Canada Touts 'Best and Brightest' as International Student Admissions Plummet

Canada's International Student Program is undergoing significant changes as the government seeks to reduce the overall number of international students and focus on attracting those who can contribute to Canada's economy and research sector.

The number of new international students arriving in Canada has declined sharply since the introduction of measures to reduce student numbers, with 80% fewer new arrivals between January and July 2026 compared to the same period in 2024.

The government has introduced an international student intake cap and reduced its targets for new students, resulting in a more than 40% decline in Canada's international student population from its peak in June 2024.

One major shift is towards university-level education, with university students accounting for 40% of new study permit holders in 2025, up from 30% in 2024. Master's and doctoral students also make up a larger proportion of new admissions, increasing to 21% between January and June 2026.

Canada is introducing easier pathways for graduate students, including two-week processing for PhD students and exempting eligible master's and doctoral students from the provincial or territorial attestation letter requirement.