Holland College Chief: Study Permits Are ‘No Good’ Without Students

Holland College President and CEO Dr. Alexander (Sandy) MacDonald says Canada can’t treat study permit allocations as a paper fix if fewer students can actually come, enroll, and stay on a clear work pathway after graduation.

Speaking after enrollment figures were presented to the college’s Board of Governors on October 22, 2025, MacDonald said federal decisions on study permits and Post‑Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) rules are now showing up as empty seats, lost revenue, and suspended programs at the Charlottetown‑based school.

Enrollment decline and projections

Holland College’s international student enrollment fell 47%, dropping from 848 in 2024 to 446 in 2025, according to the figures discussed with the board.

The college projects an additional loss of 300 students in 2026/27, which MacDonald said would mean an 83% decline over two years. He tied that shift to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) caps on study permits and to changes that narrowed which college programs qualify graduates for a PGWP — a work permit many students count on to gain Canadian work experience after finishing school.

Key enrollment figures (summary)

Quote from the president

“Our significant drop in international student enrolment can be attributed directly to the federal government’s decision to restrict college students’ eligibility for a Post Graduate Work Permit,” MacDonald said.
“Fewer enrolled students mean fewer skilled professionals entering the workforce at a critical time for the growth of the Canadian economy.”

MacDonald emphasized the causal link: if students believe a program won’t leave them eligible to work after graduation, many will not apply, even if study permit allocations exist on paper.

Program and staffing impacts

The enrollment slide is already reshaping what Holland College can offer:

• Eight programs suspended for Fall 2025 intake.
• Three programs downsized.
• Four programs suspended at the Tourism and Culinary campus in April 2025, with two more restructured.
• 35 faculty and staff positions discontinued.

Students already enrolled in affected programs can complete their second year if they meet academic requirements, but there will be no new admissions to those programs starting Fall 2025.

Financial impact

The financial hit is significant for a public college in a small province:

• Reported more than $4 million in lost tuition revenue this fiscal year.
• Projected losses of $7 million annually.

MacDonald said domestic recruitment is now a priority, but the college’s internal numbers show that local growth has not come close to replacing international decline despite an 11% increase in Prince Edward Island resident enrollment to 1,423 students.

For a college that trains workers for fields like tourism and culinary services, those enrollment drops also mean fewer graduates entering the local labour market.

Policy detail: PGWP eligibility and timing

At the heart of the policy shift is PGWP eligibility, which often shapes student decisions long before they book flights or sign leases.

Holland College said:

• For students who applied for a study permit after November 1, 2024, programs must meet specific “Field of Study” requirements to remain PGWP‑eligible.
• Exemptions apply for students who already held permits or had submitted applications before November 1, 2024, based on the original Letter of Acceptance.
• Study permit extensions are not affected by a program’s status, as long as students remain compliant with their immigration conditions.

IRCC’s official PGWP information is posted on the federal site at: Post-Graduation Work Permit Program (PGWPP)

Why timing matters

Colleges recruit months — sometimes a year or more — ahead of a new intake. When a rule change lands mid‑cycle, it can affect:

• Deposits and housing decisions
• Whether an applicant chooses a different school, program, or country
• Demand levels before a cap is technically reached

MacDonald framed study permit allocations as “no good” without students: if policy signals discourage applicants, the cap number does not translate into classrooms filled with tuition‑paying learners.

Local and provincial consequences

The situation shows how national policy can land differently across provinces:

• Prince Edward Island has a smaller population base and fewer large post‑secondary institutions to absorb sudden shifts.
• A drop in international enrollment at a single college can ripple to local landlords, part‑time employers, and community groups that support newcomers.
• The figures provided do not include student interviews, and the college did not name individuals affected by suspensions, but the scale — hundreds of students and dozens of jobs — suggests real disruption for families and staff planning their next year.

Policy debate and wider implications

Supporters of tighter rules argue Canada needed to rein in growth in the international student system and tie post‑study work more closely to labour needs.

MacDonald counters that the speed and design of the PGWP change is hitting colleges that train for real jobs, especially in applied fields that serve local economies. He warned that fewer students today can mean fewer workers tomorrow, at a time when employers across Canada continue to report hiring pressures in many sectors.

According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the Holland College numbers are a sharp example of how study permit allocations and PGWP eligibility rules interact:

• Caps can limit entry, but
• Eligibility criteria can reduce demand even before a cap is reached.

For Holland College, MacDonald’s message is clear: policy makers should look past headline counts of permits and ask whether the rules still make Canada an attractive, workable option for the students who fill skills gaps after graduation.