Less than a week after the internationally renowned English education group EC English Language Centres (EC) ceased operations, Canada’s largest private language school, the International Language Academy of Canada (ILAC), filed for bankruptcy on Friday (September 18), leaving current and incoming students suddenly facing uncertainty.
ILAC originally had campuses in Vancouver and Toronto, offering a variety of programs, including short-term English courses, high school programs, and college programs of up to two years.
In its statement, ILAC noted that over the past three years, the school has faced financial challenges due to “significant regulatory policy changes affecting the entire industry.”
It is understood that since the Canadian federal government began tightening the cap on study permit applications for international students, educational institutions have generally faced greater pressure on enrollment and funding.
The number of international students newly arriving in Canada on study permits has dropped from about 293,000 in 2024 to 115,000 in 2025; between January and July of this year, only about 28,000 students newly arrived in Canada on study permits, showing a continued sharp decline in international student numbers.
Languages Canada, the national organization that represents and accredits language education programs, said ILAC currently has 1,362 students. The organization said it will continue over the weekend to help current students transfer to other programs of equivalent standing, hoping to reduce the impact of the school’s sudden closure on existing students.
