Nova Scotia has received 12,900 study permits for 2024, a significant drop from prior years and a reflection of the changing dynamics in international student enrollment.

The Canadian Federal Government's allocation highlights a concerted attempt to balance concerns about sustainability in the education industry with a goal of stabilising the number of international students in the area.

Decrease in permit allocations

12,900 study permits were issued, which is a reduction of about 7,000 permits over the prior year's total. Even with this decrease, international students looking for options for higher education find Nova Scotia to be a desirable destination.

The province continued to be a top choice for academic pursuits as of October 2023, with over 16,000 full-time international students enrolled in various post-secondary programmes.

Strategic permit distribution

Study permits will be given out to 32 approved learning institutions (DLIs) in Nova Scotia, which include private career colleges, community colleges, universities, and language schools.

Significantly, the province formally houses 41 DLIs, demonstrating the considerable thought that went into allocating permits to different establishments.

Advocacy and adaptability

Nova Scotia has committed to flexibility in managing international student admissions by reserving 99 application seats in an attempt to handle unforeseen circumstances.

Minister of Advanced Education for Nova Scotia, Brian Wong, stressed the province's deliberate approach to awarding study licences, which takes into consideration variables like programme demand and community development. Wong additionally pushed for more federal funding to strengthen Nova Scotia's educational system.

Key points

• The goal of the federal study permit cap is to maintain a stable number of foreign students studying in Canada. Nova Scotia will only be granted 12,900 study permits for 2024.
• In 2024, 360,000 study permits for foreign students are anticipated to be issued by Canada; this is a notable 35% decrease from the year prior.
• The cap does not apply to some groups, such as those pursuing graduate-level degrees or master's degrees, those who currently hold valid study permits, or those renewing their permits.
• In accordance with the province's allocation procedure, international student applicants must now submit a Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) with their final study permit applications.
• Regional Developments

The Department of Workforce, Advanced Learning, and Population of Prince Edward Island (PEI) has facilitated the distribution of 2,000 study permits among three DLIs.

Different allocations between public and private DLIs are reflected in the distribution plans for research permits that have been defined by provinces such as British Columbia and Ontario.