Nova Scotia Unveils Allocation of 12,900 Study Permits for International Students in 2024

Nova Scotia has disclosed its distribution plan for study permits allocated to international students attending post-secondary institutions. For the year 2024, the federal government has allotted Nova Scotia 12,900 study permits, reflecting a decrease of approximately 7,000 permits compared to the previous year.

Enrolment figures as of October 2023 indicated that Nova Scotia had around 16,000 full-time international students. The province intends to allocate these study permits among 32 designated learning institutions (DLIs), which are authorized to accept international students in Canada. Despite Nova Scotia officially having 41 DLIs according to Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

Allocation Breakdown

• 11,565 permits to Nova Scotia's 10 universities and Nova Scotia Community College
• 710 permits to a dozen private career colleges
• 526 permits to nine language schools Additionally, the province plans to reserve 99 application spaces to provide flexibility in accommodating unforeseen circumstances.

Brian Wong, Nova Scotia’s Minister of Advanced Education, expressed, "We’ve taken a thoughtful approach to allocating the federal cap across the province, considering many factors like enrolment in our high-needs programs and managing growth in communities. That said, we will continue to advocate for a greater allocation from the federal government."

The federal cap on study permits, implemented on January 22, is one of several measures by IRCC to stabilize international student numbers in the country and enhance the system's sustainability. Overall, Canada aims to issue 360,000 study permits to international students in 2024, marking a 35% reduction from the previous year.

The number of study permits corresponds with the number of Provincial Attestation Letters (PALs) a province can issue. Provinces have the discretion to allocate them to study permit applicants who have secured acceptance from a DLI. It's important to note that the cap does not affect international students enrolled in master's or graduate-level programs, current study permit holders, or permit renewals.

International student applicants are now required to include a PAL in their final study permit applications.

Prince Edward Island

On March 7, Prince Edward Island announced its allocation of 2,000 study permits for international students. These permits will be distributed among three DLIs: College de l’Ile (105 permits), Holland College (710 permits), and University of Prince Edward Island (1,185 permits). In PEI, the Department of Workforce, Advanced Learning and Population will provide PALs to DLIs, who will then issue them to international student applicants as part of their federal student permit application.

Allocation Plans in Other Provinces

Ontario and British Columbia have recently disclosed their allocation plans for PALs. Ontario intends to allocate 96% of study permits to public universities and colleges, with the remaining 4% distributed among language schools, private universities, and other institutions. In contrast, British Columbia plans to distribute its 83,000 study permits almost evenly between public and private DLIs, with 53% going to public institutions and 47% to private ones.

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