The Quebec government has announced a 20% reduction in the number of international students who can enroll in the province’s post-secondary institutions for the upcoming academic year.
The new policy, which will limit the number of international student applications, is part of the government’s effort to manage immigration levels.
CBC News reports that the Immigration Ministry published the updated maximum number of applications for new international students in Wednesday’s edition of the province’s Official Gazette.
The new quotas will significantly reduce the number of students allowed to enroll in Quebec’s collegiate and university networks this fall. The government has also set the number of international student enrollments at universities to align with 2024 levels.
Enrollment limit set for 2025
- Reports inform that the Quebec government will process a maximum of 29,200 applications for international students wishing to enter the provincial collegiate network this year.
- In 2024, the Education Ministry processed 48,748 applications, but the new cap represents a 20% decrease.
- The total number of applications, which includes universities and vocational colleges, will be capped at 124,760 for the period from February 26th, 2025, to 2026. This is a sharp reduction from the 2024 figures.
Immigration law changes
The move follows the passing of a bill in December 2024, which granted the Education Ministry the authority to limit the number of international students admitted to Quebec’s educational institutions.
- The government has cited this policy as part of its broader effort to manage immigration into the province.
- International students are required to obtain a Québec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ) from the provincial government before they can apply for a study permit from the federal government.
- The quota reduction applies to these CAQ applications, which were capped at 29,200 for the collegiate network in 2025.
Reactions
The Fédération des cégeps, a group representing Quebec’s public colleges, criticized the decision. The CEO of the federation, Marie Montpetit, according to reports, argued that reducing the number of international students will harm Quebec’s educational and economic vitality.
“By restricting international students’ access to CEGEPs, the government is targeting a network that plays an essential role in Quebec’s educational and economic vitality,” Montpetit said in a news release.
The federation pointed out that international students account for only 5% of CEGEP enrollment but are important for sustaining many programs. Limiting their numbers could disrupt regional development and the supply of skilled workers, the federation warned.
Concerns from universities
Université de Montréal, Daniel Jutras, expressed concerns about the impact of the new quotas on the province’s higher education system. He argued that international students are being unfairly grouped with those who may misuse the system.
“International students have been placed in the same basket as those who abuse the system, and we’re treating those people in the same way as someone who is coming to Quebec to pursue a PhD in IT or a masters in social work,” Jutras said in an interview with Radio-Canada’s Tout un matin.
This policy shows a change in Quebec’s approach to managing international student enrollment.
The government hopes that these new limits will better control the province’s immigration levels while maintaining a balance between educational needs and resource capacity.
