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International Students in Canada

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I
nternational students in Canada support the excellence and in traditional top receiving
innovation of Canada’s education and cultural landscape, and countries as well as lack of
are a vital building block for internationalization at Canadian access to stable and quality
institutions and in Canadian society. education in their countries
of citizenship have compelled
The following brief uses open1 Due to varied and evolving push a growing number of students
as well as specially obtained and pull factors, international to seek alternative study
data to provide a snapshot students are choosing Canada destinations. Canada continues
of international students in as their study destination to be perceived globally
Canada in 2017, illuminating in unprecedented numbers. as a country of welcome
key trends with regard to Uncertainty and higher cost and stability in addition to
level of study, province or
territory of study and country
of citizenship of international
Figure 1: International students in Canada by year, all levels of study (2014-2017)
students in Canada.
500,000
494,525
INTERNATIONAL
STUDENT MOBILITY 400,000 410,400

350,130
As shown in figure 1, in 300,000 326,120
2017 there were 494,525
international students in 200,000
Canada at all levels of study2,3,4.
This represents a 17% increase 100,000
over the previous year, and a
34% increase between 2014
0
and 2017. 2014 2015 2016 2017

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Figure 2: Top higher education host destinations worldwide (2017) offering quality and affordable
education5, making Canada an
United States 1,078,822 attractive choice for prospective
international students.
United Kingdom 501,045

Project Atlas details top study

China 442,773
destinations of international
Canada 370,975 students worldwide in 2017,
bringing Canada’s market
Australia 327,606 position into clearer view
(see Figure 2). While Canada’s
France 323,933
top two competitors for
international students are
Russia 296,178
the United States and United
Germany 251,542 Kingdom, Canada competes
more directly with Australia
Japan 171,122 and France as an international
study destination. In 2017,
Spain 94,962
for the first time, Canada
Source: Project Atlas, 2017 leapt ahead of both Australia
and France for total market

Figure 3: Regional origin of international students in Canada (2017)

Eastern Europe
and Central Asia
2%
Europe
8%
United States
of America
3% East Asia
Middle East and
40%
North Africa
7% South Asia
27%

Africa
Latin America 6%
and Carribean
7%
Oceania
and South Pacific
<1%

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share and now hosts the Figure 4: International students in Canada, top 30 countries of citizenship (2017)
fourth highest number of
international students6. Country of citizenship Percentage 2017

CITIZENSHIP OF China 28% 140,530

INTERNATIONAL India 25% 123,940

STUDENTS South Korea 5% 23,050

France 4% 21,925
In keeping with global trends,
just under half (40%) of Vietnam 3% 14,095
international students pursuing United States of America 3% 13,975
studies in Canada come from
Brazil 2% 11,775
East Asia. Proportionally, the
regional origin of international Nigeria 2% 10,880
students has remained Japan 2% 7,950
stable with two exceptions:
Saudi Arabia 2% 7,640
Since 2015, the proportion
of international students Iran 2% 7,415

from South Asia has grown Mexico 1% 6,920

considerably from 16% to 27%,
Bangladesh 1% 4,310
while the proportion from
East Asia has declined by 7%. Taiwan 1% 4,095

See figure 3 for a breakdown Pakistan 1% 4,070

of international students in
Hong Kong 1% 3,990
Canada by region of origin7.
Philippines 1% 3,950

As a top host of international Turkey 1% 3,855

students, Canada has one of United Kingdom 1% 3,470
the most diverse international
Colombia 1% 2,870
student populations with
186 nations represented in 2017. Ukraine 1% 2,820
However this diversity has Morocco 1% 2,795
declined in recent years with
Germany 1% 2,715
now 65% of all international
students in Canada originating Russia <1% 2,625
from the top five countries Jamaica <1% 2,335
of citizenship: China,
Egypt <1% 2,210
India, South Korea, France
and Vietnam. Italy <1% 1,945

Tunisia <1% 1,875

There are a number of
Cameroon <1% 1,870
noteworthy changes in terms
of the top 15 countries of Spain <1% 1,835

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Figure 5: International students in Canada, top 15 countries of citizenship (2016, 2017)

South Saudi
China India Korea France Vietnam USA Brazil Nigeria Japan Arabia Iran Mexico Bangladesh Taiwan Pakistan
+7% +63% +9% +6% +89% +10% +28% +2% +2% -16% +45% +16% +41% +11% -3%
140,530
131,135

123,940
76,075

23,050

21,925
20,605
21,175

14,095

13,975
12,760

10,880
10,640
11,775
9,200

9,075
7,950

7,640

6,920
7,770
7,470

7,415

5,955
5,120

4,070
4,095

4,190
3,700
4,310
3,060
2016 2017

citizenship of international WHERE IN CANADA year-over-year growth with

students from 2016-2017 ARE INTERNATIONAL Ontario gaining four points to
(see Figure 5). Bangladesh and STUDENTS? 48% and Manitoba gaining one
Taiwan are new to the top 15 point to 4%. The proportion
while the United Kingdom and Figure 6 shows the number of international students in
Hong Kong are no longer in the and percent of international Canada who are studying in
top 15. Of the top 15 countries students in Canadian provinces Quebec has declined slightly
of citizenship Vietnam has seen and territories. With 84% of from 14% to 12%.
the most dramatic growth, international students enrolled
almost doubling in just one in Ontario, British Columbia Throughout 2017 Toronto,
year from 7,470 to 14,095 and Quebec these three Vancouver and Montreal
students in Canada. As we provinces have consistently together hosted 55% of all
will see later in this paper hosted the largest number international students who
this dramatic growth is most of inbound students. While were studying In Canada.
prevalent at the secondary and all regions of Canada have All of the top 15 host census
college levels. The number of seen growth in the number metropolitan areas saw the
students from Saudi Arabia of international students they number of international
is declining, with 1,435 fewer are hosting, proportionally students grow over the
students in Canada in 2017 both Ontario and Manitoba previous year. However,
over 2016. have shown the most the most marked growth

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Figure 6: Number and percent of international students in Canada, by province/territory (2017)

Yukon Nunavut
220 5
<1% Northwest Territories <1%
30
<1%

Newfoundland
British Columbia and Labrador
119,110 3,695
24% 1%
Alberta
26,255 Manitoba
5% 16,075
4%
Quebec
Ontario 61,565 PEI
Saskatchewan 237,280 12% 2,490
8,005 48% 1%
2%

New Nova Scotia

Brunswick 13,395
4,865 3%
1%

Figure 7: Top 15 host census metropolitan areas of international students in Canada (2016, 2017)
Kitchener -
Ottawa - Waterloo - St. Catharines -
Toronto Vancouver Montreal Gatineau Winnipeg Cambridge London Edmonton Hamilton Calgary Victoria Halifax Niagara Windsor Quebec
+23% +17% +11% +17% +24% +39% +24% +14% +13% +10% +21% +10% +27% +54% +12%
168,730
137,410

109,995
93,900

59,885
54,100

22,235
18,940

18,445

18,365

17,760

17,550
15,360
14,830

14,300

14,145
13,170

12,495
12,465

11,380

10,450
11,160
11,525
11,575

10,435
9,605

8,820

7,060
6,785

6,295

2016 2017

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occurred outside of Toronto, studying in a university study of international students

Vancouver and Montreal in program, 41% were studying in Canada in 2017.
Windsor (+54%), Kitchener - in a college program and 2%
Cambridge - Waterloo (+39%) in CEGEP. Students at the At the university level, India
and St. Catharines - primary and secondary levels has overtaken France as
Niagara (+27%). made up 15% of all international the second most common
students in Canada while 10% country of citizenship of
LEVEL OF STUDY were pursuing other studies. international students.
The proportion of international
In 2017, 75% of international students at each level has At the college level, the number
students in Canada were remained relatively unchanged of international students from
pursuing post-secondary since 2015. See Figures 8-10 India has dramatically grown
studies of which 57% were for breakdowns of the level of year-over-year from 52,020

Figure 8: Level of study of international students in Canada (2017) Figure 11: Top countries of
citizenship, international students in
Level of study Canadian university programs (2017)

Post-secondary 370,710
74,260
Secondary or less 71,350

Other studies 50,025

Total study permit holders 492,085

25,575

Figure 9: C
 omposition of international students at secondary or less levels 16,115
in Canada (2017) 10,590
7,585

Level of study China India France United Nigeria

States
Primary 15,190

Secondary 56,160

Total secondary or less 71,350 Figure 12: Top countries of

citizenship, international students
in Canadian college programs (2017)

Figure 10: Composition of international students at post‑secondary levels 86,900

in Canada (2017)

Level of study

CEGEP 6,415

College 151,380

University 211,795 16,895

Others 1,120 6,535 5,075 3,755

Total post-secondary 370,710 India China South Brazil Vietnam

Korea

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to 86,900 students in Canada, education outside of their

Figure 13: Top countries of
representing a growth rate citizenship, international students in
home country.
of 67%. Canadian secondary programs (2017)
28,540
As we saw in this paper, the
At the secondary level, Vietnam data from 2017 reveal that
is now the third most common students are increasingly
country of citizenship of looking to Canada as a study
international students, more destination of choice, with
than doubling (+107%) in just top pull factors consistently
one year. being the strong reputation
4,075
of the Canadian education
3,320
South Korea is the top source 2,010 1,965 system, a society that is
country for primary students; China South Vietnam Japan Mexico
generally tolerant and
however, the number of Korea non‑discriminatory, and
primary level students from Canada’s reputation as a
Brazil is noteworthy, growing safe country8. These pull
by 63% between 2016 and 2017 Figure 14: Top countries of factors may be more powerful
citizenship, international students in
to become the fourth most Canadian primary programs (2017) than ever before in the
common country of citizenship global context. In 2017 the
3,265
for this level of study. Government of Canada’s
2,715 International Education
CONCLUDING REMARKS Strategy goal of receiving
450,000 international students
The benefits of studying 1,375
by 20229 was surpassed
internationally are many and 1,135 five years early. This is an
well known. At the individual 735 achievement that brings with
level they include potential for it great opportunities but also
increased cultural awareness challenges. As the national
South China India Brazil Saudi
and understanding, improved Korea Arabia voice of international education,
employment prospects and CBIE is well‑positioned to
enhanced language skills. The serve its members and other
forces that compel students for the foreseeable future stakeholders in facilitating and
to pursue an international more and more students will lending insights into the next
education remain diverse and recognize the value and seize chapter for Canada as a host
strong and it is likely that the opportunity to pursue of international students.

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CBIE RESEARCH IN BRIEF

Canadian Bureau for International Education
ISBN: 978-0-920496-28-2 Canadian Bureau for International Education Visit the CBIE research library
ISSN: 2368-3333 220 Laurier Avenue West, Suite 1550 cbie.ca/research-library
Key title: CBIE research in brief Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5Z9
Learn more about our research
The views expressed in this 613-237-4820 and data analysis services.
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Également disponible en français [email protected]

© 2018 CBIE

ENDNOTES

1 Visit the Government of Canada’s Open Data Portal for more information.

2 CBIE uses Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) data in this chapter unless otherwise stated. Student numbers are based
on valid study permits and work permits. Students in Canada for less than six months are not required to hold a study permit and are
therefore not counted. This includes many language school students and exchange students.

3 Note that 2017 data provided by IRCC is preliminary and may be adjusted in future data sets.

4 Due to privacy considerations, IRCC data is subjected to random rounding. Under this method, all figures in the table are randomly rounded
either up or down to multiples of 5. As a result of random rounding, data may not sum up to the totals indicated.

5 CBIE, The Student’s Voice, 2018.

6 Project Atlas uses higher education data as provided by representative governments and non-profit agencies from participating countries.

7 Regions are designated using World Bank classifications, with one notable exception: East Asia and Oceania and South Pacific are
disaggregated.

8 CBIE, The Student’s Voice, 2018.

9 Global Affairs Canada, Harnessing our knowledge advantage to drive innovation and prosperity. Accessed 20/07/2018.