In a move to enhance the integrity of its international student program, British Columbia’s Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills has introduced new measures aimed at raising standards for designated learning institutions (DLIs) in the province. Among the key initiatives is the Education Quality Assurance (EQA) code of practice, designed to strengthen oversight and provide better protections for students.
The new guidelines will require public DLIs in British Columbia to limit international student enrollment to 30% of their total student body. Private DLIs, however, are not subject to this cap. A Ministry representative confirmed that many of the province’s 25 public post-secondary institutions are already below this threshold.
The Ministry plans to collaborate with public institutions to give them time to adjust their recruitment strategies and manage any financial impact that may arise from the new enrollment limits. Additionally, institutions are expected to develop international education strategic plans to meet the new standards.
As part of the process, British Columbia was allocated 83,000 Provincial Attestation Letters (PALs) for 2024, which are essential for students applying for study permits. The province will issue 53% of these letters to public institutions, with the remaining 47% going to private DLIs. This new step in the study permit process was introduced by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) as part of a cap on the number of study permits processed over the next two years.
Another significant change introduced by the Ministry requires DLIs to publish tuition fees for the entire duration of a student’s studies, giving international students transparency about the total cost of their education. This initiative will help students better plan for their expenses during their time in Canada.
International students are a vital part of Canada’s economy, contributing over $37 billion in 2022, according to Global Affairs Canada. In the 2023/2024 academic year, international students in British Columbia paid an average of $38,081 in tuition fees, with a total of 111,900 international students currently enrolled in the province’s public institutions.
To maintain EQA designation, DLIs must meet or exceed the provincial quality assurance standards, which now include enhanced student services, housing support, and measures to ensure Indigenous and domestic students are not displaced. These new measures build on the province’s International Framework Measures introduced earlier this year, which included pausing the expansion of DLIs and increasing oversight of private institutions.
Institutions that fail to meet the EQA code of practice will lose their designation and will no longer be eligible to accept international students. These updates mark the second phase of reforms aimed at strengthening the province’s international education system.