Canadian universities are attracting students from the United States. This comes after a series of changes by Donald Trump’s administration, including cancelling visas for foreign students and slashing university funding.
As a result, Canadian universities like the University of British Columbia (UBC), University of Toronto, and University of Waterloo are experiencing an increase in applications and interest from American students.
According to The Guardian, UBC’s Vancouver campus saw a 27% boost in graduate applications from US citizens by March 1 compared to the whole 2024 cycle. The institution even reopened admissions for a short time this week for some programs, so more US applicants could join by September 2025.
The University of Toronto, which some students consider the second-best option to elite US universities, also saw a higher number of US applications than normal. At the University of Waterloo, US web traffic has increased 15% since September 2024, and more American students tour the campus in person, reports claim.
WHY CANADA SEEMS MORE APPEALING
Officials believe that this is related to the Trump administration’s abrupt cancellations of visas, monitoring of social media activity of foreign students, and reduction of federal funding to colleges. All these developments have created panic amongst many students and families about their future.
While the US is experiencing protests and lawsuits over student visas and university funding, Canada is perceived as a more stable and friendly destination for education. But it’s not without boundaries.
The Canadian government has put a limit on the number of international students that can enter the country, including those from the US. That means universities can only take in as many students as they can accommodate with housing and other resources.
Even with the cap, higher Canadian universities are seeing greater interest from the US than ever. At UBC, although US undergraduate applications have risen by only 2%, American-directed campus tours have increased by 20%. It indicates that interest is increasing, and more students are seeing Canadian universities as an actual possibility.
UBC’s annual report states that the US is already amongst the top three nations sending international students to its campuses. Approximately 1,500 US students are already studying at UBC in both graduate and undergraduate programs.
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