For thousands of international students who were supposed to enrol at Ontario institutions, the autumn semester has not begun. Recent modifications to the federal research permit procedure have resulted in significant delays and confusion. School administrators cite stricter rules and a deterrent effect on prospective students as reasons for this enrollment drop.

Dramatic Enrollment Drops

Unexpected drops in the number of overseas students are being experienced by several Ontario universities. For example, just 775 international students have enrolled at St. Lawrence College, compared to an expected 1,600.

The college's president, Glenn Vollebregt, acknowledged that many students had trouble getting their visas in time. Approximately one-third of those kids have postponed their education as a result.

According to Vollebregt, this circumstance is "not normal." He thinks this problem was directly caused by changes in government policy.

• In January, the Canadian government declared that the number of abroad study licenses would be capped for 2024.
• Marc Miller, the minister of immigration, has announced an additional 10% cut to these visas.
• Canada intends to reduce the number of study permits by 300,000 over the following five years, to 437,000 by 2025.

These regulations have a big effect. Vollebregt voiced worry that Canada's standing as a leading destination for education is deteriorating. He said, "It's essentially Canada saying we're closed for business."

Concerns Across Institutions

Many colleges are impacted by the drop in overseas students. Colleges and Institutes Canada's Michael McDonald stated that organizations are concerned about declining enrollment. Schools that depend on foreign tuition fees will be impacted by this uncertainty. "We anticipate significant drops in our membership," he said.

Enrollment at Mohawk College has decreased by 38% from the previous year. This is a unique circumstance, according to Katie Burrows, the college's vice president for international students. Only 60 international students presently dwell in the new 300-bed dormitory that was created with the intention of housing more.

New Barriers to Entry

Additional obstacles are created by the modifications to government policies. One rule limits foreign graduates' work permits to regions with a labour shortage. This restriction may discourage students from studying in Canada.

Another issue is significant delays in obtaining visas. According to Conestoga College, these delays caused 1,400 international students to postpone their fall studies to the winter semester. The college's executive director of corporate relations, Brenda Bereczki, pointed out that visa problems might be the cause of these deferrals.

Immigration specialist Brian-Paul Welsh highlighted the current stringent screening procedure for visa applicants. The careful review of each application results in longer wait periods. This additional bureaucracy may deter potential students from selecting Canada as their study destination.

A large number of students are reconsidering their intentions. In light of these new difficulties, they are unsure of the long-term advantages of studying in Canada.

FAQS

Is the drop in international student enrollment solely due to visa delays?

One of the main causes is visa delays, but other factors include the new limitations on work permits after graduation and the uncertainty surrounding future immigration laws. These changes have caused some students to reevaluate their plans to study in Canada.

What actions are universities taking to deal with these issues?

Students can postpone their enrollment to subsequent semesters at a lot of universities. Although they have no control over the policy changes, institutions are also making an effort to offer advice and assistance to students who are experiencing delays in their visas.