Atlantic Universities Hit Hard by Federal International Student Cap
The Association of Atlantic Universities reports that federal restrictions on international student permits imposed in 2024 have led to a nearly 48 percent drop in enrollment at the region's schools, resulting in 3,000 fewer students and compounding demographic challenges.
Universities in Atlantic Canada are experiencing disproportionate harm from the Canadian government’s restrictions on international student enrolment, according to the Association of Atlantic Universities. Since the federal government announced in 2024 that it would cap the number of international student permit applications over two years to stabilize new growth, international student enrollment at Atlantic universities has dropped by nearly 48 per cent.
The decline translates to 3,000 fewer international students enrolled compared to last year. Ava Czapalay, CEO of the Association of Atlantic Universities, states that these reductions are affecting small businesses and community organizations because many students work and volunteer where they study.
The enrollment drop arrives as the region faces broader demographic pressures. Last year, the Atlantic provinces recorded a population decline for the first time since 2020. Czapalay argues that the region needs to support talented newcomers who want to study and live in Atlantic Canada to address issues related to an aging workforce and this recent population decline.