
Canada is a popular destination for students, with around 2.2 million students enrolled in post-secondary institutions in the country during the 2022/2023 academic year. This figure includes both colleges and universities, with approximately 1.4 million students enrolled in universities specifically. In recent years, the number of international students in Canada has been steadily increasing, with a fourfold increase in international student college enrolment from 2013/2014 to 2022/2023.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Total number of students enrolled in universities in Canada in 2022 | 1.4 million |
| Total number of students enrolled in postsecondary institutions in Canada in 2022 | 2.19 million |
| Total number of students enrolled in colleges and universities in Canada in 2022/2023 | 2.2 million |
| Total number of international students enrolled in colleges and universities in Canada in 2022/2023 | 468,087 |
| Total number of Canadian students enrolled in colleges and universities in 2022/2023 | 1,738,095 |
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What You'll Learn

Total student enrolment in Canadian universities in 2022
In 2022, the total number of students enrolled in universities in Canada was around 1.4 million. This figure represents a slight decrease of 0.47% from the previous year. Overall, the number of students enrolled in post-secondary institutions, including both colleges and universities, in Canada in 2022 was approximately 2.19 million. This number increased by 0.6% compared to the previous year.
The number of international students enrolled in Canadian universities has been steadily increasing over the past decade. In 2022/2023, there were 468,087 international students enrolled in Canadian post-secondary institutions, more than double the number from 2013/2014 (199,116). International student enrolments in universities specifically increased by 7.1% from the previous year, while Canadian student enrolments in universities decreased by 2.1%.
The total number of Canadian student enrolments in post-secondary institutions, including both colleges and universities, was 1,738,095 in 2022/2023, a 2.7% decline from the previous year. This decline in Canadian student enrolments has been a continuing trend since 2013/2014. The fields of study that saw increases in enrolment in 2022 were mathematics, computer science, and information science, with a 5% increase to 96,834 students.
In summary, while the total student enrolment in Canadian universities in 2022 remained relatively stable at around 1.4 million, there were slight fluctuations in the number of Canadian and international student enrolments. The overall trend shows a decreasing number of Canadian student enrolments and a steady increase in international student enrolments in Canadian universities.
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Change in enrolment numbers from 2021 to 2022
In 2022, the total number of students enrolled in universities in Canada was around 1.4 million. This number represents a slight decrease of 6,700 students (or 0.47%) compared to 2021. This decline in university enrolment is consistent with the overall trend in Canadian post-secondary education.
When considering both colleges and universities, the total number of students in post-secondary education in Canada was approximately 2.2 million in the 2022/2023 academic year. This figure reflects an increase of 0.6% from the previous year. However, it is important to note that the rise in enrolment was driven primarily by international students.
In 2022/2023, there was an increase of 17,538 international students enrolled in universities (+7.1%) compared to the previous year. This growth in international student enrolment in universities is part of a larger trend, as the number of international students in Canadian post-secondary institutions has consistently risen over the past decade. The total number of international students in Canadian colleges and universities more than doubled from 2013/2014 (199,116) to 2022/2023 (468,087).
In contrast to the growth in international student enrolment, there was a decrease in Canadian student enrolment in both colleges and universities in 2022/2023. Specifically, there were 25,002 fewer Canadian students enrolled in colleges (-4.0%) and 24,021 fewer in universities (-2.1%) compared to the previous year. This decline in Canadian student enrolment is consistent with the overall trend, as Canadian student enrolment in post-secondary institutions has decreased by 5.7% since 2013/2014.
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Breakdown of international vs Canadian student enrolment
In the 2022/2023 academic year, there were a total of 2.2 million students enrolled in colleges and universities in Canada. This marked a 0.6% increase from the previous year. However, the breakdown of enrolment between Canadian and international students shows contrasting trends.
The number of international students enrolled in Canadian colleges and universities increased by 16% in 2022/2023 compared to the previous year, continuing a decade-long trend of growth. In 2022/2023, there were 468,087 international students in Canada, more than double the number from 2013/2014 (199,116). The majority of these students were enrolled in colleges, with the number of international student enrolments increasing by 29.7% in colleges and 7.1% in universities. The increase in international student college enrolments was driven primarily by students from India, which saw a 31.6% increase in 2022/2023.
On the other hand, Canadian student enrolments in colleges and universities declined in 2022/2023. There were 1,738,095 Canadian students enrolled in post-secondary institutions in Canada in 2022/2023, a 2.7% decrease from the previous year. Both college and university enrolments declined, with a 4.0% decrease in college enrolments and a 2.1% decrease in university enrolments. This continues a downward trend that began in 2013/2014.
The growing number of international students in Canada has had a significant economic impact. Between 2014 and 2022, the combined direct and indirect GDP impact of international student spending more than tripled, increasing by 232%. International student spending supported 361,000 jobs in Canada in 2022, and government tax revenue derived from international student spending tripled between 2014 and 2022.
Overall, international student enrolments in Canadian colleges and universities have consistently risen over the past decade, while Canadian student enrolments have declined. In 2022/2023, international students accounted for 21.2% of all college and university enrolments in Canada.
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Fields of study with the largest increases in international students
Canada has seen a notable increase in international students over the years, with a 61.2% increase from 2016 to 2022, and an 87% increase from 2008 to 2016. This influx has had a profound impact on the Canadian economy, with a tripling of government tax revenue derived from international student spending between 2014 and 2022. The spending of international students has also contributed to job creation, with a reported 361,000 jobs supported by foreign enrolment in 2022.
International students in Canada are present at all levels of education, with the largest number enrolled at the post-secondary level. Fields of study that have witnessed significant increases in international student enrolment include business and management, engineering, computer science, health and medicine, and law.
Business and management studies have seen a notable surge in popularity among international students in Canada. Data from 2018 to 2023 indicates that Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) approved over 776,000 permits for students enrolling in business and commerce-related programs. This trend has raised concerns about a mismatch between the academic fields in which international students are enrolling and Canada's labour market demands. Experts argue that the rise in international student enrolment in business programs may be driven more by the financial motives of educational institutions than by the country's actual job market needs.
Engineering is another field that continues to attract international students to Canada, particularly specialisations in civil and mechanical engineering. These degrees offer strong career prospects due to their practical nature and the development of valuable skills such as problem-solving and decision-making. Graduates with engineering degrees have diverse employment opportunities in sectors such as construction, mining, technology, and manufacturing.
Computer science is a STEM-related field that has seen a significant number of applications from international students in Canada. This qualification serves as a solid foundation for various roles within the technology sector, with software engineering being a common career path. Canadian provinces offer good to excellent job prospects for graduates in this field, and the demand for software engineers is expected to grow in the coming years.
Health and medicine are fields known for their above-average employment rates and higher salaries in Canada. International postgraduate students are particularly drawn to medical degrees, which offer professional development, research opportunities, and specialisation in areas such as clinical oncology and biomedical research. Nursing qualifications also attract international undergraduate students due to their excellent employment prospects and the potential for global career opportunities.
Lastly, Canada's law schools are highly regarded, with several institutions ranked in the world's top 100 for the subject. This reputation, coupled with favourable lifestyle factors and reasonable tuition fees, makes Canada a popular choice for graduate law students seeking top-quality education and strong graduate prospects.
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Total number of graduates from Canadian universities in 2022
The total number of graduates from Canadian universities in 2022 decreased by 2.6% compared to the previous year. While the exact number of graduates is unclear, it is estimated to be around 617,301. This decrease in graduates was observed across the country, except in the territories and New Brunswick. Notably, the number of graduates in Quebec decreased by 5.4% to 154,932, and in British Columbia by 5.9% to 72,039.
In contrast to most programs, the number of graduates in mathematics and computer and information science programs increased by 9.0% (+3,621) in 2022. This growth continued a decade-long trend, with these programs experiencing an average annual increase of 11.9% over the past 10 years.
The total number of university graduates in Canada decreased by 9,117 people (-2.59%) in 2022 compared to the previous year. However, the last two years recorded significantly higher totals than the preceding years. The total number of Canadian student enrolments in universities declined by 2.1% to 1,143,489 in 2022/2023 compared to the previous year.
In the 2022/2023 academic year, enrolments in colleges and universities increased to 2.2 million students, a 0.6% increase from the previous year. This increase was driven by a rise in international student enrolments, which increased by 17,538 (7.1%) for universities and 46,989 (29.7%) for colleges. Conversely, there was a decrease in Canadian student enrolments, with 24,021 fewer students (-2.1%) in universities and 25,002 fewer students (-4.0%) in colleges. Overall, Canadian student total enrolments declined by 2.7% to 1,738,095 in 2022/2023, continuing a downward trend since 2013/2014.
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Frequently asked questions
In 2022, around 1.4 million students were enrolled in universities in Canada.
In 2022, around 2.2 million students were enrolled in post-secondary institutions in Canada.
In 2022/2023, there were 468,087 international students enrolled in universities in Canada, an increase of 16% from the previous year.
In 2022/2023, there were 1,143,489 Canadian students enrolled in universities in Canada, a decrease of 2.1% from the previous year.











































