to that, the AAU says tougher visa rules and rising costs person taken a superior toll connected Canada’s estimation abroad.
“Canada’s marque internationally has been severely tarnished by these national authorities argumentation changes. The state is nary longer seen arsenic welcoming by world students — they’re making choices to spell to different destinations about the world,” said AAU spokesperson Peter Halpin.
The Atlantic Chamber of Commerce and the Atlantic Economic Council person warned the nonaccomplishment of world students will wounded economical growth.
According to the AAU, Atlantic Canada has historically retained about 60 per cent of world graduates, a cardinal facet successful offsetting the region’s aging population.
“That has a devastating effect not conscionable connected universities, but connected the region’s system and connected the region’s organization maturation strategies arsenic well,” said Halpin.
In response, the AAU is starring an inaugural called Atlantic Education Destination, to create a location world strategy to boost student enrolment.
“We’re very hopeful that successful the not-too-distant early we could bring this projected task to fruition,” Halpin said.
Provincial governments cautious connected support
Meanwhile, New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt said further backing for post-secondary institutions shouldn’t beryllium expected successful the adjacent term.
“We’re having conversations about support, but you would person heard maine coming speak about wellness attraction astatine the aforesaid clip arsenic we effort to retool our economy,” Holt said.
“So, we’re having difficult conversations pinch the post-secondary assemblage correct now.”
In a connection to BERITAJA, EduNova president and CEO Andrew Champagne cautioned that the region’s demographic challenges request a coordinated approach.
“Atlantic Canada faces unsocial demographic challenges. And, without a sustainable and location attack to world education, migration and retention, organization diminution will proceed to put unit connected section economies and employers’ expertise to find the talent they request to win astatine location and successful world markets,” Champagne wrote.
© 2025 BERITAJA, a section of Corus Entertainment Inc.
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