Canada’s study permit approvals are set to drop by 39% in 2024, according to a recent report by ed-tech company ApplyBoard. The analysis highlights a significant decline in the number of new study permits being processed by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), with key provinces like Ontario and British Columbia feeling the greatest impact.

Earlier in 2024, IRCC capped the total number of study permit applications to 606,000. However, data from Q2 2024 (April to June) shows only 127,700 new permits were processed, compared to nearly 238,800 in the same period last year—a 54% year-over-year decrease. Overall, 39% fewer study permits are projected to be approved in 2024 compared to 2023.

From January to June 2024, just under 114,000 new study permits were approved for post-secondary study, a significant drop from the 220,000 permits approved during the same period in 2023. If the trend continues and the approval rate holds steady at 51%, approximately 231,000 permits will be approved for the entire year—a 47% drop from the 436,600 approvals in 2023.

The report shows regional differences in permit approvals, with Ontario and British Columbia seeing the most significant reductions, down by 70% and 49% respectively. Quebec has maintained stable numbers, while the Maritimes, including Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island, have seen smaller declines in international students.

Interest in studying in Canada is also waning, with online searches for “study in Canada” dropping by 20% compared to 2023. This suggests students are increasingly considering other destinations.

Despite these overall declines, Indian students, who represented nearly 50% of Canada’s international student body in 2023, have maintained a high approval rate of 85% in the first half of 2024. However, even their application volumes have decreased, indicating a potential shift in interest away from Canada.