The loss of thousands of international students has prompted Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) to prepare a new round of layoffs amid a decline in revenue.
KPU shared the memo issued on Tuesday, March 3, with Daily Hive. It revealed that by fiscal year 2026, the university’s international student enrolment had fallen by almost 4,500 from two years previous.
“We expect a further reduction of almost 1,000 international students by fiscal year 2027 (FY27),” Acting President Dr. Diane Purvey wrote to KPU employees.
“By FY27, estimated international student revenue is set to be down by $88 million from the FY24 budget. Domestic enrolment is expected to remain flat and is not sufficient to mitigate the international revenue decline.”
Kwantlen Polytechnic University
According to the memo, the KPU Board of Governors passed a budget in January that “reset” spending to orient it with the drop in expected revenue.
The university recently introduced a renewed retirement incentive for faculty and BC General Employees’ Union (BCGEU) employees, and stated that it had reviewed every employee vacancy that arises and only posted ones it determined essential.
“Unfortunately, these efforts alone will not achieve the reduction in employee numbers anticipated in the budget,” added Purvey.
“After considering the implications, and in line with the respective collective agreements, KPU has been in discussion with the Kwantlen Faculty Association (KFA) and the BCGEU regarding the likelihood of layoffs. Layoffs will also affect some administrative positions.”
Daniel Chai/Daily Hive
The number of affected positions has not yet been revealed by KPU. However, it is the third round of layoffs by the university in a year.
In March and August of 2025, the university announced layoffs affecting dozens of team members due to a drop in international students and revenue.
KPU stated that starting on Thursday, March 5, BCGEU employees whose positions have been identified for layoff will be invited to attend a meeting next week.
Affected administrative and faculty employees will also be contacted by HR by the end of Thursday, March 12. KPU added that it will provide support to affected employees, including counselling.
“Uncertainty and change can be unsettling for all of us,” said Purvey. “This is a challenging moment for KPU, and I am mindful of the real impact behind these decisions. Thank you for the care you continue to show our students and each other, even amid uncertainty.”
Kwantlen Polytechnic University
The KFA posted an update about the Kwantlen Polytechnic University layoffs to its members online. It stated that while $3.8 million in direct faculty salary reductions were approved for fiscal year 2026, $6.4 million in faculty salary reductions have been enacted.
“The union has repeatedly warned the employer that the cuts exceeded the approved amount, but they have ignored these concerns,” said the KFA in its update.
“The employment implications of the budget are significant for faculty. There appears to be an intention to reduce regular faculty work while increasing precarious work for KFA members, and to increase precarious work outside of the bargaining unit, and at the same time, to maintain or increase administrative density.”
KPU is one of B.C.’s largest post-secondary institutions by enrolment, welcoming over 20,000 students annually to its five campuses in Surrey, Richmond, Cloverdale, Langley, and Civic Plaza.
Canada recorded some of the lowest international student arrivals in recent months, with only 2,485 new study permit holders in November 2025, according to data from the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
Between January and November 2025, there were 52 per cent fewer international students compared to the same period in 2024 — down 334,845.
But the drop is even more drastic when comparing the numbers from around the past two years.
December 2023 saw the highest number of new student arrivals in the last two years, when a total of 95,320 new students arrived in Canada. Those numbers have fallen significantly as Canada welcomed just 2,485 new study permit holders in November 2025, a difference of 97 per cent.
With files from Daily Hive staff