Strengthening Education Standards and Protections for International Students in B.C.

The Province of British Columbia is enhancing its support and protection for international post-secondary students to ensure they receive the highest quality education.

Welcoming International Students

“We welcome international students to B.C. and aim to provide them with a great experience anchored by quality education and relevant supports,” said Lisa Beare, Minister of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills. “We are building on January’s enhancements to ensure international students coming to B.C. are successful, supported, and protected.”

New Protections and Higher Standards

To better protect international students, the Province is implementing higher standards and more rigorous requirements for institutions enrolling these students. This includes a new Education Quality Assurance (EQA) code of practice, which mandates institutions to meet elevated standards for student support and protection.

Strengthened Standards Include:

• Clear and accurate marketing and promotional information.
• Accountability for education agents.
• Tuition transparency.
• Improved information about student supports, including academic and housing support, well-being, and health.

“Our commitment is clear: we’re dedicated to upholding the integrity of B.C.’s education sector and protecting international students,” said Ravi Parmar, Parliamentary Secretary for International Credentials. “We’ve got their back.”

Public and Private Institution Guidelines

Public institutions will face guidelines such as:

• Limiting international enrolment to 30% of total enrolment.
• Providing tuition-fee transparency to prevent unexpected fee increases.
• Developing new international education strategic plans and improving student services and housing supports to ensure Indigenous and domestic students are not displaced.

The EQA designation, required for all public and private institutions enrolling international students, certifies that institutions meet or exceed the quality assurance standards set by the Province.

Voices from the Student Community

Prince Solanki, an international student from Camosun College, stated, “Ensuring students have access to a range of services and supports along the way is critical to their success. The strengthened standards introduced by the B.C. government are a welcome addition to protect international students like me.”

Continued Efforts and Additional Measures

The second phase of the International Education Framework, building on measures introduced in January 2024, includes pausing the growth of institutions offering international education and strengthening oversight of private training institutions. This includes increasing inspections, publishing compliance and enforcement actions, and setting higher standards for distance delivery.

B.C. has approximately 553,000 post-secondary students, including domestic and international students. Over 217,600 are international post-secondary students from more than 150 countries. Approximately 111,900 international students are at public post-secondary institutions, and 105,700 are at private post-secondary institutions.

Addressing Exploitive Practices

To eliminate exploitive practices, the Province introduced stringent requirements and safeguards. “International students come here for a good education, but too many are being exploited,” said Selina Robinson, Minister of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills. “These measures will provide a better path to success for international students and ensure B.C. continues to attract talented students to fill significant gaps in the labor market.”

New Measures Include:

• Pausing growth of institutions offering international education until February 2026.
• Enhanced compliance and enforcement through more frequent inspections.
• Higher standards for private degree programs to ensure quality education.
• New language requirements for private institutions to prepare international students better.
• Tuition transparency to inform students of the total costs of their education upfront.

Arjun Taneja, an international student at Kwantlen Polytechnic University, highlighted, “Some of my friends at private schools have had negative experiences. I’m happy that there will be strengthened standards to ensure international students get the education they came for.”

Provincial Attestation Letters

As of March 4, 2024, the Province started to issue attestation letters required for new study permit applications. These letters confirm that international students are accounted for within the federal government’s maximum allocation.

Future Actions

The Province will continue working with students, institutions, and newcomer services to eliminate exploitive practices and ensure high-quality education. Further improvements are expected to better align programs with B.C.’s labor-market needs and strengthen student protections.

With these comprehensive measures, British Columbia is reinforcing its commitment to providing international students with a quality education and a supportive environment, ensuring their success and well-being during their stay.