RRC Polytech cuts programs amid international student enrolment decline

Red River College Polytech's Exchange District campus on Dec. 2, 2024. (Jeff Keele/CTV News Winnipeg)

A Winnipeg post-secondary institution is eliminating several programs and reducing spots in multiple others due to a drop in enrolment from international students.

Red River College Polytech (RRC) announced Thursday that it is permanently ending seven certificate and diploma programs, as well as temporarily ending four programs and reducing capacity for three programs.

In its news release, RRC Polytech said the federal government’s changes on international student intake has impacted multiple schools across Canada.

“These changes, along with shifting domestic enrolment trends in some programs and increased program delivery costs, have had direct impacts on operations and financial stability at RRC Polytech,” the school wrote in a statement. “These impacts have both immediate and long-term financial implications that we must responsibly address.”

Programs ending permanently include the hospitality business management and the CNC machining and advanced technology diplomas, as well as certificates for professional photography, applied accounting and professional sales/strategic marketing. The school is also eliminating certificates and diplomas for full stack web development.

Programs temporarily ending include the pharmaceutical and food manufacturing certificate and applied commerce education (integrated, after-degree and diploma programs).

Creative communications, application development and delivery, and English for academic and professional purposes will see reduced seat capacity.

RRC Polytech said all students currently enrolled in the programs will be supported in their completion, and there will be no impact to their studies.

A federal cap on international students has impacted multiple Manitoba schools, such as RRC Polytech, the University of Winnipeg, Brandon University and the University of Manitoba, which are all experiencing enrolment declines, leading to financial concerns and the end of programs.

The University of Manitoba said it would increase its tuition by four per cent next year to deal with revenue shortfalls.

The Manitoba Institute of Trades and Technology was recently forced to close, with RRC Polytech absorbing many of its programs.

Renée Cable, Manitoba’s minister of advanced education and training, acknowledges the financial pressures post-secondary institutions are seeing and said that the government is offering assistance.

“Programs that Manitoba needs and that students are enrolling in will continue,” Cable said in a statement. “We will continue to work with our post-secondary partners to help navigate these challenges while advocating for a federal approach that supports students and workers.”

Manitoba’s 2026 budget includes $882.6 million in operating funding for post-secondary institutions in Manitoba.

With files from CTV’s Jeff Keele