The British Columbia Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills has recently announced new measures aimed at enhancing the integrity of the province's international student program.
According to a ministry release, the new guidelines will introduce additional protections and elevate standards for designated learning institutions (DLIs) in the province. Among these measures is the implementation of the Education Quality Assurance (EQA) code of practice.
The EQA focuses on three main objectives, with one key goal being that DLIs in B.C. will now work towards capping international student enrollment at 30% of the institution’s total student body.
This limit will apply exclusively to public designated learning institutions (DLIs) in the province, with private DLIs unaffected.
In an email to CIC News, a Ministry representative noted that many of British Columbia’s 25 public post-secondary institutions are already operating below this 30% threshold for international student enrollment.
When asked whether this 30% cap would be in addition to the current provincial limit on international students—based on the number of Provincial Attestation Letters (PALs) B.C. plans to issue this year—the Ministry did not clarify. However, they stated that the allocation of attestation letters supports international student programs at public DLIs.
The Ministry also indicated that staff will assist institutions in adjusting their student recruitment strategies to meet the new target and manage any financial impacts. Institutions will use their international education strategic plans, as outlined in the new guidelines, to develop strategies for meeting the enrollment threshold.
For 2024, British Columbia has been allocated 83,000 PALs. These letters confirm a student’s acceptance to a DLI in the province and are a new requirement for obtaining a study permit in Canada, introduced by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) following a cap on the number of study permits to be processed over the next two years.
PAL allocations are based on provincial population. As Canada’s third most populous province, B.C. will issue 53% of its PALs to public post-secondary institutions and 47% to private institutions in 2024.
Transparent Tuition Fees for International Students
B.C. will also require DLIs to publicly post tuition fees for the entire duration of a student's program. This transparency will help incoming international students budget for their education and living expenses in Canada.
International students significantly impact Canada’s economy. A Global Affairs Canada report revealed that in 2022, their spending exceeded $37 billion. Statistics Canada data shows that for the 2023/2024 academic year, international undergraduate students paid an average of $38,081 in tuition alone. B.C. currently hosts 111,900 international students in its public institutions.
Meeting Standards
Under the EQA, institutions must "meet or exceed the quality assurance standards set by the province," which apply to both public and private institutions enrolling international students. These standards include developing international education strategic plans, enhancing student services, providing housing support, and ensuring that Indigenous and domestic students are not displaced.
These requirements build on the International Framework Measures introduced by the province in January, which included pausing the expansion of DLIs, increasing oversight of private institutions, and enhancing compliance and enforcement actions. The new measures are considered Phase 2 of these reforms.
Institutions that comply with the EQA code will receive an EQA designation. Those that fail to meet the EQA standards will lose their designation and will not be able to accept international students.
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