Editor's note: all interviews were conducted prior to the unveiling of the 2025 federal budget.
Quebec government policies limiting student admissions from outside the province have done their job: Prospective students in the rest of Canada and abroad suddenly view Quebec's universities as less welcoming. Recruitment has waned to the point that some institutions may even struggle to achieve the number of international students allowed under the government-imposed cap. This loss of income and talent creates a perfect storm for many Quebec universities, which are already suffering from chronic underfunding and recent cuts to government subsidies.
Christian Blanchette, board chair of the Bureau de coopération interuniversitaire (BCI), doesn't mince words: "Because of the last two years of public and government discourse at both federal and provincial levels, Quebec is no longer seen as welcoming to students from outside the province."
Based on preliminary data from a September 25, 2025, BCI study, international undergraduate enrolment at Quebec universities has plunged by almost 25 per cent since fall 2024. One contributing factor is the 35 per cent reduction in study permits issued by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) between 2023 and 2024 to ease pressure on housing, health care, and other public services. Permits were slashed by an additional 10 per cent in 2025, and will be reduced by a further 49 per cent in 2026 according to the budget tabled by the federal government on November 4.
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