Housing and employment barriers push international students away from rural Canada
Canada’s international student population more than doubled between 2013 and 2023, surpassing one million annually, with rising costs in cities pushing more students into rural regions. In 2024, the federal government capped international student numbers to address housing shortages and protect students from “bad actors,” contributing to a nationwide decline that also affected rural areas needing skilled workers.
New research by Donna Kotsopoulos, Ellyn Lyle and Brandon Dickson in Atlantic Canada found housing insecurity to be a key factor in whether students stay. The authors noted that one student was forced to move three times in a few months and another nearly cancelled their studies before signing a lease hours before departure.
Employment barriers also played a major role, especially in tight-knit rural communities where, as one participant said, “When locals meet each other, they’ll go, oh, who’s your father?”
Support programs exist but are underused. The authors conclude that co-ordinated efforts to improve housing, employment access and policy alignment are essential to retaining international students in rural Canada.
