The Federal Government of Canada has allocated Nova Scotia 12,900 study permits for its international student allocation to tertiary institutions, a fall of nearly 7,000 permits from 2023 numbers.
Despite this drop, Nova Scotia remains a popular location for overseas students pursuing higher education.
As of October 2023, Nova Scotia had roughly 16,000 international students enrolled full-time in various postsecondary programmes throughout the province. The study permits distribution.
The study permits will be allocated among Nova Scotia’s 32 designated learning institutions (DLIs), the only postsecondary schools authorised to accept international students. Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) reports that Nova Scotia has 41 DLIs.
The permit allocation are as follows: There are 11,565 permits for the province’s 10 universities and Nova Scotia Community College. There are 710 permissions for twelve private career institutions and 526 permits for nine language schools.
In addition, the province will reserve 99 application seats to address unanticipated circumstances, allowing for greater flexibility in managing international student admissions.
Brian Wong, Nova Scotia’s Minister of Advanced Education, emphasised the province’s deliberate approach to assigning study permits across institutions, taking into account factors such as programme demand and community growth.
Wong also reiterated the province’s advocacy for increased federal funding to boost Nova Scotia’s education sector.
The federal cap on study permits, introduced on January 22, aims to stabilize international student numbers in Canada and enhance the system’s sustainability. Canada is expected to issue 360,000 study permits to international students in 2024, reflecting a 35% reduction from the previous year.
The cap does not apply to certain categories, such as international students enrolled in master’s or graduate-level degree programs, current study permit holders, or study permit renewals.
International student applicants are now required to include a Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) in their final study permit applications, aligning with the province’s allocation process.
Meanwhile, Prince Edward Island (PEI) announced its allocation of 2,000 study permits among three DLIs, with the Department of Workforce, Advanced Learning, and Population facilitating the issuance of PALs to DLIs for distribution to international student applicants.
Other provinces like Ontario and British Columbia have also outlined their distribution plans for study permits, with varying allocations between public and private DLIs
