Impact of recent Canadian immigration policy changes on the educational and professional opportunities of international postsecondary students

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.32674/kndqga94

Keywords:

International students, Canadian immigration policy, neoliberalism in higher education, capability approach, educational equity

Abstract

This article analyzes the impacts of recent Canadian immigration policy changes on the educational and professional opportunities of international postsecondary students, with particular emphasis on vulnerable groups, including mature students, students with disabilities, and students with family responsibilities. Using a qualitative, multimethod policy analysis, this study draws on a systematic examination of federal and provincial immigration policy documents, institutional communications, and reflexive practitioner insight derived from the authors’ experience in advising international students in the Canadian college sector. Guided by the theoretical lenses of neoliberalism in higher education and the capability approach, the analysis demonstrates how recent policy shifts—including study-permit caps, restrictions on postgraduation work eligibility, limits on spousal work authorization, and constraints on student mobility—have intensified precarity and constrained students’ capabilities. The findings also highlight disproportionate impacts on students from the Global South and those facing intersecting social and economic vulnerabilities and conclude with evidence-based policy considerations.

Author Biographies

  • Oleg Legusov, Seneca Polytechnic, Canada

    OLEG LEGUSOV, PhD, is an International Student Advisor at Seneca Polytechnic, Canada. His research explores the international student journey, from the decision to study abroad to achieve educational, career, and immigration goals, with a particular focus on mental health, resilience, and well-being.

    Email: oleg.legusov@senecapolytechnic.ca

  • Melinda Meng, Seneca Polytechnic, Canada

    MELINDA MENG, M.Ed., is a student recruitment officer at Seneca Polytechnic, Canada, with over eight years of experience in immigration advising, student services, and recruitment. Her professional and academic research focuses on international education and immigration, particularly how immigration and education policies shape international student experiences and inform the practice of those who support them, with an emphasis on student integration, employment, and success in Canadian postsecondary education.

  • Shiyue Zhang, Humber Polytechnic, Canada

    SHI YUE ZHANG, M.Ed., is an international student advisor and immigration specialist at Humber Polytechnic, Canada, and a licensed RCIC. With over seven years of experience in immigration law, her research examines immigration policy and regulatory changes, with particular attention given to their impacts on international student experiences, outcomes, and institutional practices in Canadian higher education. 

  • Hayfa Jafar, American University of Iraq, Baghdad

    HAYFA JAFAR, PhD, is an accomplished expert in Institutional Effectiveness and Institutional Research, with extensive experience advancing quality assurance and evidence-based decision-making in higher education. She specializes in comparative research methodologies, and her research interests include international student mobility, the labor market outcomes of internationally educated graduates, and the social impact of universities within their local and global contexts

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Published

2026-03-07

Issue

Vol. 16 No. 6 (2026): Journal of International Students

Section

Immigration Policies, Student Security, and Emerging Issues

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How to Cite

Legusov, O., Meng, M., Zhang, S., & Jafar, H. (2026). Impact of recent Canadian immigration policy changes on the educational and professional opportunities of international postsecondary students. Journal of International Students, 16(6), 17-36. https://doi.org/10.32674/kndqga94