ARCHIVED - Economic Impact of International Education in Canada - An Update

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4. Number of International Students in Canada

In this Section, we will analyse data we have collected on the number of international students in Canada, as well as growth trends in recent years.

4.1. By Level of Education

4.1.1. Long Term Students

Table 3 shows the total number of international students in Canada (as of December 1st of each year) in each of the five levels of study from 2000 to 2010.[4] For a description of the sources for this data-set, refer to Enrollment in the Methodology section.

Table 3 Number of International Students in Canada by Level of Study, 2000 to 2010

Level of study	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010
Secondary or less	27,997	31,669	32,590	31,614	30,763	30,517	32,546	34,480	34,390	34,510	35,140
Trade	16,504	20,127	22,857	24,717	25,179	24,079	22,581	21,553	18,923	21,130	20,240
University	53,168	63,613	72,970	81,117	88,647	91,727	92,865	94,621	95,404	109,665	116,890
Other post -secondary	9,092	12,785	14,485	15,801	13,910	14,506	15,823	19,375	22,726	23,390	36,900
Other	7,218	8,452	7,588	6,435	6,324	6,325	6,340	6,060	6,672	7,315	9,045
Total	114,093	136,716	150,552	159,727	164,855	167,188	170,194	176,116	178,227	196,030	218,245

Source: Citizenship and Immigration Canada

Over this period, the number of international students in Canada has increased at an average growth rate of 7% per year. Students classified under the “Other Post Secondary” category have grown the fastest, at a rate of 15% per year, followed by those students classified in the “University” category, with an annual growth rate of 8%. Students who pursue study in the K-12 system have grown at a rate of 2% per year during this period, the same as those in the “trade” and “other” levels of study.

It should also be noted that between 2000 and 2003, enrolment of international students at the university level experienced double-digit annual growth rates. However, in recent years since 2005, it has not grown as fast as the average for all students.

Enrolment of international students in vocational trade colleges also enjoyed strong double-digit annual growth up to 2003. However, enrolment of students at this level of study has been declining steadily since 2004 and continued into 2010.

Table 4 indicates the distribution of international students in Canada at different levels of study. The information in this Table has been derived based on the stock of international students as of December 1st of each year reported by CIC.

Table 4 Distribution of International Students in Canada by Level of Study, 2000 to 2010

Distribution	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010
Secondary or less	24.5%	23.2%	21.6%	19.8%	18.7%	18.3%	19.1%	19.6%	19.3%	17.6%	16.1%
Trade	14.5%	14.7%	15.2%	15.5%	15.3%	14.4%	13.3%	12.2%	10.6%	10.8%	9.3%
University	46.6%	46.5%	48.5%	50.8%	53.8%	54.9%	54.6%	53.7%	53.5%	55.9%	53.6%
Other post -secondary	8.0%	9.4%	9.6%	9.9%	8.4%	8.7%	9.3%	11.0%	12.8%	11.9%	16.9%
Other	6.3%	6.2%	5.0%	4.0%	3.8%	3.8%	3.7%	3.4%	3.7%	3.7%	4.1%
Total	100.0%	100.0%	100.0%	100.0%	100.0%	100.0%	100.0%	100.0%	100.0%	100.0%	100.0%

Source: Citizenship and Immigration Canada

Data in Table 4 also indicate that Canada’s universities are most attractive to international students when we compare students in different levels of study. Together with other colleges, students in the post secondary system account for almost four-fifths (79.7% in 2010) of all international students in Canada who pursue study for more than six months.

4.1.2. Languages Canada Short Term Students

As described in the Methodology section, for international students who generally study for shorter than six months in Canada, and therefore would not have required a Study Permit issued by CIC, we have relied upon information provided to us by Languages Canada.  In 2010, Languages Canada surveyed their membership and, of the 154 institutions that replied, responses indicated enrollment of 136,906 students (representing 1,639,793 study weeks).  Of this number at least 110,157 students (almost 81%) were on short term programs of under 6 months (not all programs were able to report the breakdown of their study weeks by length of study). These numbers are for a combination of private post-secondary and public post-secondary non-credit language programs.

Therefore, using information provided by Languages Canada, it is estimated that a total of 1,134,638 student weeks were spent in Canada by international students in short term language training programs in 2010.

We note that Languages Canada does not have all language training institutions in Canada in its membership.  We further note that since there is no reliable data indicating the number of short-term international students enrolling in vocational training or other types of training, we have not been able to estimate the number of short-term international students other than those covered by Languages Canada.

4.2. By Province / Territory

4.2.1. Long Term Students

CIC data also provide a breakdown of the number of international students by province / territory. 

Table 4 shows the number of international students in each of the provinces and territories in Canada between 2004 and 2010 (as measured by the stock of international students on December 1st each year). Of all the provinces and territories, international students to Newfoundland and Labrador and Prince Edward Island have shown the strongest growth in enrollment in recent years, at a rate of 10.9% and 15.4% respectively, but starting from a small base number.  Nova Scotia is the third in line, with an annual growth rate of 6.4% per year over the period.

Table 5 Number of International Students in Canada by Province and Territory, 2004 to 2010 

	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010
Newfoundland and Labrador	915	1,049	1,203	1,382	1,524	1,525	1,700
Prince Edward Island	309	345	405	476	521	655	730
Nova Scotia	5,464	5,461	5,475	5,444	5,802	6,610	7,920
New Brunswick	3,193	3,242	3,181	3,228	3,263	3,285	3,515
Quebec	25,472	25,206	25,914	27,095	28,010	30,575	32,225
Ontario	62,266	62,834	63,815	65,517	65,833	72,960	85,280
Manitoba	4,762	4,972	5,147	5,256	4,873	5,385	5,710
Saskatchewan	3,630	3,734	3,493	3,536	3,656	3,965	4,340
Alberta	12,023	12,431	12,965	13,846	14,433	15,560	16,290
British Columbia	46,707	47,777	48,463	50,198	50,221	55,450	60,470
Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut	97	111	85	93	87	75	60
Total	164,838	167,162	170,146	176,077	178,227	196,030	218,245

Source: Citizenship and Immigration Canada

Because of its geographic size and the number of educational institutions, Ontario attracts the largest number of international students amongst all provinces and territories.  It takes almost 40% of all international students in Canada.  Although British Columbia only accounts for about 13% of the national population, it accounts for about 28% of the international students in the country, indicating the popularity of the province as an education destination.

Quebec, being the second most populous province in the country, accounts for almost 15% of the total number of international students in the country. Other provinces, especially the Maritime Provinces, have grown the number of international students in the region in recent years, although their share of the total number of international students remains relatively small.  Information describing the distribution of international students in Canada by province/territory can be found in Table 6. 

Table 6 Distribution of International Students in Canada by Province and Territory, 2004 to 2010

	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010
Newfoundland and Labrador	0.6%	0.6%	0.7%	0.8%	0.9%	0.8%	0.8%
Prince Edward Island	0.2%	0.2%	0.2%	0.3%	0.3%	0.3%	0.3%
Nova Scotia	3.3%	3.3%	3.2%	3.1%	3.3%	3.4%	3.6%
New Brunswick	1.9%	1.9%	1.9%	1.8%	1.8%	1.7%	1.6%
Quebec	15.5%	15.1%	15.2%	15.4%	15.7%	15.6%	14.8%
Ontario	37.8%	37.6%	37.5%	37.2%	36.9%	37.2%	39.1%
Manitoba	2.9%	3.0%	3.0%	3.0%	2.7%	2.7%	2.6%
Saskatchewan	2.2%	2.2%	2.1%	2.0%	2.1%	2.0%	2.0%
Alberta	7.3%	7.4%	7.6%	7.9%	8.1%	7.9%	7.5%
British Columbia	28.3%	28.6%	28.5%	28.5%	28.2%	28.3%	27.7%
Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut	0.1%	0.1%	0.0%	0.1%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%
Total	100.0%	100.0%	100.0%	100.0%	100.0%	100.0%	100.0%

Source: Citizenship and Immigration Canada

4.2.2. Languages Canada Short Term Students

In this subsection, we show the number of Languages Canada students pursuing language training, as well as the number of student weeks, in Canada, by region.

Table 7 Number of International Students in Canada in Language Training Programs, by Region, 2010

	Students	Weeks	Students <4 weeks	Students 4-12 weeks	Students 13-24 weeks	Students 25-36 weeks	Students 37-52 weeks	Students >1year
Alberta	9,573	100,049	623	6,234	827	690	415	21
BC	60,777	669,058	8,227	27,118	17,074	11,472	7,848	188
SK and MB	2,238	26,207	45	440	554	348	194	36
ON	50,269	643,896	6,506	20,212	10,711	5,365	1,891	284
QC	10,314	107,487	1,430	5,906	2,339	546	91	2
NS	2,937	65,210	104	767	805	471	595	195
Rest of ATLANTIC	798	27,886	129	74	32	6	555	2
Total	136,906	1,639,793	17,064	60,751	32,342	18,898	11,589	728

Source: Languages Canada

Data in Table 7 show the number of students in each province/region who pursued language training courses in 2010 by the length of their programs.  The total number of students (136,906) compared to the student weeks represented indicate that on average, these international students study for approximately 12 weeks in their programs.

It should be noted that, of 136,906 students, at least 110,157 students (almost 81%) were on short term programs of under 6 months (those in the columns "< 4 weeks", "4 to 12 weeks" and "13 to 24 weeks").  These represent 1,134,638 student weeks which is the number we will use in calculating expenditure for short term students later in Section 6.

As can be seen in Table 8, the percentage of international students in Languages Canada training programs is the largest in the province of BC, followed by in Ontario.  Data in Table 8 also indicates that the average length of study of these international students is the longest in the Atlantic Provinces.  In fact, their average length of study is 35 weeks, compared with the 11 to 12 weeks in other parts of the country.

Table 8 Distribution of International Students in Canada in Language Training Programs, by Region, 2010

	Students	Weeks	Students <4 weeks	Students 4-12 weeks	Students 13-24 weeks	Students 25-36weeks	Students 37-52 weeks	Students >1year
Alberta	7.0%	6.1%	3.7%	10.3%	2.6%	3.7%	3.6%	2.9%
BC	44.4%	40.8%	48.2%	44.6%	52.8%	60.7%	67.7%	25.8%
SK and MB	1.6%	1.6%	0.3%	0.7%	1.7%	1.8%	1.7%	4.9%
ON	36.7%	39.3%	38.1%	33.3%	33.1%	28.4%	16.3%	39.0%
QC	7.5%	6.6%	8.4%	9.7%	7.2%	2.9%	0.8%	0.3%
NS	2.1%	4.0%	0.6%	1.3%	2.5%	2.5%	5.1%	26.8%
Rest of ATLANTIC	0.6%	1.7%	0.8%	0.1%	0.1%	0.0%	4.8%	0.3%
Total	100.0%	100.0%	100.0%	100.0%	100.0%	100.0%	100.0%	100.0%

Source: Languages Canada

4.3. By Province / Territory and by Level of Education

4.3.1. Long Term Students

We have also obtained information from Citizenship and Immigration Canada on international student enrollment by province and by level of study. For the year 2010, the information is shown in Table 9.  

Table 9 Number of International Students in Canada by Level of Study, by Province and Territory, 2010

	Secondary or less	Trade	University	Other Post- Secondary	Other	Level of Study not Stated
Newfoundland and Labrador	100	30	1,470	90	10	0
Prince Edward Island	80	15	560	65	10	0
Nova Scotia	1,045	250	5,910	560	155	0
New Brunswick	415	65	2,625	250	160	0
Quebec	1,790	995	25,430	3,165	850	-
Ontario	12,640	9,065	39,135	19,295	5,135	10
Manitoba	845	195	4,050	535	85	-
Saskatchewan	765	55	3,235	235	45	-
Alberta	3,605	1,870	8,545	1,900	375	0
British Columbia	13,820	7,700	25,935	10,800	2,220	-
Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut	25	10	10	10	0	0
Total	35,140	20,240	116,890	36,900	9,045	-

Source: Citizenship and Immigration Canada

Numbers in this table represent our best estimates of international student enrollment in different levels of study (longer than six months of duration) in each of the provinces and territories and will be the basis for our calculation in Section 6.

Table 9 shows the distribution of international students by level of study in the provinces and territories.  In the Maritime Provinces as well as the provinces of Quebec, Manitoba and Saskatchewan, university students account for at least 70% of all international students studying in each of these provinces. In Ontario, Alberta, and BC, however, the shares of university students are lower than the national average.  This is because international students in other levels of programs account for a much higher share of their total. 

It should be noted that data shown for Territories may not correctly represent enrollment in the K-12 system.  We are unaware of any international education program in the three territories.  Therefore, we have not calculated any impact at this level of study.[5]

Table 10 Distribution of International Students in Canada by Level of Study, by Province and Territory, 2010

	Secondary or less	Trade	University	Other Post- Secondary	Other	Level of Study not Stated
Newfoundland and Labrador	5.9%	1.8%	86.5%	5.3%	0.6%	-
Prince Edward Island	11.0%	2.1%	76.7%	8.9%	1.4%	-
Nova Scotia	13.2%	3.2%	74.6%	7.1%	2.0%	-
New Brunswick	11.8%	1.8%	74.7%	7.1%	4.6%	0.0%
Quebec	5.6%	3.1%	78.9%	9.8%	2.6%	-
Ontario	14.8%	10.6%	45.9%	22.6%	6.0%	-
Manitoba	14.8%	3.4%	70.9%	9.4%	1.5%	-
Saskatchewan	17.6%	1.3%	74.6%	5.4%	1.0%	-
Alberta	22.1%	11.5%	52.4%	11.7%	2.3%	-
British Columbia	22.9%	12.7%	42.9%	17.9%	3.7%	-
Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut	45.5%	18.2%	18.2%	18.2%	0.0%	-
Total	19.3%	10.6%	53.5%	12.8%	3.7%	-

Source: Citizenship and Immigration Canada

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[4] For more information see Research and Statistics 

[5] For example, Yukon Government stated that there is no international student program in the public K-12 system. (See link: International Program)