Canada is set to further tighten the inflow of international students, with the government shifting its focus towards students pursuing master’s and doctoral degrees.
The latest policy direction is part of Ottawa’s broader attempt to bring immigration levels in line with the capacity of communities while retaining international talent considered valuable to the Canadian economy.
Government data showed that the country’s international student population has dropped by one-third since 2024, with the decline becoming significantly steeper this year.
Between January and June 2026, new international student arrivals were 82 per cent lower than during the same period in 2024, according to figures released by the Canadian government.
The reduction has also altered the composition of new international students entering the country, with universities accounting for a larger proportion of arrivals as college admissions decline.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada said the proportion of new study permit holders entering universities increased from 30 per cent in 2024 to 40 per cent in 2025.
The agency expects that proportion to rise further as additional measures affecting graduate-level students take effect.
“We are taking steps to welcome fewer international students at higher levels of study,” IRCC said while outlining the latest figures.
The government said it would continue to prioritise international students at the master’s and PhD levels, whose advanced education and skills it considers more closely connected to Canada’s labour-market requirements.
The policy represents a departure from the rapid expansion of Canada’s international student population in previous years, which had placed increasing pressure on housing, public services and local communities.
Ottawa said its objective was not to abandon international education but to establish a system that is more sustainable and better aligned with the country’s economic needs.
The government said Canada remained committed to attracting highly skilled people from around the world, particularly those whose qualifications could contribute to long-term economic growth.
It described the broader immigration strategy as a “new course” designed to ensure that the number of newcomers reflects the capacity of communities to accommodate them.
With the latest restrictions, prospective international students at lower levels of study are likely to face a more constrained pathway into Canada, while postgraduate applicants are expected to remain a priority under the country’s evolving immigration framework.
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