Canada has experienced unprecedented changes to its study program and broader temporary resident program in 2024, with further significant changes planned for Fall 2024. These changes will likely impact the source countries of international students in Canada moving forward. Here’s what we know so far.
Major Highlights
- French-Speaking Student Program: Canada plans to introduce a program with increased access to study permits for French-speaking students.
- Pilot Program for Underrepresented Regions: A new pilot program aims to increase access to international student programs for students from underrepresented regions, including Africa.
- Approval Rates Drop: Study permit approval rates have dropped to 50% in 2024.
- Reduced Processing Rates: The number of study permit applications processed between January and April 2024 has decreased compared to the same period in previous years, likely due to the international student cap.
- Recognized Institute Framework Delayed: The Recognized Institute Framework (RIF) will be delayed until 2025.
Shifts in Source Countries for International Students
The changes announced in 2024 are likely to have lasting impacts on the source countries for international students in Canada. A significant reduction in the number of applications from India, Nepal, and the Philippines has been observed.
However, there has been a notable increase in study permit processing for students from:
- Burundi
- Ghana
- Republic of Guinea
- China
- Rwanda
Conversely, processing rates have decreased significantly for students from:
- Brazil
- Chile
- Colombia
- Ethiopia
- France
- India
- Nepal
- Peru
- Thailand
- Uganda
- Ukraine
Several factors may have influenced these decreases, including reduced interest in studying in Canada due to recent changes, political reasons such as Russia’s war in Ukraine, and the generalized impact of the international student cap.
Noteworthy Trends: Indian Students
The drop in study permits issued to Indian students in 2024 is particularly striking. Data shows the number of processed applications fell sharply:
In 2023:
- January: 33,135
- February: 24,228
- March: 28,071
- April: 19,205
In 2024:
- January: 18,759
- February: 26,219
- March: 4,201
- April: 7,405
This dramatic decrease is likely due to multiple factors, including decreased interest from Indian students amid political tensions between Canada and India.
Planned Changes by IRCC
IRCC has outlined significant upcoming changes to the study permit programs in their Deputy Minister Transitional Binder:
French-Speaking Student Program
A pilot program aims to increase the number of French-speaking international students, especially in Francophone Minority Communities. Objectives include:
- Making Canada a more attractive study destination for French-speaking students.
- Increasing access to study permits.
- Improving integration to aid retention beyond the study permit.
This program is expected to be announced in Fall 2024, although the timeline may change.
Recognized Institutions Framework Delayed
Initially planned for Fall 2024, the Recognized Institutions Framework (RIF) will now be delayed until 2025 due to significant changes in the study permit program, particularly the international student cap. The RIF will rank post-secondary educators into tiers based on recruitment standards, support for international students, and post-graduate outcomes.
IRCC plans to first roll out the RIF to public universities and colleges with more than 50 study permit approvals per year over the last three years, followed by private institutions. Students applying to higher-ranked institutions will benefit from faster processing times.
Stay tuned for more updates as these changes unfold and shape the future landscape of international education in Canada.
