Ottawa Scholarships: Attract Intl Grad Students 🇨🇦

Canada saw a 61 per cent decrease in new international student arrivals in 2024, with 177,595 fewer students compared to the previous year, according to figures released by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). The government is now launching a social media campaign aimed at attracting more graduate students, highlighting benefits such as faster application processing and the ability for family members to accompany them.

Canada Seeks to Attract Graduate Students Amidst Enrollment Decline

Experts attribute the decline to the federal government’s crackdown on international students, which began under former prime minister Justin Trudeau and intensified as public support for immigration waned. While the initial measures targeted colleges and private universities charging high fees for programs of questionable value, the changes have had a broader deterrent effect.

In January 2024, the government implemented a cap on international student numbers, leading to a one-third reduction in overall admissions. The IRCC is now prioritizing the recruitment of higher-quality students, particularly at the graduate level.

Steve Orsini, president and CEO of the Council of Ontario Universities, described the government’s initial approach as “blunt,” impacting both undergraduate and graduate programs. He noted a recent shift towards prioritizing recruitment of top talent and streamlining approvals for advanced degrees.

Data from the Council of Ontario Universities indicates a 5-per-cent drop in graduate students between the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 academic years, though the decrease in undergraduate students was more significant.

Navitas, a company partnering with universities for international student recruitment, reports a decline in interest in studying in Canada, with students increasingly considering destinations like Australia, the U.K., Germany, the Netherlands, the UAE, and Singapore.

In November’s immigration levels plan, the government halved its planned intake of international students but allocated $1.7 billion to attract leading international researchers. The IRCC has also begun processing applications from eligible PhD students and their families within 14 days.

Prime Minister Mark Carney has stated the IRCC’s goal is to return immigration levels to sustainable levels while attracting top global talent. IRCC spokesperson Isabelle Dubois reiterated this aim, emphasizing the importance of graduate students to Canada’s research ecosystem and labour market integration.

The government has exempted master’s and doctoral-level degree students from the requirement to obtain a provincial or territorial letter of support for study permit applications. Universities Canada expressed hope that these measures will help restore Canada’s appeal as a preferred study destination for top global talent.