Selkirk College will receive 857 provincial attestation letters as part of federal rules limiting the number of international students in Canada.
The college announced Monday it would be permitted the number of letters through Jan. 21, 2025. The letters are now a mandatory requirement for students applying for study permits when immigrating to Canada.
“International learners are an integral part of our college community and this clarity in the process allows us to move forward in making sure it stays that way,” said Taya Whitehead, the college’s vice president of Education and Students, in a statement.
“We understand there’s been uncertainty for both current and prospective international students. Now that we know our allocation, we can continue international planning and recruitment that serves our students and communities so well.”
Immigration Minister Marc Miller announced Jan. 22 that student visas would be reduced by 35 per cent for 2024. That accounts for approximately 360,000 student permits.
The federal government says it is trying to mitigate exploitation of international students who are paying high tuition for poor education and a lack of supports at private post-secondary colleges.
Public institutions like Selkirk however are still included in the federal rules. Attestation letters provided by the province to the college, and in turn to the student, are meant to prove they have been accounted for under the cap.
Selkirk had 762 full-time international students in 2023, but the 857 letters for this year don’t guarantee it will receive that many students. The college stated it will try to direct offers to students with a high likelihood of accepting them.
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