International postsecondary students in Canada: 2020 graduates

Release date: June 20, 2024

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Infographic: International postsecondary students in Canada: 2020 graduates — Description: International postsecondary students in Canada: 2020 graduates

In 2020, 127,810 international students earned a postsecondary certificate, diploma or degree in Canada, up from 48,780 in 2014. During this period, the proportion of international students among all postsecondary graduates more than doubled from 11% to 24%.^{Note 1}

International students who graduated in 2020 were more likely to have employment income two years after graduation than those who graduated in 2014
Table summary
This table displays the results of International students who graduated in 2020 were more likely to have employment income two years after graduation than those who graduated in 2014 2014 graduates and 2020 graduates (appearing as column headers).
2014 graduates 2020 graduates

Two years after graduation...

Employment income information available and not a full-time student in Canada 60% 74%

Full-time student in Canada 8% 5%

No employment income information available^{Note 2} 32% 20%

Of the 95,120 international students (74%) who graduated in 2020, for whom employment income information was available two years later and who were not full-time students…

More than two-thirds graduated from three fields of study
Table summary
This table displays the results of More than two-thirds graduated from three fields of study Percentage (appearing as column headers).
Percentage

Business and administration 43%

Engineering and engineering technology 16%

Mathematics and computer and information sciences 11%

All other fields 31%

Fields of study with the highest median employment income two years after graduation, by educational qualification

Table 3
Table summary
This table displays the results of Table 3 College diploma (appearing as column headers).
College diploma^{Note 3}

Health care $46,500

Engineering and engineering technology $45,700

Mathematics and computer and information sciences $43,500

Table 4
Table summary
This table displays the results of Table 4 Undergraduate degree (appearing as column headers).
Undergraduate degree

Mathematics and computer and information sciences $66,200

Engineering and engineering technology $62,600

Business and administration $49,500

Table 5
Table summary
This table displays the results of Table 5 Master’s degree (appearing as column headers).
Master’s degree

Mathematics and computer and information sciences $85,800

Engineering and engineering technology $67,000

Business and administration $65,400

**Source:** Statistics Canada, table 37-10-0158-01 – Characteristics and median employment income of postsecondary graduates two years after graduation, by educational qualification and field of study (STEM and BHASE (non-STEM) groupings).

Notes

Footnote 1.

Includes graduates of public postsecondary educational institutions in Canada. “International students” includes students studying in Canada on student visas, non-Canadian students in Canada on other types of visas, non-Canadians whose visa status is unknown, and non-Canadian students studying from outside Canada (e.g., by Internet). See “Labour market outcomes for college and university graduates, 2010 to 2020” (Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 37-20-00012024001) for methodology and definitions.

Return to note 1 referrer

Footnote 2.

Refers to graduates for whom tax information was not available two years after graduation for various reasons (e.g., they filed their taxes late or not at all, or they left Canada after graduating).

Return to note 2 referrer

Footnote 3.

While business and administration was the most popular field of study for international student graduates with a college diploma, it was not among the three fields of study for which the median employment income was highest two years after graduation; the median income for these graduates was $39,000.

Return to note 3 referrer

International students who graduated in 2020 were more likely to have employment income two years after graduation than those who graduated in 2014
Table summary
This table displays the results of International students who graduated in 2020 were more likely to have employment income two years after graduation than those who graduated in 2014 2014 graduates and 2020 graduates (appearing as column headers).
	2014 graduates	2020 graduates
Two years after graduation...
Employment income information available and not a full-time student in Canada	60%	74%
Full-time student in Canada	8%	5%
No employment income information available^{Note 2}	32%	20%

More than two-thirds graduated from three fields of study
Table summary
This table displays the results of More than two-thirds graduated from three fields of study Percentage (appearing as column headers).
	Percentage
Business and administration	43%
Engineering and engineering technology	16%
Mathematics and computer and information sciences	11%
All other fields	31%

Table 3
Table summary
This table displays the results of Table 3 College diploma (appearing as column headers).
	College diploma^{Note 3}
Health care	$46,500
Engineering and engineering technology	$45,700
Mathematics and computer and information sciences	$43,500

Table 4
Table summary
This table displays the results of Table 4 Undergraduate degree (appearing as column headers).
	Undergraduate degree
Mathematics and computer and information sciences	$66,200
Engineering and engineering technology	$62,600
Business and administration	$49,500

Table 5
Table summary
This table displays the results of Table 5 Master’s degree (appearing as column headers).
	Master’s degree
Mathematics and computer and information sciences	$85,800
Engineering and engineering technology	$67,000
Business and administration	$65,400

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Copyright

Published by authority of the Minister responsible for Statistics Canada.

Use of this publication is governed by the Statistics Canada Open Licence Agreement.

Catalogue no. 11-627-M

Frequency: Occasional

Ottawa

Date modified:: 2024-06-20

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International postsecondary students in Canada: 2020 graduates