📍 Canada’s 2026 International Student Cap: How Much Will BC Actually Get? (Clear Breakdown)

IRCC has officially announced the 2026 international student cap, including each province’s annual allocation. Among all provinces, British Columbia (BC) draws the most attention because it’s one of the most popular destinations for international students.

Below is a clear breakdown of what the 2026 BC allocation (32,596 spots) really means — and why it feels much smaller than it looks.

💡 BC’s Allocation for 2026: 32,596 Applications

IRCC confirmed that BC will receive 32,596 spots for students who must submit a PAL/TAL (Provincial/Territorial Attestation Letter).

At first glance, the number seems decent — but in reality, it’s extremely tight.

Here’s why.

🧩 1. This number includes all PAL/TAL-required students across all levels

The allocation does not include students who are exempt from PAL/TAL, such as:

• Master’s and PhD students

• K–12 students

• Students extending the same program at the same DLI

• Government priority/vulnerable groups

So the 32,596 spots must cover almost all new applicants in BC, including:

✔ ESL / language schools

✔ Co-op programs

✔ Private colleges

✔ Public colleges

✔ Undergraduate programs

✔ Graduate certificates/diplomas

In short:

👉 Almost every “new” international student needs to fit inside this number.

📌 2. BC traditionally receives one of the highest student volumes in Canada

BC normally brings in 60,000–70,000+ international students per year.

Now the cap is 32,596.

➡️ Less than half of previous levels

➡️ Demand still high, but supply dramatically reduced

This makes the reduction feel even larger in real terms.

🧨 3. All private colleges and language schools must share the same limited quota

BC has a very high number of:

• Private career colleges

• Language schools

• Co-op institutions

But the allocation is fixed.

This means:

• Many private colleges may receive little to no quota

• Smaller ESL schools may struggle to accept new students

• Public colleges/universities will likely take a large share

• Competition across institutions will be extremely intense

👉 In practice, the majority of institutions are competing for a very small pool of spots.

📊 What this means in real life

Once the BC government divides the allocation to individual DLIs, estimates suggest:

• Major universities (UBC, SFU, UVic): ~25–30%

• Public colleges/BCIT: ~30–40%

• Hundreds of private colleges + ESL schools: split the rest

This means…

👉 Only a small number of schools will have reliable intake capacity

👉 Many institutions will be extremely limited or unable to accept new applications

🔍 Conclusion: Yes — the BC quota is very small in practice

Even though “32,596” looks big, the reality is:

• Too many institutions and too many students must share it

• BC’s high demand makes the quota feel even smaller

• ESL, co-op, and private college programs will face the strictest limitations

• Applying early and choosing the right DLI becomes more crucial than ever

➡️ BC will be one of the most competitive provinces for study permits in 2026.

Book a free consultation now!

📍 Canada’s 2026 International Student Cap: How Much Will BC Actually Get? (Clear Breakdown)