Nova Scotia issues 12900 study permits to international students for postsecondary institutions. This is around 7,000 fewer than the number of permits the province issued to international students in 2023.
As of October 2023, Nova Scotia had about 16,000 international students enrolled full-time.
The province is distributing the study permit among 32 DLIs, which are the only postsecondary institutions in Canada that are permitted to accept international students. According to IRCC, Nova Scotia officially has 41 DLIs.
The permits are allocated as follows:
- 11,565 to the province’s ten universities & Nova Scotia Community College
- 710 to a dozen private career colleges
- 526 to nine language schools
The province states that it will also hold back 99 application spaces for the flexibility to accommodate unexpected circumstances.
Nova Scotia’s Minister of Advanced Education, Brian Wong, states that the province has taken a thoughtful approach to allocating federal cap across the province, considering many factors like enrolment in high-needs programs & managing growth in programs. Further, he said that the province will continue to advocate for a greater allocation from the federal government.
Nova Scotia issues 12900 study permits to international students. The federal cap on study permits was introduced on January 22 as one of the many measures IRCC has taken to stabilize the number of international students in the country & improve system sustainability. Overall, Canada expected to issue 360,000 study permits to international students in 2024, a reduction of 35% from the previous year.
In addition, the number of study permits aligns with the number of Provincial Attestation Letters a province can issue. Also, it is up to the provinces to decide how to issue them to study permit applicants who have obtained a letter of acceptance from a DLI.
Note that the cap doesn’t apply to international students enrolled in master’s or graduate-level degree programs, to students who are current study permit holders, or to study permit renewals.
International student applicants should now include a PAL in their final study permit applications.
Prince Edward Island
On March 7, Prince Edward Island announced that it has 2,000 study permits to issue to international students.
This will be distributed among three DLIs:
- College de I’lle (105 study permits)
- Holland College (710 study permits)
- University of Prince Edward Island (1185 study permits)
In PEI, the Department of Workforce, Advanced Learning & Population will provide DLIs with PALs. The DLIs will additionally issue them to international student candidates as part of their federal student permit application.
Allocation In Other Provinces
Nova Scotia issues 12900 study permits to international students. Ontario & British Columbia revealed how they intend to distribute their allocation of PALs earlier this month.
In addition, Ontario will issue 96% of allocated study permits to public universities & colleges. The remaining 4% will be distributed between language schools, private universities, & other institutions across the province. The province hasn’t declared how many PALs the federal government has allocated.
In contrast, British Columbia is distributing its 83,000 study permits evenly between public & private DLIs.