Recently, Ontario announced its study permit distribution plan for 2024, allocating 96% of study permits to public universities and colleges within the province. The remaining permits will be distributed among private universities, language schools, and other educational institutions.
This plan reflects Ontario’s commitment to supporting its public post-secondary education sector while also recognizing the contributions of private institutions and language schools in the province.
Here are the key details of Ontario’s study permit distribution plan for 2024:
- 96% of study permits will be allocated to public universities and colleges.
- The remaining 4% will be divided among private universities, language schools, and other institutions.
- This distribution aims to ensure equitable access to study opportunities across Ontario’s diverse educational landscape.
- The plan underscores Ontario’s commitment to maintaining high-quality education standards and fostering a welcoming environment for international students.
Ontario Unveiled its Study Permits Distribution Plan for 2024
In a recent announcement, the government of Ontario unveiled its study permit distribution plan for 2024. The government stated that the international study permit allocations would prioritize postsecondary educational programs at public institutions. This will help international graduates educate and prepare for in-demand jobs that can help satisfy Ontario’s labor market needs.
As per this allocation, career colleges will not get any study permit applications from international students. Generally, career colleges are private institutions.Â
Per the announcement, Ontario has decided to distribute study permits for international students based on programs in various high-demand fields. These include:Â
- Skilled trades
- Hospitality
- Childcare
- Health human resources
- Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM)
Ontario has also stated that it will focus on students’ registration skilled in French-language. This is significant because employers compete for workers skilled in French-speaking abilities.Â
Besides this, the announcement also revealed the following details concerning Ontario’s study permit distribution in 2024.
The allotments of study permits for an individual institution cannot exceed the total number of study permits issued in 2023. Also, the international study permit ratio cannot exceed 55% of the institution’s first-year domestic admissions for 2023. This excludes the high-demand fields.Â
Moreover, all public universities in Ontario will maintain the application levels of 2023 except for Algoma University in Sault Ste. Marie. This university will witness a drop in admissions from last year.
Furthermore, of Ontario’s 24 public colleges, 11 will also keep the 2023 application levels.Â
Notably, the colleges with public-private partnerships will notice the largest fall in the total number of applications, specifically Conestoga College.
Why Ontario has established a Study Permit Distribution Plan?
Ontario has unveiled its study permit distribution plan for 2024 following IRCC’s decision concerning the study permit cap for 2024 and 2025.Â
IRCC’s measure primarily focuses on international students at the undergraduate level. In particular, the study permit cap is not applicable to international students at the primary and secondary school level and students enrolled in master’s and doctoral degrees.
How do Ontario’s study permit allocations differ from other provinces?
Compared to other provinces, Ontario’s study permit distribution is more geared toward public institutions.Â
For instance, British Columbia has divided its study permit allocations roughly evenly between its public post-secondary and private institutions.Â
BC’s public post-secondary institutions receive 53% of allocations, while private institutions receive 47%.Â
Notably, British Columbia has the second most Designated Learning Institutions (DLIs) after Ontario.Â
The Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills of BC announced that the province will receive 83,000 undergraduate study permit applications for 2024.
The government of Ontario has not published the overall number of study permit applications the federal government has allocated for this year. Â
According to IRCC’s guidelines, based on its population size, Ontario will have the largest percentage of study permits than any Canadian province or territory.Â
How to get a Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) in Ontario
The province of Ontario has not announced the implementation of the Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) system. However, the province is likely to do so in the following days.
As per the federal government, all provinces and territories have a deadline of March 31 to implement a system for issuing PALs to students.
Currently, the provincial government has recommended international students planning to study in Ontario contact their preferred school for more details concerning the process.Â
As per the Ontario College Application Service (OCAS), it will not be necessary for students to apply for PALs directly. Instead, the preferred DLI will submit an application on their behalf to the Ontario Ministry of Colleges and Universities. OCAS is a centralized application service for colleges in Ontario.Â
After the approval of the application, once the PAL is ready, the students will get a copy of their PAL from their DLI.Â
