FAQ: IRCC’S ANNOUNCEMENT ON INTERNATIONAL

STUDENT PROGRAM CHANGES

Last updated January 25, 2024

We are working hard to understand the impact of these changes for our current and future students and
will provide updates as available. The most accurate and up-to-date information on Canada’s international
student program is found on IRCC’s webpages at: Study permit - Canada.ca.

SUMMARY OF CHANGES :
• IRCC will implement a cap on the number of new study permit applications to stabilize
international student enrolment in Canada. IRCC will allocate a portion of the cap to each province
and territory to distribute among the Designated Learning Institutions (DLIs) in the province. From
January 22, 2024, every study permit application requires an attestation letter from the respective
province. Provinces are expected to have a process in place for issuing attestation letters to
students by March 31, 2024.
• From September 1, 2024, international students who begin a study program that is part of a
curriculum licensing agreement are not eligible for a postgraduation work permit (PGWP).
• International students who graduate from master’s and other graduate-level programs will soon
be eligible to apply for a 3-year work permit.
• Only spouses of international students enrolled in master’s and doctoral programs will be eligible
for open work permits. Spouses of international students at other levels of study will no longer
be eligible.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

WHAT ARE THE IMPACTS FOR CURRENT STUDENTS ?

The changes announced do not apply for international students already in Canada on study permits. The
cap applies to new study permits and not to renewals or extensions.

DO THE ANNOUNCED CHANGES IMPACT POST GRADUATE WORK PERMIT ELIGIBILITY FOR MHC
PROGRAMS?
The changes announced on January 22 do not impact MHC students’ eligibility to apply for PGWP. MHC is
a public DLI and all of our programs we promote to and enroll international students in are eligible to
apply for post-graduate work permit. Designated learning institutions list - Canada.ca

The PGWP restriction for students graduating from study programs that are part of curriculum licensing
agreements does not apply for MHC, since MHC does not have this type of partnership or offer this type
of study program.
MHC does not offer master’s or other graduate-level programs.

DOES THE ANNOUNCEMENT IMPACT THE SPOUSES OF CURRENT STUDENTS ?

We do not expect spouses of current students who hold open work permits to be impacted by the changes
announced.

CAN I APPLY TO MEDICINE HAT COLLEGE?

Applications are currently being accepted for MHC’s fall 2024 semester. Interested students may review
MHC’s programs and program availability from this page and connect with our International Education
department by emailing info@mhc.ab.ca.

DOES MHC OFFER MASTER’S OR OTHER GRADUATE -LEVEL PROGRAMMING ?

No, MHC does not offer any master’s or other graduate-level programming.

DOES MY STUDY PERMIT APPLICATION NEED AN ATTESTATION LETTER FROM THE PROVINCE?
HOW DO I GET AN ATTESTATION LETTER?
Yes, from Jan. 22, 2024, every study permit application will require a letter of attestation from the
province of study. The process to obtain a letter of attestation from the Province of Alberta has not yet
been announced. Provinces are expected to have a process in place for issuing attestation letters to
students by March 31, 2024. When a process is in place, MHC will share this information by email to all
students who’ve confirmed seats (received Study Permit Acceptance Letter) for the fall 2024 semester.
We apologize for any delays this new requirement may cause and ask students for patience while details
of this process are confirmed.

I SUBMITTED MY STUDY PERMIT APPLICATION PRIOR TO JANUARY 22, 2024. DO I NEED AN

ATTESTATION LETTER ?
No, only study permit applications submitted on January 22 or later require an attestation letter.