International students in Canada
Canada rose to the third most popular destination for international students in 2022, following the United States and United Kingdom. It had been the fourth most popular destination in 2019. Canada was reported to have 1,040,985 international students at the end of 2023, a 29% increase over 2022, accounting for more than 2% of the country's population. Other sources report that number as an underestimate, the true number being potentially as high as two million.
As early as 1959, Canada's then-monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, said on Dominion Day (now Canada Day), in reference to cooperation and mutual help, "one instance of this is the number of students from India, and Pakistan, and the West Indies who found places in Canadian universities. This is an admirable plan and I hope that it spreads [...] If any of these students are listening to me, which perhaps they are, I congratulate them on the hard work and enterprise which has sent them here and send them my very good wishes."
The provision of international student education is considered to have non-monetary benefits, such as reducing xenophobia and cultural stereotyping by encouraging diversity, nurturing international goodwill and global civility, fostering intercultural and social connections among faculty and students, and promoting greater engagement in teaching and collaborative research initiatives.
According to the International Education Strategy published by the Government of Canada, international students are present in all levels of education, including primary, secondary, trades, and college and post-secondary education, with the largest number of international students enrolled at the post-secondary level. The number of enrolled students has been increasing steadily in all levels from 2015 to 2018, with the greatest rise in college attendance.
In 2016, the International Education Division of Global Affairs Canada launched the EduCanada brand, a collaborative promotional initiative involving the provinces and territories and the Council of Ministers of Education, Canada. That same year, credible allegations of the "callous disregard for academic ethics and standards in a scramble by Canadian universities and colleges to sign up international students" was reported, citing a 2007 UNESCO report alleging widespread corruption in higher education. Canada's global anti-corruption ranking was downgraded from #8 to #12 in 2018, noting fraud and educational integrity breaches.
The International Education Strategy for the period 2019-2024 included a commitment to diversify inbound student population and distribute the population more evenly across the country. To attract more international students, Canadian educational institutes offered English as a second language (ESL) programs and reserved specific international student scholarships.
A 2020 survey conducted by the Canadian Bureau for International Education (CBIE) found that 96% of international students endorsed Canada as a study destination, due to its quality education and its reputation as a safe, tolerant and multicultural country that celebrates diversity.
Some private institutions are revoking their admission offers to international students because they do not have the capacity to accommodate large volumes of international students. They sent out more acceptance letters, thinking that the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) would manage the numbers. In 2022, information obtained through the Access to Information Act showed a significant increase in the influence of Indian students. They were pushing Canada to support their individual, economic, and political goals. Indian international student activism with similar aims were highly active on social media. Although Canada aims to capture the economic benefits of its knowledge-based economy by providing education to international students, it faces challenges in delivering the necessary services ethically and becoming a transformative leader. Additionally, the sector is influenced by consultants who advise prioritizing appearances over implementing substantial changes.
From January 2024, reforms and caps on the numbers of international students have been rolled out due to the strain on housing and social services, and abuse of the program and students by individuals and institutions.