The allocation represents a reduction of 95 students compared to the 2023/24 academic year.
In January, the federal government announced its nationwide intake cap on international study permits for two years, to relieve pressures on housing, healthcare, and other services resulting from an increase in international student numbers by reducing study permits by 35 percent.
A media release from Selkirk College stated that since the announcement in January, the province’s Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills has been working to develop a system that fairly distributes the province’s allocated attestation letters across public and private universities and colleges.
The attestation letter acts as proof that an international applicant has been accounted for within the cap set by the federal government.
The province will send the letters to institutions after receiving a student application. Once received, the institution sends it along to the international applicant, who submits it when applying for an international study permit.
Selkirk College said that it has been given a total of 857 attestation letters to issue for a one-year period ending January 21, 2025. The intention is to help the institution manage the number of prospective incoming students.
“International learners are an integral part of our college community, and this clarity in the process allows us to move forward in making sure it stays that way,” says Taya Whitehead, the college’s Vice President of Education and Students.
“We understand there’s been uncertainty for both current and prospective international students. Now that we know our allocation, we can continue international planning and recruitment that serves our students and communities so well.”
The institution stated that with the fixed number of attestation letters, the college will need to ensure that it offers acceptance to students with a high likelihood of accepting them.
“We expect some impact on our overall international numbers due to this attestation letter process. But the Selkirk International team will continue to work with prospective students who want to experience both the beauty of rural British Columbia and the educational opportunities that serve them so well.”
In 2023, Selkirk had 762 international students enrolled in programs ranging from one to four years.