In some encouraging news about Canada’s international education sector, from January to August 2025,1 57% of applicants at the bachelor’s level2 were approved for a new Canadian student visa.3 This was 16 percentage points higher than in full-year 2024, and a much higher approval rate than those for other postsecondary levels such as all college programs and postgraduate studies.
Join us as we dive into the resiliency of undergraduate degree approval rates during the first eight months of 2025. How did approval rates for bachelor’s degrees compare to college and postgraduate programs? Which provinces saw the highest approval rate jumps this year? And how did the top student populations evolve?
Key Insights at a Glance
- With a 57% approval rate during the first eight months of 2025, university-level bachelor’s programs returned to an average last seen in full-year 2022.
- In 2025, new student visa approval rates for new undergraduate studies rose in nine of Canada’s ten provinces over full-year 2024.
- Approval rates increased for 13 of Canada’s 20 largest student populations at the undergraduate level compared to 2024 levels.
- 63% of all postsecondary applicants who used ApplyBoard were approved for the 2025 intake, nearly double the all-market average.4
University Bachelor’s Programs Seeing Highest Canadian Postsecondary Approval Rates in 2025
University-level bachelor’s programs were the only study level to see year-over-year approval rate growth in early 2025, climbing 16 percentage points above full-year 2024:
While postgraduate study permit approval rates dipped slightly this year, the overall resilience of the university sector has been a standout story through the first half of 2025. After a challenging 2024, the 57% approval rate for new university-level bachelor’s programs marks a return to a level last seen in 2022.
It’s worth noting that study permit applications for undergraduate level studies have historically had higher approval rates during the January through August period compared to the September through December period. This means that the full-year 2025 approval rates may still dip by a few percentage points. Nevertheless, even with a modest seasonal correction this part of the sector will likely finish well ahead of where it was in 2024, reinforcing the university route as a dependable choice for students planning their future in Canada.
Undergraduate Approval Rates Increased in Nearly Every Province in 2025
Another exciting development about the upswing of new undergraduate approval rates is that it was country-wide. Nine of Canada’s ten provinces saw an increase in bachelor’s approval rates compared to 2024:
The most encouraging takeaway for international student advisors is that we’re not seeing one or two of Canada’s provinces doing the bulk of the heavy lifting. While British Columbia and Ontario saw the highest approval rates for new undergraduate applicants during the first eight months of 2025, it was Quebec and Alberta who experienced the highest approval rate increase compared to full-year 2024. Their approval rates went up 22 and 13 percentage points respectively.
The data points to a healthy revitalization of regional study options as well. Atlantic Canada, for instance, saw consistent gains across Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick. This broad improvement signals that the bachelor’s degree is performing well across different provincial regulatory environments, allowing partners to diversify their student placements with renewed confidence.
Bachelor’s Approval Rates Rebounding Across Key Student Populations
Positive momentum at the undergraduate level is also occurring across most of Canada’s student populations rather than among just a few of the largest ones:
Of the 20 leading student populations for bachelor’s applicants, 13 saw approval rates improve in the first eight months of 2025 compared to full-year 2024. Established student populations from France, the US, and the UK continue to demonstrate exceptional reliability, with study permit approval rates over 95%.
Perhaps even more encouraging is the upward trajectory seen among key emerging student populations. Student populations from Indonesia, Japan, and Hong Kong remained dependable, with approval rates above 90% and with steady upward trends. Additionally, many that have historically faced more challenging approval environments recorded meaningful growth. The approval rate for Nigerian students improved by 10 percentage points over full-year 2024, while approval rates for Pakistan and Egypt also climbed substantially.
These results suggest that bachelor’s programs continue to attract genuine students from around the world. As such, international student advisors should approach 2026 with a proactive mindset, ready to connect students with emerging opportunities.
How ApplyBoard Helps International Student Advisors Enhance Student Approval Rates
While the positive developments at the university undergraduate level are exciting to see, it’s worth taking a step back and looking at the picture as a whole, since not all students want to pursue a bachelor’s degree. Postgraduate programs are on pace to see approval rates under 50% for the second consecutive year, while college programs are seeing only one in four applicants approved. In total, the overall approval rate for all new postsecondary applicants in Canada was 36% through the first eight months of 2025.
International students who applied through ApplyBoard, on the other hand, saw a 63% approval rate for the 2025 intake.4 And this stronger performance is country-wide:
Across Canada, ApplyBoard applicants consistently outperformed the provincial averages, with particularly strong advantages in the Prairie and Atlantic provinces. This data shows that expert guidance and quality assurance remain among the most effective tools for navigating today’s approval landscape.
Indeed, earlier this year we explored the top reasons for Canadian study permit refusals in 2024, which found that thousands of potential students were refused due to missing documentation. Our platform proactively mitigates these risks by validating key documents like passports and English test results prior to submission. We also ensure that every application includes a unique statement of purpose and that all supporting documentation is clear and legible.
Complementing these quality controls is our AI-powered matching technology. These tools help to steer prospective students toward programs tailored to their academic journey. Likewise, by leveraging historical data through ApplyBoard’s Canadian Visa Calculator, our platform points partners toward institutions and programs that align best with their students’ profiles. This ensures that every study permit application is built on a strong academic foundation, significantly improving the chances of a positive outcome.
A Renewed Pathway for Student Success for 2026
The data from the first eight months of 2025 shows that the Canadian university undergraduate sector has weathered recent shifts and emerged as a pillar of stability. For international student advisors, this resurgence offers a strategic opportunity to rebuild students’ confidence and provide them with the security they are looking for.
We encourage partners to use these findings to guide their recruitment strategies for the upcoming year. By leveraging ApplyBoard’s data-backed insights and quality assurance tools, partners can navigate this evolving landscape with confidence, ensuring their students have the best possible chance of realizing their Canadian education goals.
Interested in increasing your student reach with ApplyBoard? Register now to become part of our global network, or connect with your regional representative to learn more about taking student recruitment to the next level.
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FOOTNOTES:
1. All data is sourced from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) unless otherwise noted. Most recent government data cited in this article spans January to August 2025. All data in this article is for new study permits only.
2. All references to bachelor’s programs throughout this article refer to university-level bachelor’s programs only.
3. The terms student visa and study permit are generally used interchangeably for Canadian international students. Rather than student visas, Canada provides accepted international students with study permits, which allow those students to enrol in classes at Canadian institutions. When a student is accepted for a study permit, they are also usually provided with a visitor visa, which allows that student to enter Canada for their studies. In this article, we’ll use the terms interchangeably.
4. ApplyBoard’s study permit approval rates are estimates calculated by the ApplyBoard Data Science team. The calculation is as follows:
Study Permit Approval Rate = Confirmed Study Permit Approvals ÷ (Confirmed Study Permit Approvals + Reported Study Permit Rejections)
Confirmed Study Permit Approval: Applicant has submitted documentary evidence of study permit approval to ApplyBoard and/or has had their enrolment confirmed by the destination institution.
Reported Study Permit Rejection: (a) Applicant has indicated to ApplyBoard that they have been refused a study permit and/or have requested a refund for their tuition deposit due to study permit refusal, and (b) applicant’s enrolment has not been confirmed by the destination institution.
Note: ApplyBoard applicants do not receive any special treatment from IRCC.
