Tougher rules likely mean fewer international students will come north

The federal government announced this week that international students who apply for a study permit will need to show they have more than $20,000 to cover their tuition and living expenses.

That’s double what they’ve needed over the past decade.

Cambrian College has 2,700 international students enrolled in Sudbury, all of whom had to prove they had $10,000 in order to get their study permits.

Karanbir Badhesha is a former international student who is now the director of the Canadian Khalsa Darbar the Sikh temple or gurdwara in Sudbury. They are currently housing 10 students within the living space, but there is room for 70.

Given the $20,000 up-front requirement, Badhesha said potential students may think twice about studying in Canada.

“That would be a tough decision for their parents or for themselves to raise those kinds of funds,” he said.

The federal government announced this week that international students who apply for a study permit will need to show they have more than $20,000 to cover their tuition and living expenses. (Photo from video)

“So the numbers will drastically decrease. This is what I believe and there will be a huge challenge for them to overcome their affordability and come to Canada.”

But the change will be good for the students who can afford it. Badhesha said the new federal requirements will better protect international students from problems like exploitation or inadequate housing.

“I come in contact with these students, newcomers every single day and most of them are not feeling financially stable but this will provide financial stability for sure,” he said.

TOO EARLY TO TELL

Post-secondary schools in Sudbury said it’s too early to tell if the change will impact enrolment.

“Those study permits take time to process, so the earliest those students would be coming to an Ontario college, like Cambrian or other schools, would be the spring most likely March or May; most likely September,” said Cambrian spokesperson Dan Lessard.

“At this point it’s just too early to say how that’s going to impact the number of students who will come to Canada next year.”

In a statement to CTV News, Laurentian University said it’s following the topic closely.

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“While it’s too early to evaluate the implications, we will continue to do all we can to be a welcoming and desirable destination for international students,” the statement said.

College Boreal did not respond to a request for comment.

The changes take effect Jan. 1 and don’t apply to international students who are already studying in Canada.