Canadian colleges are facing a wave of staff layoffs and program suspensions due to a sharp decline in international student enrolments, driven by stricter immigration policies. The unexpected 45 per cent drop in new study permits issued in 2024 has created significant financial strain on institutions that heavily rely on tuition fees from international students to sustain operations.
The measures, introduced by Immigration Minister Marc Miller to curb the enrolment of students in so-called “diploma mill” colleges, have had widespread repercussions across the education sector. While aimed at improving the quality of Canada’s international education system, the policy changes have led to a steeper-than-expected reduction in study permit approvals. A report by ApplyBoard estimates that only 280,000 international students were admitted in 2024 as compared to 436,600 in 2023. This is far below the government’s initial goal of reducing the number of international students by 35 per cent in 2024.
Among the hardest hit are colleges, where approvals for international students plummeted by 60 per cent. This decline has prompted institutions like Centennial College and Mohawk College to scale back significantly. Centennial College, based in Toronto, recently announced the suspension of 49 programs — nearly 28 per cent of its total offerings — for the 2025-26 academic year. Programs in fields such as tourism, journalism, 3D animation, and food and beverage management are among those being cut. Craig Stephenson, Centennial’s president and CEO, told CTV News that job losses among staff and faculty are inevitable but did not specify the number of positions to be eliminated.
Similarly, Mohawk College has been grappling with financial challenges, announcing layoffs of up to 400 staff members to offset a projected $50-million budget deficit for the 2025-26 fiscal year. The college has already terminated 20 per cent of its administrative workforce and suspended 16 programs, along with community outreach initiatives like City School. Faculty layoffs, described as the “final phase” of cuts, are expected to follow.
Ontario’s Sheridan and Fleming Colleges have also announced similar measures. Mohawk and Conestoga also said they will lay drastically reduce their staff hundreds. This follows the Canadian government’s decision to slash the number of new student visas in 2025, and again in 2026 after cutting them by a third last year.
The downturn has exposed the vulnerabilities of Canada’s higher education sector, which has become increasingly dependent on international tuition fees. In 2023, the number of international students in Canada surpassed 1 million, marking a 29 per cent increase over the previous year. However, the federal government’s restrictive policies, combined with a lower approval rate for study permits — just 50 per cent in 2024 compared to the anticipated 60 per cent — have reversed this growth trend.
Critics argue that the government’s approach has led to an “overcorrection.” The spillover effects of negative sentiment around Canada’s education sector have discouraged students at all levels, including those exempt from the caps, such as those in primary and secondary schools.
As the international student numbers are expected to decline further in 2025, institutions are calling on policymakers to reconsider their strategies. “We need to refocus on the value propositions that Canada offers,” Meti Basiri, CEO of ApplyBoard told Toronto Star. “It’s time to reassure prospective students that Canada remains an attractive destination for education and career opportunities.”
The federal government has been coming in for heavy criticism due to the steep shortage of both housing and jobs coupled with the soaring number of international students. As per the Immigration, Refugess and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), the number of international students with active study permits in Canada shot up to 1,040,985 in 2023, a 29 per cent increase over 2022.
Canadian colleges slash jobs as number of international students falls sharply Canadian News Today.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Canadian colleges slash jobs as number of international students falls sharply )
Also on site :
- Rock Legend Shares Bold Message About L.A. Protests
- Tony Awards draw best audience in 6 years for CBS
- Ax-wielding man at Pacific Beach library faces preliminary hearing