Canada turns focus to master’s, PhD students as their share of new permits jumps to 21%

Canada is shifting its international student policy towards higher education and graduate-level talent, with master’s and doctoral students accounting for 21% of new study permits issued between January and June 2026, up from 12% last year.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) said the increase comes as Canada works to refocus its International Student Program on quality and sustainability. The government has introduced measures to attract more students at the master’s and doctoral levels, including faster processing for new doctoral students and simpler study permit requirements.

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New doctoral students are eligible for two-week processing of their study permit applications. Canada has also exempted master’s and doctoral students from the requirement to provide a provincial or territorial attestation letter, or PAL/TAL, simplifying the application process for eligible students.

The shift is taking place even as Canada reduces the overall number of international students entering the country. IRCC said the international student population has declined by one-third since 2024, while the number of new international student arrivals between January and June 2026 fell 82% compared with the same period in 2024.

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At the same time, the composition of international students is changing. The share of new study permit holders arriving in Canada to study at universities rose from 30% in 2024 to 40% in 2025.

IRCC expects the proportion of university and graduate students to continue rising as Canada introduces measures focused on master’s and doctoral students and maintains its efforts to attract skilled talent.

For Indian students, the change puts greater focus on Canada’s master’s and doctoral programmes at a time when the country is tightening its overall international student intake. The faster processing and exemption from the PAL/TAL requirement could also make the application process simpler for eligible graduate students.

Canada’s policy is increasingly focused not just on reducing student numbers, but on changing the mix of international students it attracts. The government says it wants to align arrivals with the capacity of communities while continuing to attract talent that can contribute to the economy and public services.

IRCC added that the path forward is clear: Canada will continue to attract talented international students to its world-class educational institutions, while creating targeted opportunities to retain skilled graduates who will contribute to growing our economy and strengthening our public services.