Maple News reports that Canadian universities are moving forward with plans to resume in-person classes for the Fall 2021 semester, as vaccination efforts accelerate and public health guidance becomes more optimistic. With the Canadian government promising that most Canadians will be vaccinated by the end of September, many institutions are preparing to welcome both domestic and international students back on campus.
The decision to return to in-person learning is ultimately guided by regional public health authorities and each university’s administration. Institutions remain committed to closely monitoring COVID-19 developments and will implement safety measures as needed to ensure a safe learning environment.
For international students, Canada continues to permit entry if they are enrolled at a Designated Learning Institution (DLI) with an approved COVID-19 readiness plan. Updates to Canada’s travel guidelines, especially for U.S. residents, are expected later this month, with additional changes anticipated for other international travelers in mid-April.
In British Columbia, the province’s health minister advised institutions on March 8 to begin planning for a full return to in-person classes. The University of British Columbia (UBC) confirmed its plans for increased on-campus classes and research activity. UBC is also working to support international students with quarantine accommodations and potential on-site vaccination services. Other B.C. institutions—including the University of Victoria, Vancouver Island University, Simon Fraser University, University of Northern British Columbia, and Trinity Western University—have echoed similar intentions to resume on-campus activity.
In Alberta, the University of Alberta is preparing for a hybrid model combining in-person and remote learning. The University of Calgary has not finalized its mode of delivery, promising a decision in April. Meanwhile, the University of Lethbridge is preparing for a “significant return” to campus while still adhering to necessary public health measures such as mask-wearing and physical distancing.
International student enrolment continues to play a critical role in Canada’s higher education landscape. A 2020 report by Statistics Canada revealed that nearly two-thirds of new international enrollments in the 2018–19 academic year were at Canadian universities.
As academia adapts to the post-pandemic era, universities across the country are striving to balance a return to normal with health and safety. The upcoming fall semester will be a pivotal step in shaping what higher education in Canada looks like in a post-COVID world.