Canada’s tough new restrictions on international student visas have forced the closure of its first public college, highlighting the unintended fallout of immigration policy reforms that have drastically reduced foreign student numbers and strained post-secondary institutions nationwide.
The Manitoba Institute of Trades and Technology (MITT) has shut down operations after more than a 55 percent drop in international enrolment rendered its financial model unsustainable, according to President and CEO Neil Cooke.
MITT, one of Canada’s well-established public colleges offering programs ranging from welding and carpentry to cybersecurity and early childhood education, saw revenue from international students crash by nearly 60 percent, from CA$23.2 million (US$16.9 million) in 2024–25 to CA$9.5 million this year.
“The federal policy changes have created uncertainty for students and post-secondary institutions across Canada and sent a message abroad that international students aren’t valued here,” MITT said in a statement.
Policy Tightening Hits International Enrolment
The closure is the most dramatic example yet of how Canada’s stricter visa controls introduced to curb fraud at private colleges and ease pressures on housing and public services are reshaping the higher education landscape.
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Since 2024, Ottawa has capped study permits, tightened eligibility requirements, and boosted financial thresholds for applicants.
These measures have contributed to a significant decline in international student numbers. Figures shared by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada show the number of study permits issued in 2025 dropped to 383,905 from 514,915 in 2024, as the government aims to set a cap of 408,000 permits for 2026 further tightening access.
International students once numbered more than one million but had shrunk to around 725,000 by late 2025, a decline of roughly 27 percent since the caps were introduced.
Students and Institutions in Limbo
MITT enrolled 4,663 students in its most recent academic year, with nearly 2,000 international learners — many of whom now face uncertainty about completing courses or transferring credits.
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Trixie Ho, a Vietnamese graduate who studied hairstyling at MITT, said friends back home who had hoped to attend now “have no chance,” reflecting concerns shared by many prospective students.
While MITT plans to wind down operations over the next year and some programs will transition to Red River College Polytechnic, thousands of students remain in limbo, with details on transfers and support unclear.
Higher education consultant Ken Steele warned that MITT is likely just the first of many public institutions to feel the effects of Ottawa’s visa overhaul, which has already cost the sector billions in revenue and led to thousands of job losses.
