How many international students are enrolled in Canadian colleges and universities?

Enrollment in public Canadian post-secondary institutions has been growing steadily since the late 1990s. The 2022/2023 academic year saw a record high of 2,211,345 students enrolled in Canadian public universities and colleges. International students accounted for over one-fifth (21.6%) of the total enrollment. That represented a 16% increase in international student enrollment compared to the previous academic year, rising from 403,563 to 468,087 students.

Over the past decade, the number of international students studying in Canada has grown consistently, from 199,116 in the 2012/2013 academic year to 468,087 in the 2022/2023 academic year—an increase of 2.7 times. Meanwhile, enrolment among Canadian students has decreased. Consequently, the proportion of total enrollment at post-secondary institutions accounted for by international students has increased from about 8.6% in the 2012/2013 academic year to 21.6% in the 2022/2023 academic year.

International students tend to favour university over college

There are more international students in Canadian universities than colleges. The total number of international students enrolled in universities reached 262,848 in 2022/2023, up 7% from the year before. Meanwhile, the number of international college students reached 205,242 in 2022/2023, up from 158,253 students the year before, representing a 29% increase, the highest annual percentage increase on record.

Historically, international students have tended to favour universities over colleges, but the gap has been closing in recent years. In 1992/1993, only 1 in 10 international students went the college route. The ratio increased to just over 4 in 10 in the 2022/2023 academic year. College enrollment began accelerating in the early 2010s climbing fourfold between 2012/2013 and 2022/2023. Meanwhile, university enrollment has doubled during the same period.

What are the most popular fields and programs?

Almost two-thirds of international students are taking courses focused on BHASE fields that include business, arts and humanities, social sciences, law, health care, teaching, and the trades and natural resources. Meanwhile, about 30% are enrolled in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) disciplines.

There were slightly more men than women among international students, 51% to 45%. About 4% identified as non-binary. When it comes to the fields of study, there was a clear gender divide. Men outnumbered women almost 2 to 1 in STEM-related programs, while women made up the majority of students enrolled in BHASE programs.

Where are international students coming from?

Around 70% of international students in Canada for the 2022/2023 academic year were from Asia, led by India which had 165,783 students or 35% of all international students enrolled in Canadian colleges and universities. Coming in second was China with less than half the total of India.

Among the top ten countries sending students to Canada, preferences for universities or colleges are evident. Nearly 90% of students from the Philippines chose college programs, followed by India with about 70%. The U.S. and China had the lowest college enrollment at 6% and 7.8%, respectively. Conversely, the U.S. and China had the highest university enrollment, with over 93.8% of U.S. students and around 92.1% of Chinese students attending university. Less than 10% of Filipino students were enrolled in university programs.

Tuition for international students was five times more than Canadian students

International students pay a lot more to attend Canadian colleges and universities. During the 2022/2023 academic year, undergraduate tuition fees for international students were, on average, more than five times higher than those for Canadian students. Specifically, the average tuition for Canadian students was $6,781, while international students faced an average fee of $35,836. In terms of graduate programs, the disparity was slightly less pronounced, with international students paying nearly three times the tuition of their Canadian counterparts. The average tuition for Canadian graduate students was $7,409, compared to $21,155 for international students. In recent years, international students have faced steep increases in tuition for undergraduate and graduate programs. Between 2012/2013 and 2022/2023, fees have almost doubled for undergraduate students from outside of Canada, while Canadian undergraduate students saw an 18% increase in tuition during the same period.

Average tuition fees vary by region and by level of study. International students faced the steepest undergraduate tuition fees in Ontario where the average was $44,036, roughly 22% higher than the national average. They also faced the highest graduate tuition fees in the country at $27,086. While those studying in Newfoundland and Labrador had the lowest tuition fees for undergraduate and graduate programs at $4,806 and $16,815, respectively.