The newest admissions requirement for foreign students looking to get into a Canadian university has nothing to do with grades or extracurriculars.
What happened: International students planning to study in Canada next year need to prove they have at least $20,635 in their bank account—up from the current requirement of $10,000.
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The requirement has been $10,000 since the early 2000s despite inflation being a thing. It will now be recalculated yearly, tied to the national low-income threshold.
Big picture: Immigration Minister Marc Miller also said the government could move to cap study visas if provinces and schools fail to provide housing or housing support for foreign students. Previously, Miller rejected the idea of any sort of student cap.
- Miller also mentioned that the feds are looking at ways to help students find adequate housing.
Why it matters: The new requirement will almost certainly cut the number of international students in Canada, which could alleviate some pressures on the rental housing market.
- Hopefully, it also ensures students have enough dough to survive in our beautiful, but pricy, country.
Yes, but: Migrant Students United claims the requirement will crush the dreams of working-class students who want to study in Canada. Critics also argue that students are being used as scapegoats and the feds should focus on other aspects that are driving the housing crisis.—QH