International Student Enrolment in Canadian Postsecondary Schools Fell 6.9 Percent in 2024/2025

New Statistics Canada data show that international enrolments declined by 39,582 compared with the previous academic year. Meanwhile, Canadian enrolments increased by 37,626, or 2.1 percent. Overall enrolment remained almost unchanged at 2.3 million.

The decline came as Canada began restricting international student numbers. The federal government introduced a study permit cap in January 2024, part of a broader policy direction that later included a commitment to reduce temporary residents to under five percent of Canada’s population.

At first glance, the increase in Canadian students almost made up for the decline in international students. But the numbers cannot be viewed as a one-for-one replacement.

International students generally pay substantially higher tuition fees than Canadian students. According to the latest Statistics Canada data, average undergraduate tuition for international students is more than five times higher than for Canadian students. This means even if a college or university replaces international students with an equal number of domestic students, it would still lose a significant amount of tuition revenue.

And the decline will likely become more pronounced in subsequent enrolment data, as the number of new international students arriving in Canada has fallen sharply since the 2024/2025 academic year.

Key Takeaways

• International student enrolment fell by 39,582, or 6.9 percent, during the 2024/2025 academic year.
• Domestic enrolment increased by 37,626, or 2.1 percent, leaving overall postsecondary enrolment almost unchanged.
• Ontario recorded the largest international enrolment declines.
• The drop was more pronounced at colleges than universities.

International Student Enrolment Drop More Significant at Colleges

The decline in international enrolment was more pronounced at colleges than universities during the 2024/2025 academic year.

International college enrolment fell by 22,323, or 7.7 percent, compared with a decline of 17,259, or 6.1 percent, at universities.

The larger decline at colleges came as the federal government introduced international student restrictions that disproportionately (but intentionally) affected college students.

When Canada introduced its study permit cap in January 2024, master’s and doctoral degree students were exempt, while most college students were subject to the cap.

Other changes also made college programs less attractive to some prospective international students. Through changes made in 2024 and 2025, spouses of students in college and most undergraduate programs were no longer eligible for a spousal open work permit, while spouses of students in master’s, doctoral and certain professional degree programs remained eligible.

Canada also tightened Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) eligibility. Students in non-degree programs who applied for a study permit from November 1, 2024, generally needed to graduate from an eligible field of study linked to occupations facing long-term labour shortages. Graduates with bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees were exempt from the field-of-study requirement.

Together, these policies placed greater restrictions on many college students while providing more favourable treatment to graduate-level university students.

The decline will likely become more pronounced in subsequent enrolment data. Between January and July 2026, Canada welcomed just 28,200 new international students, 80 percent fewer than during the same period in 2024. With far fewer new students entering Canada, the impact of the federal government’s restrictions should become more visible in enrolment figures for 2025/2026 and 2026/2027.

That said, domestic student enrolment, however, grew in the 2024/2025 academic year. The number of Canadian students enrolled at colleges increased by 16,647, while the number enrolled at universities increased by 20,976.

Despite the decline in international enrolment, total enrolment across Canadian public colleges and universities edged up by 3,174, or 0.1 percent, in 2024/2025.

Ontario Saw the Largest Decline in International Student Enrolment

The decline in international enrolment was not evenly spread across Canada. Ontario recorded the largest drop at both colleges and universities.

International college enrolment in Ontario fell by 28,875, or 13.6 percent. International university enrolment dropped by 7,455, or 6.7 percent.

British Columbia recorded the second-largest decline at universities, with 5,346 fewer international enrolments, a drop of 10.6 percent. Manitoba had the second-largest decline at colleges, down 732 enrolments, or 13.4 percent.

Three Countries Accounted for 83.4 Percent of the International Student Decline

There were also major differences based on students’ countries of origin.

Enrolments from India fell by 26,550, or 11.9 percent. Enrolments from China declined by 4,368, or 6.6 percent, while those from the Philippines fell by 3,654, or 18.6 percent.

Together, these three countries accounted for 83.4 percent of the overall decline in international enrolment. India alone accounted for roughly two-thirds of the decrease, reflecting its position as Canada’s largest source of international students in recent years.

Domestic Student Enrolment Rebounded in 2024/2025

While international enrolment fell, domestic enrolment moved in the opposite direction. Enrolment of Canadian students at colleges increased by 16,647, while universities added 20,976 Canadian enrolments. The Globe and Mail reported that Canadian student enrolment grew at its fastest pace in more than 15 years.

Despite the decline in international enrolment, total enrolment across Canadian public colleges and universities edged up by 3,174, or 0.1 percent, in 2024/2025.

Canadian enrolment also increased across most fields of study.

At universities, engineering and engineering technology added 6,327 domestic enrolments, an increase of 6.5 percent. Mathematics, computer and information programs added another 4,794, an increase of 7.2 percent.

At colleges, health care recorded the largest increase, adding 6,117 Canadian enrolments, or 7.7 percent. Trades, services, natural resources and conservation added 5,505 enrolments.

There are a few likely reasons for the rebound in domestic enrolment. A weaker job market for younger Canadians may have encouraged more people to pursue postsecondary education rather than enter a challenging labour market. At the same time, provinces have been expanding spaces for domestic students in areas facing labour shortages, including health care, sciences and the trades.

The fields recording some of the strongest enrolment growth suggest these investments may be having an effect.

Business and Engineering Saw Some of the Largest International Enrolment Declines

International enrolment fell across most fields of study in 2024/2025.

Business and administration recorded the largest decline. At colleges, international enrolment in the field fell by 16,089, or 12.7 percent. Universities recorded 5,283 fewer international business and administration enrolments, a decline of 8.2 percent.

Engineering and engineering technology also recorded substantial declines. At colleges, international enrolment in these programs fell by 4,677, or 17.6 percent. Universities recorded a decline of 4,416, or 10 percent.

This represented a sharp reversal from the previous academic year, when international enrolment had increased across all fields of study.

Health care was one of the exceptions in 2024/2025. International enrolment in health care increased by 1,524, or 6.9 percent, at colleges and by 309, or 3 percent, at universities.

International Graduates Increased Even as Enrolment Fell

While international enrolment fell during the 2024/2025 academic year, the number of international students graduating remained high.

The apparent contradiction between falling international enrolment and rising graduate numbers has more to do with timing. Students graduating in 2024 would typically have started their programs before Canada’s 2024 restrictions.

724,071 students graduated from Canadian public postsecondary institutions during the 2024 calendar year, an increase of 61,197, or 9.2 percent, from 2023.

Much of that increase came from international students graduating from colleges. The number of international college graduates increased by 44,328, or 31.3 percent.

International students also accounted for 55.5 percent of graduates from short-cycle tertiary programs in 2024, compared with just 7.5 percent in 2009.