Immigration policy changes in 2014 made it easier for international students to work and apply for permanent residency, but the recent influx has come at a cost to the parties involved.
International students typically pay up to four times what domestic students pay, which often helps fund campus upgrades, expansions, and programing. However, some of these student struggle to learn English and do not receive adequate support, meaning teachers are frequently overwhelmed.
Many institutions’ reliance on international student tuition means pressure from administrators for teachers to graduate students, and for their part, international students who want to remain in Canada are under a lot of pressure to graduate since their future in Canada depends on it. Adequate housing, immigration information, and mental health services are key services that can alleviate such pressures and help international students succeed – but they’re often limited.