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Tuesday, January 18, 2005

University degrees, diplomas and certificates awarded

2001

University students received a record number of bachelor's and master's degrees in 2001 as the overall level of degrees, certificates and diplomas granted by universities rose for the third straight year.

A record 129,000 students obtained a bachelor's degree in 2001, the fifth consecutive annual increase. However, this was only 0.3% higher than it was in 2000.

In addition, a record 24,900 students obtained a master's degree, up 2.6% from 2000, the fourth straight annual increase. Undergraduate certificates and diplomas were up 3.1%, the first increase in seven years for that type of qualification.

Universities awarded only 3,700 doctorates in 2001, down 3.7% from 2000 and the lowest level in six years.

Overall, universities granted 178,000 degrees, diplomas and certificates in 2001, up 0.8% from 2000. This total was just short of the record high of 178,100 set 1996, which marked a recovery from declines at the end of the 1990s.

A record number of women received degrees, diplomas and certificates in 2001.

Level of qualifications granted increasing

The restructuring of Canada's economy over the past 25 years has had a clear impact on demand for a university education and the expectation of students on labour market requirements.

Many more entry level jobs in today's economy require higher postsecondary qualifications than in the past. This factor might explain some shifts in university qualifications granted.


Note to readers

Since 2000, data on degrees granted have been obtained using information from the Enhanced Student Information System (ESIS) and the University Student Information System (USIS).

Data on the fields of study are coded according to the new Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP). Before ESIS was implemented, the Postsecondary Education and Adult Learning Section of the Centre for Education Statistics used the USIS classification for the coding of university level fields of study. USIS-to-CIP and CIP-to-USIS conversion tables are available upon request.

Data on program levels, citizenship and immigration status were coded using the new ESIS classifications. Conversion tables are also available for these variables.

Historical data on graduates for 1992 to 2001 were converted using ESIS variable definitions and code sets, so as to maintain the historical continuity of the statistical series.

For Quebec institutions, the CIP codes assigned to programs are under review.

Data on immigration status, country of citizenship and age has to be use with caution due to a high level of non-reporting.


In 2001, the number of graduate level qualifications awarded reached a record high of almost 31,100, an 11.7% increase since 1996.

The 15.3% jump in the number of master's degrees was mostly responsible for the increase during the entire six-year period between 1996 and 2001. The number of graduate diplomas and certificates increased by 7.2% while the number of doctorates awarded fell 5.4%.

Undergraduate degrees, certificates and diplomas accounted for the vast majority (82%) of the overall total in 2001. However, between 1996 and 2001, the number of undergrad qualifications declined 2.3% to 146,300.

This decline was due entirely to a 20.5% decrease in certificates and diplomas granted during this six-year period. However, in 2001 alone, there was a 3.1% annual increase.

The number of bachelor's degrees advanced only 0.8% during the six-year period.

Record number of qualifications granted to women

A record high 105,100 women received a degree, diploma or certificate in 2001, accounting for 59% of the total. In comparison, 72,900 men received a qualification.

Between 1996 and 2001, the number of women receiving a university level qualification increased 2.0%, while the number of their male counterparts fell 2.9%.

A total of 77,600 women received a bachelor's degree, while 13,000 received a master's degree, both record highs.

Men outnumbered women only in the area of earned doctorates. Men accounted for 57% of all doctoral degrees granted in 2001. However, during the six-year period, the number of men receiving a doctorate declined 17.7%, while the number of women rose 18.6%.

Proportionally, more men received graduate level qualifications than women. Over 20% of men who received a qualification at a university in 2001 were granted graduate level qualifications, compared with 15.2% for women.

Some 16.3% of men received a master's degree, and 2.9% a doctorate. Among women, 12.4% received a master's, and 1.5% a doctorate.

Fields of study: Business, math, engineering leading the increase

The number of degrees, diplomas and certificates increased in four key fields in 2001. These were visual and performing arts, and communications technologies; business, management and public administration; mathematics, computer and information sciences; and architecture, engineering and related technologies.

Each of those fields of study registered a record high number of qualifications in 2001.

Compare with 1996, the rate of increase for women outpaced the rate among men in each of those fields. The sole exception was mathematics, computer and information sciences, where the number of men receiving a degree rose 30.9%, compared with a 20.8% gain for women.

The number of graduates fell in four fields: agriculture, natural resources and conservation; health, parks, recreation and fitness; social and behavioral sciences, and law; and education. In each of those fields except education, the decrease was due to men. In education, the number of qualifications awarded for both men and women decreased.

The number of graduates in two fields remained stable: humanities and physical and life sciences and technologies.

Over the long term, the number of graduates in various fields seems to reflect changes in the labour force. Since 1996, the number of qualifications has declined in education, social and behavioural sciences and law; health, parks, recreation and fitness; and humanities.

However, the proportion of qualifications awarded increased 2.9% in business, management and public administration, and 1.1% in mathematics, computer and information sciences. Close to 7 out of every 10 qualifications in 2001 were awarded in those fields of study.

In the other fields of study, the proportion of qualifications awarded remained stable for the six-year period.

More detailed data are now available from the University Student Information System and the Enhanced Student Information System. Tables and other statistical products are available on request.

Available on CANSIM: tables 477-0011 and 477-0012.

Definitions, data sources and methods: survey number 5017.

To obtain statistical products, contact Client Services (1-800-307-3382; 613-951-7608; fax: 613-951-9040; educationstats@statcan.gc.ca). To enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact Manon Declos: 613-951-9298; fax: 613-951-6765; manon.declos@statcan.gc.ca or Sylvie Bonhomme: 613-951-5366; fax: 613-951-6765; sylvie.bonhomme@statcan.gc.ca), Culture, Tourism and the Centre for Education Statistics.

University qualifications awarded by program level and gender
  1996 1999 2000r 2001 1996 to 2001 2000 to 2001
          % change1
Total qualifications2, 3 178,100 173,600 176,600 178,000 -0.1 0.8
Female 103,000 101,400 103,300 105,100 2.0 1.7
Male 75,100 72,200 73,200 72,900 -2.9 -0.4
Undergraduate level            
Total degree, certificate and diploma2 149,700 143,500 145,300 146,300 -2.3 0.6
Female 89,100 86,200 87,200 88,800 -0.3 1.9
Male 60,600 57,300 58,200 57,400 -5.3 -1.3
Bachelor's, 1st professional and applied degree2 128,000 126,400 128,600 129,000 0.8 0.3
Female 74,900 75,100 76,500 77,600 3.5 1.4
Male 53,000 51,400 52,100 51,400 -3.1 -1.3
Undergraduate certificate and diploma2 21,800 17,100 16,800 17,300 -20.5 3.1
Female 14,200 11,100 10,700 11,200 -20.6 5.5
Male 7,600 5,900 6,100 6,100 -20.2 -1.1
Graduate level            
Total degree, certificate and diploma2 27,800 29,500 30,700 31,100 11.7 1.2
Female 13,600 14,900 15,900 16,000 17.1 0.3
Male 14,200 14,600 14,800 15,100 6.6 2.1
Master's degree2 21,600 23,300 24,200 24,900 15.3 2.6
Female 11,000 12,100 12,800 13,000 18.3 1.2
Male 10,600 11,200 11,400 11,900 12.2 4.2
Earned doctorate 3,900 4,000 3,900 3,700 -5.4 -3.7
Female 1,300 1,600 1,600 1,600 18.6 -0.1
Male 2,600 2,400 2,300 2,100 -17.7 -6.2
Graduate certificate and diploma 2,300 2,200 2,700 2,500 7.2 -5.2
Female 1,300 1,200 1,500 1,400 5.2 -7.3
Male 1,000 1,000 1,200 1,100 9.9 -2.4
Non-university level 500 600 500 600 12.9 30.7
Female 300 300 200 300 5.2 16.6
Male 300 300 200 300 20.3 45.6
1.Percentage are based on actual, non-rounded figures.
2.Total includes sex unknown.
3.Figures for totals may not add-up because of rounding.
rRevised data.
Note:Figures are rounded to the nearest 100.

University qualifications awarded by field of study
  1996 1999 2000r 2001 1996 to 2001 2000 to 2001
          % change1
Total qualifications2, 3 178,100 173,600 176,600 178,000 -0.1 0.8
Female 103,000 101,400 103,300 105,100 2.0 1.7
Male 75,100 72,200 73,200 72,900 -2.9 -0.4
Education2 25,700 22,300 22,500 22,100 -13.9 -1.8
Female 19,000 16,500 16,700 16,600 -12.4 -0.4
Male 6,800 5,800 5,900 5,500 -18.1 -5.6
Visual and performing arts, and communications technologies 5,200 5,200 5,400 5,900 13.1 9.5
Female 3,400 3,500 3,700 4,000 15.9 8.6
Male 1,800 1,700 1,700 1,900 7.7 11.3
Humanities2 22,400 19,600 20,100 20,200 -9.8 0.6
Female 14,100 12,500 12,900 13,000 -8.1 0.9
Male 8,300 7,100 7,200 7,200 -12.8 0.0
Socia land behavioural sciences, and law2 39,000 36,700 36,300 35,700 -8.5 -1.8
Female 24,400 23,400 23,300 23,200 -4.6 0.0
Male 14,600 13,300 13,100 12,400 -15.0 -4.9
Business, management and public administration 30,100 31,600 33,200 35,100 16.8 5.7
Female 15,800 16,800 17,900 19,200 21.7 7.3
Male 14,300 14,900 15,300 15,900 11.4 3.8
Physical and life sciences, and technologies 14,600 14,600 14,700 14,700 0.8 0.1
Female 7,500 7,800 8,000 8,300 11.4 4.2
Male 7,100 6,800 6,700 6,400 -10.3 -4.7
Mathematics, computer and information sciences 7,000 7,700 8,400 8,900 27.5 5.6
Female 2,300 2,400 2,700 2,800 20.8 5.3
Male 4,700 5,300 5,800 6,100 30.9 5.7
Architecture, engineering and related technologies 13,300 12,800 13,300 13,900 3.9 4.2
Female 2,900 2,900 3,300 3,300 14.1 -0.3
Male 10,500 9,900 10,000 10,600 1.1 5.7
Agriculture, natural resources and conservation 3,000 3,800 4,000 3,800 26.2 -4.4
Female 1,300 1,900 1,900 2,000 46.0 1.2
Male 1,700 1,900 2,100 1,900 10.4 -9.7
Health, parks, recreation and fitness 16,700 16,900 16,500 16,200 -3.4 -2.2
Female 11,600 12,000 11,600 11,700 0.7 0.7
Male 5,100 4,900 4,900 4,500 -12.8 -9.1
Personal, protective and transportation services 100 100 100 200 210.8 180.5
Female 0 0 0 0 210.0 210.0
Male 100 100 100 200 210.9 176.4
Other 1,000 2,200 2,000 1,200 28.4 -36.7
Female 700 1,700 1,400 900 34.9 -37.3
Male 300 600 500 300 14.0 -35.2
1.Percentage are based on actual, non-rounded figures.
2.Total includes sex unknown.
3.Figures for totals may not add-up because of rounding.
rRevised data.
Note:Figures are rounded to the nearest 100.


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Date Modified: 2005-01-18 Important Notices