Study: The changing sociodemographic characteristics of international students

Released: 2021-07-28

International students are an important future source of skilled labour in Canada, as they may be eligible for permanent residency through immigration programs after graduation. Attracting students from a wide diversity of countries, as well as to a variety of regions and programs, fosters sustainable growth in Canada's international education sector and distributes benefits across the country.

A new study "International students as a source of labour supply: The growing number of international students and their changing sociodemographic characteristics" examines the changing sociodemographic characteristics of international students.

Over the 2000-to-2019 period, the annual number of first-time study permit holders increased from 70,000 to 250,000. There was a trend of increased concentration in programs of study, source countries and provinces of study of international students.

The number of international students increased faster at the college and master's degree levels than at other levels. While the shares of international students intending to study at high school or lower levels declined, this was offset by an increase of those intending to study at the college and master's degree levels.

The share of first-time study permit holders for college programs grew from 28% in the 2000-to-2004 period to 34% in the 2015-to-2019 period. The share intending to study at the master's degree level increased from 6% to 9%. The shares intending to study at the bachelor's degree level (15%) and at the doctorate degree level (2%) remained fairly stable over the entire period.

Seven countries—South Korea, China, Japan, the United States, France, Mexico and India—remained among the top 10 source countries over the entire period. The total share of international students from these countries also grew when taken as a group, from 59% in the 2000-to-2004 period to 67% in the 2015-to-2019 period. The United Kingdom, Taiwan and Germany made up the rest of the top 10 sources for the 2000-to-2004 period, replaced by Brazil, Nigeria and Vietnam for the 2015-to-2019 period.

The increase in concentration occurred both at the college and university levels. At the college level, the share of international students from India grew from 4% in the 2000-to-2004 period to 67% in the 2015-to-2019 period. At the university level, India replaced China in the 2015-to-2019 period as the number one source country.

In terms of province of study, Ontario attracted the largest share (37%) of international students in the early 2000s, and this share has grown to 49% in the 2015-to-2019 period, predominantly occurring at the college level. As the province attracting the second-largest number of international students, British Columbia saw its share fall from 31% in the 2001-to-2004 period to 23% in the 2015-to-2019 period.

The most common field of study pursued by international students over the 2011-to-2017 period was business, management and public administration. Growing shares of international students studied mathematics, computer and information sciences, and physical and life sciences and technologies.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the number of international students in Canada. As a result of the shutdowns and travel restrictions, the number of international students whose study permits became effective in 2020 decreased by 36% relative to the 2019 level. The sociodemographic composition of international students might also have changed since the main source countries were affected by the pandemic differently.

This study is part of series on international students as a source of labour supply done in collaboration with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada and being released in Economic and Social Reports. Previous releases include "International students as a source of labour supply: Transition to permanent residency" and "International students as a source of labour supply: Retention in their province of study."

Products

The study "International students as a source of labour supply: The growing number of international students and their changing sociodemographic characteristics," part of Economic and Social Reports, Vol. 1, no. 7 (36-28-0001), is now available.

Contact information

For more information contact us (toll-free 1-800-263-1136; 514-283-8300; STATCAN.infostats-infostats.STATCAN@canada.ca).

To enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact us Feng Hou (613) 608-4932; (feng.hou@canada.ca), Social Analysis and Modelling Division.