International student approvals fall 62% this year in Canada: Can universities adapt to the shrinking intake?

Canada is facing a significant decline in international student approvals, with the number of new post-secondary study permits projected to fall to just 80,000 in 2025. This represents a 62% decrease from last year and is the lowest level in a decade, according to data shared by the ApplyBoard. The drop has surpassed the decline observed during the Covid-19 pandemic and marks a historic shift in Canada’s international education sector. Onshore students, or those already studying in Canada, are expected to account for nearly two-thirds of all study permits issued this year, a sharp change in the enrolment mix. Post-secondary approvals fall to decade low The federal government’s new study permit caps, introduced in 2024 and tightened in 2025, have significantly reduced the number of