UPEI sees 20% drop in international student enrolment from last year

Source: Prince Edward Island - Regional News
Date: 2026-10-20 23:48:48.0
Tags: [National, Prince Edward Island, Education, Immigration]

International student enrolment at the University of Prince Edward Island has dropped by approximately 20 per cent compared to the previous year, with total international student numbers falling to roughly 1,300 from about 2,000 prior to federal policy changes. According to the Association of Atlantic Universities, the Atlantic region has experienced a 48 per cent overall decrease in international enrolments since Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada introduced study permit caps in 2024, surpassing the federal target of a 35 per cent reduction. Concurrently, regional universities recorded a 3.4 per cent increase in first-year enrolments as of October 2026, driven primarily by domestic students from Atlantic Canada and the rest of Canada.