University Education In Canada: Student Enrollment Numbers

Canada's post-secondary institutions, including colleges and universities, have seen a notable fluctuation in student enrolment over the years. In this paragraph, we will delve into the trends and shifts in student numbers, exploring the factors influencing the dynamic landscape of higher education in Canada. The academic year of 2022/2023 witnessed an overall increase in student enrolments, reaching approximately 2.2 million students, with international student enrolments serving as the primary driver of this growth. However, a closer inspection of the data reveals contrasting trends between colleges and universities. While college enrolments rose by 2.7%, university enrolments experienced a 0.5% decline, marking the first decrease in a decade. The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted enrolment patterns, with the 2020/2021 academic year witnessing a decline in public college and university enrolments, largely due to lower college enrolments for both Canadian and international students. Despite the fluctuations, Canada's post-secondary landscape remains resilient, adapting to the challenges posed by the pandemic and the shifting demographics of its student population.

2.2 million students enrolled in 2022/2023

In the 2022/2023 academic year, 2.2 million students were enrolled in Canadian colleges and universities. This figure represents a 0.6% increase from the previous year. Notably, the number of international student enrolments rose for both colleges and universities, while there was a decrease in Canadian student enrolments in both. Overall, college enrolments increased by 2.7%, while university enrolments saw a 0.5% decline, marking the first decline in a decade.

The rise in international student enrolments has been a consistent trend over the past decade, with the number more than doubling from 199,116 in 2013/2014 to 468,087 in 2022/2023. This increase is particularly evident in fields such as business and administration, and mathematics and computer and information sciences. In contrast, Canadian student enrolments in colleges and universities have been on a downward trajectory since 2013/2014, decreasing by 5.7% during this period.

The 2020/2021 academic year saw a slight dip in enrolments to just under 2.2 million students, largely due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Travel restrictions and the closure of visa application centres made it difficult for international students to obtain permits to study in Canada, resulting in a decline in their enrolments. However, Canadian student university enrolments showed resilience, increasing by 2.1% during that year.

International student enrolment doubled in a decade

International student enrolment in Canadian colleges and universities has more than doubled over the past decade, rising from 142,200 in 2010/2011 to 388,800 in 2019/2020 and then to 468,087 in 2022/2023. This increase has been driven by students from India, who made up 56.1% of international student college enrolments in 2022/2023. The number of international students in Canada has been steadily rising, accounting for 21.2% of all college and university enrolments in 2022/2023.

In contrast, Canadian student enrolment in colleges and universities has decreased by 5.7% over the same period, from 1,842,903 in 2013/2014 to 1,738,095 in 2022/2023. This decline is likely due to a decrease in the population of young adults aged 18 to 24 in Canada during the 2010s. However, this demographic trend is projected to shift in the next decade, with the population of young adults expected to experience rapid growth. This may lead to an increase in domestic enrolment in Canadian colleges and universities.

The surge in international student enrolment has proven beneficial to Canadian students enrolled in science and arts programs at public universities and colleges. For example, an increase of 100 international students in STEM fields was associated with 141 additional domestic student enrolments in the same fields at universities. Additionally, international undergraduates pay significantly higher tuition fees than Canadian students, which has helped make up for the reduction in provincial funding for universities' operational budgets.

The number of international students in Canada has grown at an impressive rate, with an 8.3% annual growth rate from 2016 to 2022. This growth is mainly attributed to the number of long-term students, those who study for longer than six months in a given year. Enrolment in this category of students more than doubled between 2008 and 2016, with a 10.9% annual growth rate. The COVID-19 pandemic caused a dip in international student numbers in 2020 and 2021, but 2022 saw the highest ever number of long-term students in Canada.

Canadian student enrolment declined in 2022/2023

In the 2022/2023 academic year, Canadian colleges and universities saw a decline in student enrolment, with a decrease of 2.7% to a total of 1,738,095 students. This decline was observed in both college and university enrolments, with a 4.0% drop in college students and a 2.1% drop in university students compared to the previous year. This continues a downward trend in Canadian student enrolment that began in 2013/2014.

Overall, Canadian postsecondary enrolments increased to 2.2 million students in the 2022/2023 academic year, representing a 0.6% increase from the previous year. However, this growth was driven primarily by international students, whose enrolments increased by 16.0% in 2022/2023 compared to the previous year. The number of international students in Canadian colleges and universities more than doubled from 2013/2014 to 2022/2023, accounting for 21.2% of all college and university enrolments in the latter year.

The decline in Canadian student enrolment in colleges and universities is part of a longer-term trend. From 2013/2014 to 2022/2023, Canadian student enrolment in postsecondary institutions decreased by 5.7%. This decrease was seen across all fields of study, except for mathematics and computer and information sciences, which saw a 5.0% increase in enrolment in 2022/2023.

The downward trend in Canadian student enrolment has had a significant impact on universities and colleges in Canada. It has resulted in decreased revenue for these institutions and has also affected their ability to deliver programs and maintain funding for equipment and training facilities.

International student enrolment declined in 2020/2021

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on international student admissions to Canadian universities. International students in Canada were particularly vulnerable during the pandemic due to their temporary immigration status, which excluded them from most government relief programs. As a result, many international students experienced psychological and financial difficulties, leading to a decline in admissions.

Data from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) reveals that the overall rapid growth in international students in Canada, particularly in Ontario, has put pressure on housing in the region. This prompted the federal government to impose a two-year cap on study permit applications. The data also highlights that public colleges and universities, rather than private institutions, have been the prime destinations for international students.

In the 2022/2023 academic year, there was an increase of 16.0% (+64,524) in international student enrolments compared to the previous year, with the majority enrolled in colleges. This increase was driven by students from India, who accounted for 56.1% of all international student college enrolments. However, the number of Canadian students in both colleges and universities declined in 2022/2023.

The increase in international student enrolments has had economic implications for Canadian universities, as international students contribute billions of dollars to the country's post-secondary system. However, there are concerns about the impact of the cap on study permits, with Ontario expecting a 50% drop in permits and a potential loss of over $1.5 billion in revenue.

University enrolments increased in 2020/2021

University enrolments in Canada increased in 2020/2021, despite the overall decline in postsecondary student enrolments during the COVID-19 pandemic. Overall, the number of university enrolments increased by 2.1% (or +28,365) compared to the previous year. While international student enrolments decreased by 1.8% (-4,029), Canadian student enrolments were up by 2.8% (+32,394).

The increase in university enrolments was driven by younger Canadian female students aged 15 to 29. A Statistics Canada study revealed that, at the start of the 2020/2021 academic year, the participation of young Canadian-born women in postsecondary education increased compared to the previous year and relative to their male counterparts.

The pandemic significantly disrupted colleges and universities across Canada, with most institutions cancelling in-person classes and moving to virtual learning. Public health restrictions, along with domestic and international border crossing limits, impacted the Canadian postsecondary system. Enrolments in public colleges and universities decreased slightly in 2020/2021, dropping by 0.6% from 2019/2020 to just under 2.2 million students. This decrease was largely due to lower college enrolments (-5.0%) for both Canadian (-3.7%) and international (-7.4%) students.

The number of international students enrolled in formal programs had nearly tripled by 2019/2020 compared to 2010/2011. However, with the closure of visa application centres and travel restrictions due to COVID-19, many international students faced challenges in obtaining permits to study in Canada. Consequently, in 2020/2021, international student enrolments declined by 4.0% (-15,504) nationally, a notable contrast to the 11.2% increase over the previous decade.

In response to the pandemic restrictions, universities and colleges expanded their online class offerings. As a result, the number of new international students enrolled in online learning outside of Canada more than quadrupled from 1,323 in 2019/2020 to 5,439 in 2020/2021.

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