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Canadian Province Announces 2-Year Ban on International Students

A Canadian province, British Columbia, has prohibited tertiary institutions from admitting international students for the next two years.

This decision is consistent with the Canadian government’s overall goal to impose a national cap to limit the entry of overseas students.

Federal Immigration Minister Marc Miller recently informed the decision, highlighting the goal of reducing the number of new student visas issued by 35 percent for the current fiscal year.

The move is part of an effort to combat “exploitative practices” in the educational system.

The Premier of British Columbia, David Eby, emphasized the necessity of addressing challenges within the international education system, recognizing its critical position in the province’s social and economic frameworks.

“Our province has a diverse range of private institutions, both large and small, but our expectations for excellence remain same regardless of size.

“There are institutions that are not meeting our expectations right now,” he went on to say.

It was discovered that in the first half of 2023, approximately 18,000 study licenses were awarded to Nigerians in Canada, outnumbering all other countries save India.

According to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) data, India (175,021), Nigeria (43,482), the Philippines (21,902), China (14,975), and Nepal (12,776) were the top five source countries for new international students in Canada in the first half of 2023.

Meanwhile, Canada has raised the cost of living Proof of Funds criteria for study permit applicants from other countries, including Nigeria, by 106.4% to $20,635.

This new policy applies to new study permit applications received on or after January 1, 2024.

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