Atlantic region records drop of nearly 3,000 foreign students after federal caps

A photo of Saint Mary's University in Halifax on Nov. 9, 2022. (Paul DeWitt/CTV Atlantic)

HALIFAX -

Atlantic Canada recorded a drop of nearly 3,000 international students this academic year, with Nova Scotia losing more than 2,000.

The Association of Atlantic Universities says the drop is part of the "devastating effect" of the federal government's policies to reduce the number of temporary immigrants in the country.

Nova Scotia recorded 2,091 fewer foreign students compared with the 2023-24 academic year.

International enrolment dropped by 747 students at Memorial University of Newfoundland, and by 143 students at the University of Prince Edward Island.

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New Brunswick, meanwhile, lost a total of two foreign students, compared with the previous academic year.

In January, the federal government announced a cap on international student applications that marked a 35 per cent decrease from last year's numbers, and last month, Ottawa announced a further 10 per cent cut for 2025.

Atlantic Canadian universities lost a total of 2,983 students, or 11.4 per cent, compared with the 2023-24 academic year.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 15, 2024.

For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page.