Once recognized as a global leader for its successful combination of higher education and immigration, or "edugration," Canada's international education policy has come under increasing public scrutiny. Since the 2000s, international students have been celebrated as both a source of skilled immigrants and a major revenue stream for Canada's post-secondary institutions. However, rapid growth driven by market-oriented recruitment practices, combined with fragmented governance and shifting political priorities, exposed underlying vulnerabilities. This has eroded public confidence in immigration, destabilized higher education and undermined Canada's international reputation.
This policy brief identifies four core challenges:
- Lack of clear, cross-sectoral policy co-ordination: A disjointed, diffused and volatile policy arena is marked by competing objectives among its many actors and lacks a holistic approach to long-term planning and shared accountability.
- Funding dependency: Overreliance on international student tuition fees as a revenue source has left post-secondary institutions vulnerable and without clear alternatives.
- Damaged public consensus: High international student recruitment levels, unsupported by adequate settlement services and infrastructure, have eroded public support not only for international students but also for immigration more broadly.
- Transparency and fairness: Complex and inconsistent immigration pathways create prolonged uncertainty and vulnerability for international students, resulting in a system marked by precarity and potential exploitation.
To address these systemic issues, this brief recommends:
- An international education strategy that is collaborative, multi-level and cross-sectoral;
- Predictable and clearly communicated pathways to permanent residency so international students can make informed choices before choosing to study in Canada;
- Increased and sustained public investment in higher education to reduce institutions' dependency on international student tuition;
- Co-ordinated, universally accessible settlement services with clear accountability across government and institutional actors;
- Strengthened transparency and regulation of institutional and recruitment practices, supported by accessible public data on student outcomes.
By rebalancing the policy landscape toward sustainability, transparency and ethical responsibility, Canada can better manage international students' economic benefits, protect institutional integrity and uphold its commitments to the international students it recruits.
