- The Quebec government has announced a 20% cut in the number of overseas students allowed to enroll in the province’s postsecondary institutions for the forthcoming academic year.
- The new regulation, which limits the number of international student applications, is part of the government’s drive to control immigration.
The Quebec government has announced a 20% cut in the number of overseas students allowed to enroll in the province’s postsecondary institutions for the forthcoming academic year.
The new regulation, which limits the number of international student applications, is part of the government’s drive to control immigration.
According to CBC News, the Immigration Ministry released an update to the maximum number of applications for new international students in the province’s Official Gazette on Wednesday.
The new limitations will drastically limit the number of students who can enroll in Quebec’s collegiate and university networks starting autumn. The government has also targeted the number of international student enrollments at universities to match 2024 levels.
Enrollment limit is established for 2025
- According to reports, the Quebec government will evaluate up to 29,200 applications for overseas students seeking to join the provincial collegiate network this year.
- In 2024, the Education Ministry processed 48,748 applications; nonetheless, the revised threshold implies a 20% decrease.
- The total number of applications, including universities and vocational colleges, will be limited to 124,760 between February 26th, 2025 and 2026. This is a significant drop from the 2024 figures.
Immigration laws evolve
The action followed the passage of a measure in December 2024 that gave the Education Ministry the right to limit the number of overseas students accepted to Quebec’s educational institutions.
- The government has described this policy as part of a larger effort to manage immigration into the province.
- International students must receive a Québec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ) from the province government before applying for a study permit from the federal government.
- The quota reduction relates to these CAQ applications, which were limited to 29,200 for the collegiate network in 2025.
Reactions
The Fédération des cégeps, which represents Quebec’s public colleges, denounced the decision. According to reports, the federation’s CEO, Marie Montpetit, has stated that lowering the number of international students will undermine Quebec’s educational and economic vibrancy.
“By restricting international students’ access to CEGEPs, the government is targeting a network that plays an essential role in Quebec’s educational and economic vitality,” Montpetit told reporters in a release.
The federation said that while overseas students account for only 5% of CEGEP enrollment, they are critical to the sustainability of many programs. The federation cautioned that limiting their numbers could jeopardize regional development and the availability of trained personnel.
Concerns from Universities
Daniel Jutras of the Université de Montréal raised concern about the new quotas’ influence on the province’s higher education sector. He stated that international students are unfairly classed with those who may abuse the system.
“International students have been lumped in with those who abuse the system, and we’re treating them the same as someone coming to Quebec to pursue a PhD in IT or a master’s degree in social work,” Jutras said in an interview with Radio-Canada’s Tout tout matin.
This policy reflects a shift in Quebec’s approach to controlling international student enrollment.
The government thinks that these new restrictions will help to control the province’s immigration levels while striking a balance between educational requirements and resource capabilities.
