Canada has outlined the reasons behind its decision to reduce international student admissions while giving greater priority to university, master’s and doctoral candidates.
The federal government said it is restructuring its International Student Program into a more targeted and sustainable system aimed at lowering overall numbers while bringing in students who can support the economy and research.
According to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, the reforms have already led to a sharp decline in arrivals.
The government said measures introduced to control numbers have led to an 80 percent fall in new international students arriving between January and July 2026 compared to the same period in 2024.
Canada’s overall international student population has also dropped by more than 40 percent from its peak in June 2024. An intake cap was introduced in 2024 and targets for new students were later reduced to ease pressure on communities and institutions and ensure they have capacity to support newcomers.
Although total admissions have declined, the share of students entering universities has grown. University entrants accounted for 40 percent of new study permit holders in 2025, up from 30 percent in 2024. The government said this is in line with its plan to attract people whose skills can support economic growth and research.
Graduate admissions are also on the rise. Between January and June 2026, master’s and doctoral students made up 21 percent of new study permits compared with 12 percent a year earlier. IRCC said it wants to attract top global talent whose education aligns with the country’s economic needs.
While cutting overall numbers, Canada has eased entry for qualified graduate students. This includes two week processing for new PhD applicants and exemption from provincial or territorial attestation letters for eligible master’s and doctoral candidates, as part of efforts to make Canadian universities more attractive to highly skilled students.
The government said the shift toward university and graduate level students will continue as it introduces more measures to attract international talent. Its stated objective is to maintain sustainable student numbers while retaining graduates who can contribute to the economy and public services.
The policy marks a major change from a period of rapid expansion that saw study permit holders exceed one million by 2024. Canada also acknowledged that refusal rates have risen following tougher financial requirements, the closure of the Student Direct Stream and stronger integrity checks, but it expects rates to stabilise as applicants and institutions adjust to the new rules.
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