As housing crises and immigration changes reshape the international education landscape, students are rethinking Canada as a study destination.
When expectations meet reality
When Nigerian-born Wilson Emmanuel arrived in Canada last November, he carried with him high hopes and a student visa. Enrolled in Information Systems Management at International Business University, he dreamed of academic excellence, career prospects, and a safe new home. What he found, however, was a harsh reality: unaffordable housing, repeated job rejections and a cost of living that stretched his budget to the limit.
“For the next few years, this is what I’ll call home,” says Emmanuel, referring to the cramped studio apartment he shares with his wife. With no Canadian credit history or job, landlords demanded six months’ rent upfront. “Everything is so expensive — rent, groceries, even a bus pass. I wonder if I made the right choice,” he reflects.
Like many international students, Emmanuel struggled to find part-time work. “My idea about jobs here was different,” he says. Eventually, by tapping into community networks and cultural associations, he landed a cashier job at Home Depot in Markham, Ontario.
Housing woes and mental health toll
Indian-born Arathi Suresh Kumar, a Cybersecurity Management student at Sault College, knows the struggle too well. Despite attending college in Toronto, she lives in a two-bedroom Scarborough basement with six others. “With my job at Tim Hortons, I just can’t afford a place near campus,” she says. The shared space has taken a toll on her well-being. “There’s no privacy. I’ve had a urinary infection due to poor living conditions, and the stress is causing mood swings.”
A recent Desjardins report confirms that Kumar’s experience is far from isolated. According to Kari Norman, Senior Director of Canadian Economics at Desjardins Financial Group, the housing shortage is fueling widespread stress among international students. With limited campus housing and near-zero vacancy rates, many students are crammed into overcrowded apartments or forced to live far from school.
Food insecurity is another growing issue. “Some students come to class hungry after covering rent and tuition,” the report says. These financial strains start early and affect both mental and physical health.
Tuition hikes, policy shifts and a shrinking safety net
International students in Canada pay a steep price for their education — often $30,000 to $40,000 a year, compared to $7,000 to $11,000 for domestic students. Yet they’re ineligible for government financial aid like the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP), making them vulnerable to rising costs.
As of January 2024, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) doubled the financial requirement for new study permit applicants from $10,000 to $20,635, limiting access for students from low- and middle-income families. At the same time, new Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) rules exclude many programs, particularly those from private colleges and diploma-level studies, raising concerns about wasted tuition and missed immigration pathways.
“The new PGWP restrictions and financial hurdles are making students question whether Canada is still the right choice,” says Aksnoor Singh Kamboj, special advisor on international student issues at the College Student Alliance. “These aren’t minor roadblocks; they’re barriers.”
Why students still choose Canada — for now
Despite the cracks, Canada remains a top choice for international education. In 2023, the country hosted over one million international students. Compared to Australia and the UK, Canada offers more affordable tuition, a multicultural society, work opportunities during study, and more accessible permanent residency pathways.
Still, experts say the country’s reputation is at risk. “Post-secondary education in Ontario is underfunded, and international students are covering the shortfall,” says Kamboj. The number of study permits dropped to around 516,765 in 2024, down from 681,215 the year before.
York University spokesperson Yanni Dagonas says schools are aware of these pressures. “Many students are far from family, navigating unfamiliar systems. Now they face even more uncertainty due to immigration caps and sudden policy shifts.”
