International enrolment falls by more than 60 per cent at Conestoga College

CTV’s Alexandra Holyk explains how a major drop in international student enrolment will impact Conestoga College.

New numbers from Conestoga College reveal just how hard the federal cap on student visas is hitting.

In a report sent to students and staff Monday, the college said it had 8,584 international students for the 2025 spring semester – a 62 per cent drop from 22,633 students at the same time last year.

The semester is currently underway, wrapping up in August. Those who work on campus said they’ve seen a change.

“We can see the difference in the number of students that we’re seeing on site, so I’m not surprised,” said Vikki Poirier.

Poirier is the president of Local 238 – the union representing full-time and part-time support staff at the college. Earlier this year, membership was slashed by around 180 jobs.

“Some of that work isn’t gone,” Poirier noted. “It’s there now, and it’s unfortunately being absorbed by our members.”

Poirier said the college is moving backwards by cutting back in areas that need the most support, especially student services.

She also said she’s not sure whether the cuts are warranted because of a lack of financial transparency from the college.

“We don’t know where things are at right now,” Poirier said. “We can’t even say that the cuts that were made to our job force were supported.”

As international enrolment fell, the number of domestic students rose in the spring – up 28 per cent to 3,498 this year compared to spring 2024.

In its release, the college credited programs that started in the spring and summer for the boost in local numbers.

In a statement to CTV News, Conestoga College President John Tibbits acknowledged international enrolment “has significantly declined.”

“Fall confirmations are up by almost 15 per cent,” Tibbits said, in part. “We will continue adjusting operations to enrolment and remain optimistic for the future.”

However, Poirier said the future looks bleak.

“It’ll be interesting to see how the areas and the campuses look in September,” Poirier said. “I don’t think our students are going to get the services or the quality and the quantity of services that were available before July.”

Bianca Giacoboni, press secretary for the Ministry of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security, said in an email to CTV News the province has provided “record-setting amounts” of new funding to post-secondary institutions.

“Our government will continue to support our publicly-assisted college system, including Conestoga College, and look forward to working with them this summer on our funding model review to ensure their long-term success and sustainability,” Giacoboni said.

Conestoga College is expected to release its annual report and finances by Thursday, which will reveal whether the college is sitting on a surplus and whether the cuts were necessary.

In 2024, Conestoga College faced criticism after it reported a surplus of $251,646,838 – more than double the 2023 surplus of $106,220,863.

With files from CTV’s Ashley Bacon