International enrollments falling at Atlantic universities

The Association of Atlantic Universities (AAU) 2025-2026 Preliminary Survey of Enrolments shows a 28 per cent decrease in international student enrolments compared with the previous year, a drop of 6,431 students.

Total enrolments of all students, domestic and international, has decreased by 4.4 per cent year-on-year, the Association said.

The largest decrease by institution was for Cape Breton University , which had a 56.1 per cent drop in international student enrolments in 2025/26, followed by St. Francis Xavier (-40.3) and Atlantic School of Theology (-24.7).

Dalhousie University had the highest international enrolment for 2025/26 at 2,713, followed by Cape Breton University (2,531), the University of New Brunswick (2,067), and Universite de Moncton (1,756).

AAU said that since Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced a cap on study permit applications in January 2024, enrolment of international students has declined by 36 per cent.

“Atlantic Canada and our universities have been disproportionately hurt by the federal government’s ‘cap’ placed on international students aspiring to pursue higher education in our region,” said Dr. Paul Mazerolle, Chair, AAU and President, University of New Brunswick.

The association said that the cumulative effect of policies including enrolment caps, a more complicated visa process, increased maintenance funds for study permits, and limited opportunities for work had been to damage Canada’s image as a welcoming country for prospective students.

Rhonda Tulk-Lane, CEO of the Atlantic Chamber of Commerce, said the region’s economic progress was being threatened by reduced allocations of students.

“With one of the oldest populations in the country and declining birth rates, our region faces an urgent challenge: how to sustain our businesses and secure our economic future.”

Dr Paul said, “The AAU has communicated its concerns about government policies affecting international students to the federal Minister of Immigration and advised her of a proposed regional strategy to create a sustainable international student enrolment program. The Minister acknowledged that international students are an important talent pipeline and central to Atlantic Canada’s future population, economic growth, and social and cultural development.”

The Association of Atlantic Universities (AAU) represents the interests of universities across New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island.