The Government of Canada recently announced changes to the temporary residence programs, which includes study and work permits. We recognize that these changes, such as requiring international master’s and doctoral degree students to submit a Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) when applying for a study permit and further reducing the number of international students coming to Canada, may have raised concerns for prospective and current students. We are committed to supporting our students during this time.
As a global research powerhouse, UBC is international by nature. We attract researchers, learners, and professionals from around the world to our community of scholars and we have deep research connections and ties worldwide. Indeed, a large proportion of the total UBC student body is comprised of international students. In 2023/24, 30% of UBC Vancouver’s degree-seeking students were international students, including 39% of all graduate degree students.
At the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, we greatly appreciate international students and recognize how integral they are to our campus – through their research, diversity, and unique perspectives, these students enhance the overall campus environment and are valued members of the UBC community. Collaborating with students, faculty, and staff from across Canada, our international students and colleagues have significantly enhanced UBC’s reputation in research, teaching, and learning. UBC is consistently ranked among the top universities globally due in part to its international community, and we take great pride in this legacy.
As we continue to advocate for all graduate students at UBC, we are a voice at the table in many meetings with senior leaders and government officials to ensure that international graduate student concerns are heard and addressed. While we are disappointed to see these new measures take effect, we are doing our best to ensure that the impacts of the changes will be clear for students to navigate.
It is important to note that during the first year since the introduction of the PAL requirement, UBC was able to allocate a PAL to all admitted international students who accepted UBC’s admission offer. The university is in ongoing conversations with both federal and provincial governments regarding the number of PALs available and remains confident that UBC will continue to be able to issue PALs to all newly admitted international students. While the process of applying for a study permit will slightly change, UBC will continue to welcome international students to its campuses and embrace the many contributions they make to our community.
I encourage all prospective international students and current members of the UBC graduate community to bookmark our Study and Work Permit Updates page for more information.
Michael Hunt
Dean pro tem