International student applications down at Western, Huron, King's universities

Andrew Lupton · CBC News

· Posted: Apr 24, 2025 4:00 AM EDT | Last Updated: 22 minutes ago

Two trends are shaping exertion numbers astatine London, Ont., universities this year: More planetary students choosing to survey elsewhere, as in-province applicants increase.

Data released this period by the Ontario University Application Centre (OUAC) shows that year-over-year, the fig of applications from high-school students extracurricular the state is down. While this fig includes applications from different provinces, it's driven mostly by planetary pupil applications. 

Last year, the national authorities took steps to reduce the fig of planetary pupil visa permits issued, a alteration that is starring to a important dip betwixt outpouring applications for 2025 compared to past year. 

London-area universities each saw a dip successful planetary pupil applications: 

• Western University: down 5.4 per cent
• Huron University: down 12.6 per cent 
• King's University College: down 18.9 per cent 

"The large driblet has been the fig of applications from planetary students," said Barry Craig, president and vice-chancellor of Huron University, an affiliate of Western University. 

Craig said the driblet successful planetary applications was expected aft permits were capped.

"We knew that we were going to instrumentality a hit, and definite capable we have," helium said. 

Any dip successful planetary students creates a fund occupation due to the fact that overseas students wage higher tuition, Craig said. Limiting that gross with nary summation successful enactment from the state puts Huron and each Canadian universities successful a fund crunch helium said isn't sustainable implicit time. 

"We're each successful the aforesaid boat, we're each facing accrued costs," helium said. "We're looking OK close present but down the road, it's not a beauteous representation for immoderate assemblage successful the state unless we spot immoderate changes. Tuition has been frozen for a decennary and truthful person the authorities grants." 

So if planetary pupil applications and enrolment drop, volition that unfastened up much spaces for home students? Craig said astir students who attended an Ontario precocious schoolhouse are capable to find a abstraction now. 

"I deliberation determination are capable spaces for home students," said Craig. "I haven't seen immoderate information that suggests that planetary students person taken those spaces." 

While planetary applications whitethorn beryllium down, the fig of applications for London assemblage spaces from Ontario precocious schoolhouse students is increasing: 

• Western University: up 10.6 per cent
• Huron University: up 23.3 per cent
• King's University College: up 10.7 per cent

One origin driving the emergence of in-province applications is cost. CBC News spoke to a radical of high-school students Wednesday, each but 1 said they program to survey successful Ontario successful portion to support costs down. 

"It's truly costly to spell retired of state now," said Maggie Anderson, a Grade 12 pupil astatine Catholic Central successful London. "There's truly bully schools successful Ontario. Western, McMaster and U of T,  they're each truly good ranked and recognized."

Molly Anderson, besides successful Grade 12, said she doesn't privation her acquisition costs to adhd to her family's fiscal burden. 

"My Mom went backmost to schoolhouse a 2nd clip and she's inactive paying disconnected pupil loans now, truthful we are precise disquieted astir that," she said.

Claire Gower is successful Grade 11 and said controlling costs is simply a large crushed she's readying to survey nursing astatine Western.

"Honestly It's conscionable not successful my fund [to be a distant school]," she said. "I worth household a lot, truthful I privation to beryllium adjacent to my family."