Hundreds of international students are protesting after an Ontario university canceled their admission letters in January, raising concerns about how the lack of regional oversight prevents colleges from addressing the consequences of accepting more students than they can handle.

Northern College, which canceled the admission of 500 international students in July, told about 200 students again, most of whom are from India, that they would not be able to join its campus.

The Ontario Ministry of Colleges and Universities also told CBC Toronto that it is aware of the small percentage of cancellations and that colleges have the authority to make admission decisions.

This authority is a problem, according to Jaspreet Singh, president of the International Sikh Students Association, who said colleges should not be able to accept a number of students greater than what they have the capacity to host.

Deferring or canceling students’ admission leaves them in a state of uncertainty, a problem he said has worsened over the past few years as Canada continues to welcome record numbers of international students.

Indian students spend more on graduate institutes in Ontario than students within the province itself, and they make up more than half the population in many Ontario colleges, according to a recent report by the Higher Education Advisory Group, Education Strategy Partners, where Singh said reliance on students is concerning.

He added that sending offer letters to more students than the college can accept – what is called "overbooking seats" – is not just a way to support the institution, but also a source of profit.

"Northern College does not accept inflammatory statements rooted in speculation, and its operations and finances are a matter of public record, like every other college in Ontario," the college told CBC Toronto.

According to financial data, from 2021 to 2023, the college’s contributions from student fees rose from $12 million to $19 million to $67 million. The college said it canceled the offer letters due to a lack of housing and jobs.