On this page you will find
- How Canada’s international student population has fallen
- Why universities are receiving a greater share of study permits
- How the college share of international students has declined
- The impact of Canada’s international student cap
- How Ottawa has tightened study permit integrity rules
- What international students need to know about the changing system
Canada’s overhaul of its international student system has done more than dramatically reduce the number of foreign students entering the country.
New federal government data shows the reforms have also changed the type of institution international students attend, with universities gaining ground while colleges account for a significantly smaller share of study permit holders.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) says the proportion of international students attending universities is returning to pre-pandemic levels of around 40 per cent. Major research universities have also become the leading recipients of study permits.
That marks a significant change from the years immediately before Ottawa began reforming the International Student Program, when colleges led Canada’s international student system by volume.
At the same time, the overall number of international students in Canada has fallen sharply.
IRCC says there were approximately 691,215 study permit holders in Canada at the end of 2025, compared with 928,430 at the end of 2024.
The figures offer some of the clearest evidence yet of how the federal government’s international student crackdown is reshaping Canada’s education and immigration system.
Canada Records Sharp Drop In International Students
Canada welcomed about 61 per cent fewer new international students in 2025 than it did in 2024.
IRCC’s latest transition briefing puts the decline at approximately 177,595 students.
Separate IRCC figures presented to Parliament in April put the number of new international students arriving in 2025 at approximately 115,385.
The decline has also reduced the total international student population.
IRCC’s transition briefing says Canada had approximately 691,215 study permit holders on December 31, 2025, compared with 928,430 one year earlier. It describes this as a 29 per cent year-over-year decline.
The government has deliberately sought to reduce student numbers after international enrolment expanded rapidly following the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ottawa introduced a cap on most new post-secondary study permit applications in January 2024 and subsequently expanded its restrictions.
For 2026, IRCC expects to issue up to 408,000 study permits. That figure includes up to 155,000 permits for newly arriving international students and 253,000 extensions for existing and returning students.
Universities Gain As College Share Falls
The changes are not simply reducing the size of Canada’s international student population.
They are changing its composition.
IRCC says university students are returning to approximately 40 per cent of Canada’s international student population, close to their pre-pandemic share. The department also says top research universities have become the leading recipients of study permits.
More detailed IRCC figures demonstrate the scale of that change.
Among study permit holders attending public institutions, colleges accounted for 54 per cent in 2023. Universities accounted for 44 per cent.
By February 28, 2026, the picture had reversed.
Universities accounted for 57 per cent of study permit holders at public institutions, while colleges accounted for 39 per cent.
| Public institution type | 2023 share | 2026 YTD share |
|---|---|---|
| University | 44% | 57% |
| College | 54% | 39% |
| Other | 2% | 3% |
The 2026 figures cover the period to February 28 and are preliminary, so they should not be treated as directly comparable with completed calendar-year totals.
However, they reinforce the broader trend identified by IRCC – Canada is shifting its international student system away from the high-volume college model that developed before the reforms.
Why Canada Is Prioritizing Universities And Graduate Students
The federal government describes its new approach as focusing on “quality over quantity.”
As part of that policy, Ottawa wants to restore the proportion of university-bound international students while making Canada more attractive to highly skilled graduate students.
IRCC has introduced several measures aimed specifically at master’s and doctoral students.
Master’s and doctoral degree students enrolling at public designated learning institutions no longer need to provide a provincial or territorial attestation letter.
IRCC has also introduced faster processing for doctoral students and their accompanying family members.
The department says 96 per cent of doctoral applications that do not require additional security screening are finalized within an average of two days. More complex applications are being finalized within an average of nine days.
These measures contrast with the broader restrictions Canada has introduced for other international students.
Canada Has Tightened Study Permit Rules
The shift follows a series of major reforms introduced since late 2023.
Ottawa increased the financial requirements for study permit applicants, introduced the study permit cap and tightened Post-Graduation Work Permit eligibility.
It also ended the Student Direct Stream, strengthened compliance requirements for designated learning institutions and introduced new rules requiring students to obtain a new study permit before changing institutions in most cases.
Eligible international students can work for up to 24 hours per week off campus during regular academic sessions.
The government has said the reforms are intended to reduce pressure on housing and services, protect international students from exploitation and strengthen the integrity of the immigration system.
Study Permit Refusal Rate Has Increased
The smaller international student system has also coincided with a higher study permit refusal rate.
IRCC figures show the refusal rate for new study permit applications reached 59 per cent between January and December 2025.
That compares with 52 per cent during 2024.
This means prospective international students face a significantly different environment from applicants who applied before the federal government began its reforms.
Applicants must not only secure admission from a designated learning institution but also demonstrate that they meet Canada’s financial and immigration requirements. Many applicants must also obtain a provincial or territorial attestation letter.
Ottawa Has Increased Its Focus On Fraud And Compliance
Program integrity has become another central part of Canada’s international student reforms.
IRCC introduced a Letter of Acceptance verification system following concerns about fraudulent admission documents.
Designated learning institutions must verify letters of acceptance submitted with study permit applications.
The federal government has also strengthened its ability to monitor whether international students actually enrol and continue studying at their designated institutions.
In fall 2025, 587 of 656 designated learning institutions asked to report student enrolment information responded to IRCC.
Those institutions provided information covering 454,667 international students. About 90 per cent were reported as likely compliant, while approximately 38,394 students, or eight per cent, were flagged as potentially non-compliant.
IRCC stresses that being flagged does not establish that a student has broken the rules. The department must conduct further verification before determining non-compliance.
Canada’s International Student System Is Becoming Smaller And More Selective
The latest figures suggest Canada’s international student reforms have moved beyond simply controlling the number of applications.
They are changing the structure of the program.
Fewer new international students are arriving, refusal rates have increased and the total number of study permit holders has fallen sharply.
At the same time, universities now account for a much greater share of study permit holders at public institutions, while the college share has declined.
Ottawa has also created favourable measures for master’s and doctoral students as it seeks to connect international education more closely with Canada’s competition for highly skilled global talent.
For prospective students, that means the Canadian international student system of 2026 looks significantly different from the one that existed only three years earlier.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many international students are in Canada?
IRCC says approximately 691,215 study permit holders were in Canada at the end of 2025, compared with 928,430 at the end of 2024. The federal government has deliberately reduced new international student arrivals as part of its efforts to lower Canada’s temporary resident population.
Are Canadian universities getting more international students than colleges?
Universities now account for a larger share of study permit holders attending public institutions. IRCC data to February 28, 2026, shows universities accounted for 57 per cent of the public-institution total, compared with 39 per cent for colleges. In 2023, colleges had held the larger share.
How many new international students will Canada accept in 2026?
Canada’s 2026 plan provides for up to 155,000 newly arriving international students. IRCC expects to issue up to 408,000 study permits overall when extensions for existing and returning students are included. The study permit application cap remains in place for applicants who require provincial or territorial attestation letters.
Why has Canada reduced international student numbers?
The federal government says rapid growth in international student numbers created concerns about housing, services, student vulnerability and program integrity. It introduced a study permit cap and other restrictions while seeking to shift the program towards what IRCC describes as a “quality over quantity” approach.
Are master’s and PhD students affected by Canada’s study permit cap?
Students enrolling in master’s and doctoral degree programs at public designated learning institutions do not need a provincial or territorial attestation letter. Canada has also introduced faster processing for doctoral students and their families as part of its effort to attract highly skilled international talent.