Maple News reports that Nova Scotia has released its international student permit allocation for 2024, revealing a significant decrease in the number of new study permits approved for the province. Under new federal limits that came into effect earlier this year, Nova Scotia has been granted a total of 12,900 study permits to distribute among its post-secondary institutions. This marks a notable drop from the approximately 19,900 permits issued in 2023.
The new allocation comes as part of a national policy introduced by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to cap international student admissions and improve oversight across Canada’s academic institutions. The federal cap sets a nationwide limit of 360,000 new study permits in 2024—a 35% reduction from last year. For Nova Scotia, this means adjusting to nearly 7,000 fewer permits than the previous year despite having had around 16,000 full-time international students in the province as of October 2023.
Nova Scotia will distribute the permits across 32 designated learning institutions (DLIs), which are the only schools in Canada authorized to host international students. According to the province’s breakdown:
– 11,565 permits will go to its ten universities and the Nova Scotia Community College.
– 710 permits are designated for a group of 12 private career colleges.
– 526 permits are earmarked for nine language training schools.
The provincial government is also reserving 99 application spaces to maintain flexibility for unexpected circumstances throughout the year. While Nova Scotia officially hosts 41 DLIs, only 32 will receive allocations in 2024.
Brian Wong, Nova Scotia’s Minister of Advanced Education, said the distribution strategy reflects a “thoughtful approach,” balancing program demand, institutional capacity, and regional priorities. “We’ve taken a thoughtful approach to allocating the federal cap across the province, considering many factors like enrolment in our high-needs programs and managing growth in communities. That said, we will continue to advocate for a greater allocation from the federal government,” Wong stated.
The province’s ability to issue study permits is directly tied to the number of Provincial Attestation Letters (PALs) it can issue. Under the 2024 framework, students must have a PAL and a letter of acceptance from a DLI to apply for a study permit.
This new system aims to enhance oversight of international student admissions and improve student support infrastructure. It also reflects the federal government’s ongoing efforts to make Canada’s international education system more sustainable in the face of rising enrolments and housing pressures.
Maple News will continue to monitor how these changes affect international students and educational institutions across the country.