Updates for international students regarding enrolment and study permits
This page was created following an announcement by the Canadian government on Jan. 22, 2024 regarding a cap on international student study permits. This is where Georgian will continue to update our current and future international students.
A message from Kevin Weaver, Georgian College President and CEO
We’ve been eagerly anticipating this announcement about how many international study permits will be allocated to Georgian College. Since late January, we’ve been planning for several scenarios and now that we have our allocation, as well as the direction to prioritize sectors such as engineering and technology, hospitality, child care, health human resources, and construction/skilled trades, we will quickly assess and refine our plan. At initial review, we’re encouraged by our allocation as it speaks to the importance of Georgian programming to the local labour market and the Ontario economy.
Our first focus will be students who’ve applied to study with us in the fall semester. We know this has been a very challenging and uncertain time for them as they try to plan their future studies and we want to give them clarity as soon as we can.
I’ll repeat what I said in January: International students are valued contributors to our classrooms, communities and economy and we recognize our institutional responsibility in welcoming and supporting them. I will provide further updates to the Georgian community about the impact of our allocation in the coming days.
– Kevin Weaver, President and CEO
I want to provide you with an update following the federal government’s announcement on Jan. 22 regarding a temporary national cap on study permits for two years. You likely have many questions, and I want to assure you that Georgian understands your concerns and is committed to advocating on behalf of our valued international student community, as well as providing you with updates as we learn more.
You may wish to read the government’s announcement in full, but to summarize, here are the main points impacting the Georgian College student population:
- An intake cap on international study permit applications to stabilize new growth for a period of two years. For 2024, the cap is expected to result in approximately 360,000 approved study permits, a decrease of 35% from 2023 which will be distributed proportionally across the country based on population.
- Starting Sept. 1, 2024, international students who begin a study program part of a curriculum licensing arrangement will no longer be eligible for a post-graduation work permit upon graduation.
There is much we still need to learn about how this affects our college and your education. Here is what we do know so far:
- The permit application will be based on each province’s population. The Ontario government will be responsible for the distribution of the study permits in the postsecondary sector.
- Current students who are currently in Canada are not affected by the announcement. This cap only applies to new applications.
- The announcement does not affect current holders of study permits. It also does not affect study permit extensions.
We’ve started a list of frequently asked questions based on whether you are a current student, applicant or prospective student (see below). Please continue to visit this webpage as we will add more information as it becomes available.
At Georgian, we care deeply about providing all students with an unrivaled, positive experience during their studies. International students are valued contributors to our classrooms, communities and economy and we recognize our institutional responsibility in welcoming and supporting you. We’re doing everything we can to address this situation and to assist you in any way we can.
Sincerely,
Kevin
FAQs: current Georgian international students
Students who hold a valid study permit are not impacted and these measures do not affect your ability to progress and complete your program.
Current students at Georgian College campuses (Barrie, Midland, Muskoka, Orangeville, Orillia, Owen Sound and South Georgian Bay) remain eligible to apply for the Post Graduation Work Permit as per standard eligibility requirements.
Students who hold a valid study permit and have applied for a second program and plan to register in a future term, fall 2024 or winter 2025, are not impacted as you are expected to apply for a study permit extension before your current permit expires.
Resources on study permit extension can be found here: Segal International Centre
No, international students already in Canada and those applying for a study permit extension are exempt from the PAL requirement.
FAQs: international prospective students
Please contact our International Recruitment team to inquire about open programs, via our international contact form.
Georgian College is a public Ontario college. Our designated learning institution number is O19395677361
No.
FAQs: international applicants to Georgian
This answer was updated on May 15, 2024.
A provincial attestation letter (PAL) is a document issued by the province of Ontario that must be included with your study permit application to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). The PAL confirms that you have a space to study in Ontario. It will include your full name, Georgian ID, date of birth and address.
For new students applying to Georgian College
We encourage you to take the following steps to secure your seat at Georgian and apply for your study permit:
- Once accepted to Georgian, confirm your offer of admission.
- Pay your deposit by the due date on your Pre-Admission Invoice.
- Prepare all other documents required for your study permit application.
- Georgian will request a Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) for you from the Ontario government.
- Once Georgian receives your approved PAL from the Ontario government, we’ll upload it to your IAS application and notify you via email.
- Submit your study permit application and include your Letter of Acceptance (LOA), PAL and payment receipt, along with all other documents required for the application. Learn more about how to apply for a study permit.
Each student will only be given one provincial attestation letter, and once it is issued it cannot be changed or reissued. The information provided on your Letter of Acceptance (LOA) is the same information that will be included on your PAL. Please ensure you have verified your personal details on your LOA, including your full name, date of birth, address and Georgian College program and student number.
If any information on your LOA needs to be updated, please contact the International Admissions team at reginternational@georgiancollege.ca promptly to request a revised LOA before we request a PAL on your behalf.
Once you have confirmed your offer of acceptance, and Georgian College has received the minimum deposit payment, we will request a Provincial Attestation Letter from the Ontario government. Once the letter is received, the PAL will be uploaded to your IAS application, where you can retrieve it. Students will be notified their PAL is available via email within five days of receipt of the deposit payment.
If your deposit has been paid to Georgian College, and you have not received a PAL after five business days, please contact us at reginternational@georgiancollege.ca.
Graduates of Georgian College will continue to maintain eligibility for a PGWP. If you are a Georgian@ILAC student, please refer to the Georgian@ILAC website for further information.
International applicants who receive a visa refusal are eligible for refund per normal policy. The regular process and deadlines apply for requests to withdraw with refund based on study permit refusal.
If you have not received a decision about your study permit application by the start of your classes, and have paid your full tuition deposit, you may request a deferral to the next available intake using the Deferral Request option in the International Application System (IAS). The last day to submit a deferral request is day five of the term. All fees paid, including the tuition deposit, will transfer with your status if the deferral request is approved. Seat availability is subject to change; please consult your in-country representative for assistance.
While awaiting updates from the IRCC, standard refund policies are in effect.
Georgian is unable to assess the capacity of a program or campus change until the Provincial Attestation Letter process is complete.
IRCC has announced that in the weeks ahead, open work permits will only be available to spouses of international students in master’s and doctoral programs. The spouses of international students in other levels of study, including undergraduate and college programs, will no longer be eligible. Your spouse may still apply for their own, separate temporary residence visa. Learn more on the IRCC website.
Georgian College continues to work with the province to understand the implications of the government’s announcement on Jan. 26, 2024 requiring all colleges and universities to have a guarantee that housing options are available for incoming international students. We will share more information as soon as we can. Until then, we encourage all students to review the many housing supports we already offer for on and off-campus housing. Please visit our housing webpages and connect with one of our housing services outreach co-ordinators, supporting all campus locations, if you have any questions.
If you have a valid study permit or work permit, you do not need a PAL when applying/extending your study permit.
If you do not have a work permit or don’t want to apply for a work permit, then you will need a PAL for your study permit application. To request a PAL, please contact admissions@georgiancollege.ca. Learn more on the IRCC website.