REGINA — Recent changes to immigration policies are prompting post-secondary institutions in Regina to monitor enrolment closely and, in some cases, make difficult choices.
Last fall, the Canadian government announced an intake cap for international students applying for a study permit through Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
For 2025, the government plans to decrease study permits issued by 10 per cent compared to 2024.
This has resulted in revenue losses for schools, including Saskatchewan Polytechnic, which is facing a $14- to $15-million shortfall in its budget due to a drop in international student enrolment.
As a result, Sask. Polytechnic announced 14 out-of-scope staff would be laid off. It is unclear whether any of those staff worked directly in Regina. The school previously cut 27 staff in April due to lower enrolment following the introduction of tariffs.
The University of Regina (U of R) has also reported a decline in international enrolment. From winter 2025 compared to winter 2024, the school saw an over 50 per cent drop in newly admitted international students.
At the time, the U of R said these numbers are not keeping pace with the number of students soon finishing their programs.
In a statement sent to SaskToday, the U of R acknowledged that changes to IRCC regulations, coupled with slower student visa processing times, “have negatively affected international student enrolment at post-secondary institutions across Canada.”
“The University of Regina is assessing the impact and continuing to closely monitor international enrolment numbers to determine what measures, if any, may need to be implemented.”
Despite lower international student enrolment, the U of R reported a record 17,409 students enrolled last fall.
SaskToday also reached out to First Nations University of Canada for comment on international enrolment, but received no response as of publication time.
