British Columbia’s Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills has introduced new measures to strengthen the integrity of the province’s international student program. Key updates include:
Introduction of Education Quality Assurance (EQA) Code of Practice
The EQA aims to improve standards for Designated Learning Institutions (DLIs) in B.C. It has three main objectives:
- Limiting International Student Enrolment: Public DLIs in B.C. will now limit international student enrolment to 30% of their total student body. Private DLIs are not affected by this cap.
- Current Enrolment Levels: Many of B.C.’s 25 public post-secondary institutions are already below this 30% enrolment threshold.
- Impact on Provincial Attestation Letters (PALs): The Ministry did not clarify if this cap is in addition to the current provincial limits set by PALs. They noted that PAL distribution supports international student programs at public DLIs. Institutions will have time to adjust their recruitment strategies to meet the new target, using their international education strategic plans.
Allocation of Provincial Attestation Letters (PALs)
Number of PALs for 2024: B.C. has received an allocation of 83,000 PALs for the year. These letters, introduced by Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), are a new requirement for obtaining a study permit in Canada.
Distribution of PALs: In B.C., 53% of PALs will be allocated to public post-secondary institutions, while 47% will go to private institutions. The allocation is based on the province’s population, with B.C. being the third most populated province in Canada.
Transparent Tuition Fees
- Posting Tuition Levels: DLIs are required to post tuition fees for the entire duration of a student’s studies. This transparency will help students budget effectively and understand the total cost of their education before starting.
Economic Impact of International Students
- Contribution to Economy: International students significantly impact Canada’s economy, with spending totaling over $37 billion in 2022. For the 2023/2024 academic year, international undergraduate students paid an average tuition of $38,081. B.C. currently hosts 111,900 international students in public institutions.
Meeting Quality Assurance Standards
- EQA Standards: Institutions must meet or exceed provincial quality assurance standards, including developing international education strategic plans, improving student services, providing housing supports, and ensuring Indigenous and domestic students are not displaced.
- Previous Measures and Phase 2: These new measures build on the International Framework Measures introduced in January, which included pausing the growth of DLIs, increasing oversight of private institutions, and strengthening compliance and enforcement actions. Institutions adhering to the EQA code will receive an EQA designation, while those that do not will lose this designation and be unable to accept international students.
