BU sees 20.3% drop in international student enrolment

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Brandon University (BU) has seen a 20.3 per cent decrease in international student enrolment in September 2024, its president David Docherty reported Saturday to the board of governors.

The report also showed that credit hours registered by international students are down 21.7 per cent compared to last year.

In contrast, the number of Indigenous students increased by 7.9 per cent, with credit hours up by 10.3 per cent. There is also a small increase in domestic, non-Indigenous students, up 0.9 per cent in headcount and 2.1 per cent in credit hours.

First-time student credit hours were also down by 12.8 per cent compared to last year. While credit hours for domestic non-Indigenous students had seen a slight decline of 1.5 per cent, they had risen significantly by 21.9 per cent for Indigenous students.

In contrast, international student credit hours had decreased sharply by 74.1 per cent.

Docherty explained that the decline is mainly due to the implementation of a mandatory deposit for international students and significant changes to study permit requirements by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

“These changes have impacted institutions nationwide, not just Brandon University,” Docherty said. “Many international students come from Nigeria and Ghana, and while those numbers are still significant, we’re seeing fewer new students coming in due to these new barriers.”

Chancellor Mary McCallum raised concerns about the well-being of international students, pointing to issues such as housing, food insecurity and job availability in Brandon.

“What can we do to adequately address the needs of International students, so it does not look like we are not using these students for their tuition fees,” she asked Docherty.

Responding to McCallum’s concerns, the president highlighted efforts to support students facing food insecurity, including a partnership with Sobeys West to provide discounted food coupons.

“At the end of every month, we will get a number of $20 gift cards, and food cards from Sobeys West that we will distribute either through Brandon University Student Union (BUSU) or the Dean of Students, to make sure students in need have access,” he said.

“We also have an emergency student fund … It’s a bursary that was used quite a bit during COVID, the first six months of COVID, and we did an emergency drive. The public and the community responded very, very strongly for the student emergency bursary, but we still have that available for students as well.”

He added that the higher tuition fees for international students are a standard practice across Canadian universities, rationalized by the fact that domestic students’ families have contributed to the tax system over the years.

“Brandon University’s international fees remain among the lowest in the country,” he added.

Vice-president (Academic) Kofi Campbell said the university is developing a plan to better integrate international students into the community.

“We’re working on a mentorship program to pair new international students with those who have successfully navigated the transition,” Campbell said. “This should help them with practical challenges, such as understanding rental agreements and other daily living issues.”

BUSU president Charles Adamu shared concerns about the federal government’s new 24-hour weekly work cap for international students, which he said is affecting their employability and financial stability.

According to him, there is a growing demand for on-campus jobs, as they provide more flexibility for students.

Docherty acknowledged the challenge and explained students who had their visas before the changes were exempt from the work cap.

He reiterated the university’s commitment to working with students to address these issues and mentioned ongoing discussions with provincial and federal authorities to advocate for better support for international students.

New board member Sunday Frangi echoed Adamu’s concerns, emphasizing the inadequacy of the 24-hour work limit to the high cost of tuition and living expenses.

Docherty responded by stating that while the university is doing what it can, broader changes require government intervention, particularly in providing health coverage and other support for international students.

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