In response to the federal government’s introduction of a temporary two-year cap on Canada study permit issuances, the province of British Columbia (BC) has imposed a provincial ban on new colleges enrolling international students for the same duration. This move aims to address “exploitative practices” in the field, according to BC’s post-secondary education minister, Selina Robinson.
BC is also implementing minimum language requirements at private institutions to better prepare international students before they enter the province. Schools will undergo more frequent inspections to ensure that standards are met, and private colleges and universities will need to be transparent about tuition fees and demonstrate that new programs align with labor market demands.
These policy changes are intended to scrutinize and eliminate “diploma mills” that charge high fees to international students while providing subpar education.
Robinson stated, “That’s why we’re introducing more stringent requirements for institutions and robust safeguards to protect international students against bad actors, provide them with a better path to success, and make sure B.C. continues to attract the talented students we need to fill significant gaps in the labor market and drive our economy forward.”
Last week, Immigration Minister Marc Miller announced a two-year cap on undergraduate study permit approvals at 360,000 per year, representing a 35% reduction from the previous year. This decision comes after the student program grew to over 800,000 students in 2022, which some experts believe strained housing and affordability.
BC will now have the authority to determine the maximum number of international students that can be enrolled at each college and university, regardless of whether they are public or private institutions. The federal government has also allocated a specific number of international students that BC can accept, which has raised concerns among provincial leaders.
Premier David Eby and Minister Robinson have discussed with Miller the possibility of excluding certain programs that train individuals for in-demand professions from the caps.
The cap on international student enrollment may lead to efforts to compensate for financial losses through increased tuition fees for both international and domestic students, according to Natalia Tola, national deputy chair of the Canadian Federation of Students. This move by BC reflects the ongoing challenges and debates surrounding international student enrollment in Canada.