A corner of McGill University in Canada. Photo courtesy of McGill University
Canada has brought forward the date from which work permits will no longer be issued to international students graduating from public-private partnership programs, from September 1 to May 15.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) said on March 22 that this was done to prevent schools from bringing forward their admissions dates to anticipate the change.
Some schools have announced that the school year will begin in June or August.
Under the public-private partnership, public schools admitted foreign students and sent them to private schools for a fee. Students would earn a public school diploma allowing them to apply for a work permit after graduation.
But despite the ban, students can now apply for other types of work permits, particularly in sectors lacking human resources.
The province of Ontario, which has at least 14 schools with public-private partnerships, will be among the hardest hit, losing about 133,000 international students because of the decision.
Jill Dunlop, director of the Ontario Universities and Colleges Management Authority, said 96 per cent of international study permits in Ontario would be reserved for public schools.
Canada has been tightening regulations for international students since October 2023, citing an increase in the number of immigrants.
This has led to a housing shortage and rising rents, they say.
IIRC plans to approve 360,000 new students, 35% fewer than last year, to ease the burden of housing, health care and other services.
Canada is among the top two destinations for international students, along with the United States, in part because it is easy to obtain a work permit after graduation.
International education brings the country approximately $16 billion each year.
Around 40% of international students come from India and 12% from China. There are 16,000 Vietnamese students.
