International student applications down at Western, Huron, King's universities

Two trends are shaping application numbers at London, Ont., universities this year: More international students choosing to study elsewhere, as in-province applicants increase.

Data released this month by the Ontario University Application Centre (OUAC) shows that year-over-year, the number of applications from high-school students outside the province is down. While this number includes applications from other provinces, it's driven largely by international student applications.

Last year, the federal government took steps to reduce the number of international student visa permits issued, a change that is leading to a significant dip between spring applications for 2025 compared to last year.

London-area universities all saw a dip in international student applications:

• Western University: down 5.4 per cent
• Huron University: down 12.6 per cent
• King's University College: down 18.9 per cent

"The big drop has been the number of applications from international students," said Barry Craig, president and vice-chancellor of Huron University, an affiliate of Western University.

Craig said the drop in international applications was expected after permits were capped.

"We knew that we were going to take a hit, and sure enough we have," he said.

Any dip in international students creates a budget problem because foreign students pay higher tuition, Craig said. Limiting that revenue with no increase in support from the province puts Huron and all Canadian universities in a budget crunch he said isn't sustainable over time.

"We're all in the same boat, we're all facing increased costs," he said. "We're looking OK right now but down the road, it's not a pretty picture for any university in the province unless we see some changes. Tuition has been frozen for a decade and so have the government grants."

Tuition has been frozen for a decade and so have the government grants.- Barry Craig, president of Huron University College

So if international student applications and enrolment drop, will that open up more spaces for domestic students? Craig said most students who attended an Ontario high school are able to find a space now.

"I think there are sufficient spaces for domestic students," said Craig. "I haven't seen any data that suggests that international students have taken those spaces."

While international applications may be down, the number of applications for London university spaces from Ontario high school students is increasing:

• Western University: up 10.6 per cent
• Huron University: up 23.3 per cent
• King's University College: up 10.7 per cent

One factor driving the rise of in-province applications is cost. CBC News spoke to a group of high-school students Wednesday, all but one said they plan to study in Ontario in part to keep costs down.

"It's really expensive to go out of province now," said Maggie Anderson, a Grade 12 student at Catholic Central in London. "There's really good schools in Ontario. Western, McMaster and U of T, they're all really well ranked and recognized."

Molly Anderson, also in Grade 12, said she doesn't want her education costs to add to her family's financial burden.

"My Mom went back to school a second time and she's still paying off student loans now, so we are very worried about that," she said.

Claire Gower is in Grade 11 and said controlling costs is a big reason she's planning to study nursing at Western.

"Honestly It's just not in my budget [to attend a distant school]," she said. "I value family a lot, so I want to be close to my family."