Canada’s international education landscape is experiencing a significant shift as new federal and provincial immigration measures reshape pathways for master’s and PhD students. For nearly two decades, Canada maintained what is often called the study-work-stay
model, drawing international graduate students as a dependable source of talent and tuition revenue with the promise of building a permanent life in the country, according to The Conversation. While the federal government introduced a national cap on study permits in 2024 expected to cut approvals by about 35 percent compared to 2023, data shows that permits for new graduate students have nonetheless risen.
Shifting Policies and Surging Graduate Numbers
According to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), the agency issued 6,455 new graduate student permits in the second quarter of 2026, compared to 3,085 during the same period in 2025. This increase occurred even though overall applications fell slightly, with 23,480 international graduate students seeking a new or extended study permit in the second quarter of the year, marking a 12 percent drop from the previous year, as reported by The PIE News.
Policy Adjustments and Institutional Impact
Under Prime Minister Mark Carney, the government shifted its international student focus to attract master’s and PhD students. IRCC minister Lena Metlege Diab stated at a meeting in Halifax that the government recognizes the need for these students to grow the economy. To ease the process, the Liberal government exempted graduate students earlier in the year from needing a Provincial or Territorial Attestation Letter, removing a key administrative barrier. Additionally, the government pledged a 14-day processing window for PhD applicants.
IRCC spokesperson Melissa Zeroual noted that study permits issued to master’s and doctoral students rose from 12 percent of the total in 2025 to 21 percent in 2026. Institutions like the University of British Columbia reported a 15 percent increase in international graduate applications for 2026, alongside a 30 percent jump specifically for doctoral programs, drawing interest from students in the United States, India, Nigeria, and Iran. Robert Asselin, head of the U15 group of Canada’s top research universities, welcomed the growth, crediting Prime Minister Carney’s international partnerships.
Despite the rise in incoming graduate permit approvals, challenges remain for students navigating the transition to permanent residency. Federal caps, tighter post-graduation work permit rules, and shifting provincial policies—such as Ontario closing certain graduate streams under the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program and Québec altering the Québec Experience Program—have created a less predictable environment for graduates who expected to settle through recently closed or altered pathways.
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