Page 5 - StudyTravel Magazine September 2025 Issue

NEWS

by Matthew Knott, News Editor
Read full news stories online...
www.studytravel.network

Mixed year for ELT sector,
Canada rules show impact
LANGUAGE
anada’s language sector two per cent decrease,
experienced a decrease in 2024 followed by Brazil (10,685),
Cas policy changes impacted, down by 13 per cent.
while the USA and South Africa Mexico (9,026), South
registered small increases. Korea (8,446) and China
Languages Canada’s annual (7,002) completed the top
report showed a 15 per cent drop in five source markets.
students to 92,529 students, while There were substantial year-on- Student visa denials were identified
student weeks decreased by 19 per year decreases from several Latin as the most pressing challenge by
cent to 974,710. American markets, including Colombia 61 per cent of the English language
Separating out English language (-34 per cent), Chile (-39), Peru (-35), providers surveyed.
providers, there was a 17 per cent and Venezuela (-34). Read more at: More than half of all students
decrease in students, while French https://bit.ly/4f9DhNd enrolled at the schools in the survey
language members had a 14 per cent South of the border, EnglishUSA came to the USA on F-1 student visas,
increase to 7,802. released its latest annual survey, the association found, while 17 per
Languages Canada attributed the completed by 349 providers that cent were on ESTAs and 10 per cent
decline in 2024 to the introduction of hosted 66,632 students and delivered had a B-1/B-2 visitor visa. More at:
a study permit cap by Immigration, 854,443 weeks in 2024. https://bit.ly/4medxBG
Refugees and Citizenship (IRCC) Based on the 264 providers that Meanwhile, members of English
in January 2024, visa processing contributed in both years, student South Africa had a 1.5 per cent
delays through the year, and numbers increased by 1.5 per cent increase in student numbers to 9,585
ongoing uncertainty around shifting in 2024, compared with the previous in 2024, while student weeks rose by
immigration policies. year, while student weeks rose by 7.3 3.4 per cent to 63,144 – both close to
Uncertainty surrounding Canada per cent. pre-pandemic levels.
as a destination due to frequent IRCC Japan was again the top source Saudi Arabia remained the largest
policy changes was the top issue country with 9,731 students, an eight source market for English South
faced by LC members, cited by 82 per per cent decrease, followed by China Africa schools with 3,811 students,
cent of respondents to the survey. with 6,304, which was up by 11 per a 24 per cent increase compared
The annual report showed the cent. The top five was completed by with the previous year, while Brazil
language-to-post-secondary pathway Brazil (5,600 students), Colombia was second with 1,517 students – up
programmes – which would typically (3,917) and South Korea (3,840). from 1,230 in 2023.
require a study permit – decreased by Vietnam in 10th place was one However, there was a decrease in
56 per cent in 2024. of the largest year-on-year growth students and student weeks from
Japan was the top source country markets with a 126 per cent increase, Europe and Africa. Read more at:
with 13,783 students, despite a while Kazakhstan grew by 157 per cent. https://bit.ly/450e9DU

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