Northern rescinds admission offers to over 500 international students

Northern College has reportedly rescinded admission offers to over 500 international students. Nicholas Keung of the Toronto Star reports that the offers were rescinded after the visa approval rate turned out to be higher than anticipated, leading to a situation where Northern’s campuses were “oversubscribed.” “We were not quite prepared to manage that much of an increase in the number,” said Northern President Audrey Penner. The college has reportedly offered refunds and the option to transfer to other colleges. Advocates and groups such as the World Sikh Organization of Canada (WSO) have spoken out against the college’s decision and called on the federal and provincial governments to intervene.