‘It’s really caused some havoc’: B.C. schools awaiting provincial budget amid international student drop

The federal government slashed the number of international students it allows into Canada last year, and the ripple effects continue.

British Columbian post-secondary institutions are awaiting the province’s budget next month as the country’s cap on international students sets in.

BCIT president Jeff Zabudsky said on Wednesday that international students are not only important to the local economy, but also for the health of the schools.

The federal government’s change will see approximately 300,000 fewer international student permits over the next three years, leaving a significant gap for many post-secondary institutions that have become accustomed to large numbers of foreign students.

“It was implemented so quickly and bluntly that it’s really caused some havoc in a lot of institutions,” said Zabudsky.

“We’re seeing that here in B.C., a number of institutions are having to look very carefully at their operations, what services they can no longer offer, because that source of revenue is no longer there.”

Early next month, the province is scheduled to release its operating budget for 2026, and in order to fill the gap left behind by a reduction in international students, schools will be watching closely to see if additional money will be allotted to help ease the pain.

B.C. Minister of Post-Secondary Education Anne Kang said on Wednesday that her office is working closely with public post-secondary institutions to minimize the impact of these budgetary decisions on students, faculty and staff.

The emailed message said: “Every year, the province provides public post-secondary institutions with operating grants to support their educational programs.”

Kang explained that grants have increased by more than $1 billion between 2017 and 2025, and the provincial government will continue to consider how investments can best support post-secondary institutions and their students.

The reduction in students means less money being collected in student fees each year.

At UBC, every full-time student is required to pay nearly $250 for athletics and recreation.

The school’s managing director for athletics and recreation, Kavie Toor, says the student fees amount to $13 million and the university invests around $5 million directly.

As uncertainty looms with student levels in flux, Toor says the Thunderbirds are ramping up other ways of generating revenue.

“We just have to work harder to fundraise,” said Toor.

“This is where we have alumni and donors that support our program. UBC is really lucky. We have generated over $5 million from alumni donors on the fundraising side of it.”

Toor went on to say the health of the program is strong, but he worries budget cuts across the country could put some university athletics in jeopardy.