International student enrolments at Canadian public colleges, 2014/2015 and 2023/2024

Release date: November 20, 2025
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Infographic: International student enrolments at Canadian public colleges, 2014/2015 and 2023/2024
Description: International student enrolments at Canadian public colleges, 2014/2015 and 2023/2024

In 2023/2024, 50.4% of international postsecondary students in Canada were enrolled in public colleges, up from 26.7% in 2014/2015.

Table 1
Table summary
This table displays the results of Table 1 , calculated using (appearing as column headers).
  Number Percentage
2014/2015 58,125 26.7%
2023/2024 288,798 50.4%

The top 5 countries of citizenship of international public college students shifted between the two academic years, with India representing the majority of students in 2023/2024.

Table 2
Table summary
This table displays the results of Table 2 2014/2015, 2023/2024, Country of citizenship, Number, Percentage, Country of citizenship, Number and Percentage, calculated using units of measure (appearing as column headers).
  2014/2015 2023/2024
Country of citizenship Number Percentage Country of citizenship Number Percentage
1 China 12,066 26.6% India 161,724 58.8%
2 India 11,820 26.1% Philippines 17,934 6.5%
3 South Korea 2,472 5.5% Nepal 10,785 3.9%
4 France 1,815 4.0% Nigeria 10,368 3.8%
5 Saudi Arabia 1,080 2.4% China 6,180 2.2%

From 2014/2015 to 2023/2024, the proportion of international students enrolled in public colleges increased in all the provinces. In both years, the largest proportion was observed in Ontario.

Table 3
Table summary
This table displays the results of Table 3 , calculated using (appearing as column headers).
  2014/2015 2023/2024
Newfoundland and Labrador 1.0% 9.2%
Prince Edward Island 4.1% 18.8%
Nova Scotia 0.0% 9.8%
New Brunswick 6.7% 35.5%
Quebec 2.5% 6.6%
Ontario 12.7% 50.2%
Manitoba 6.5% 27.9%
Saskatchewan 1.6% 16.5%
Alberta 7.0% 25.3%
British Columbia 9.5% 27.9%

Top 3 fields of study of international public college students

2014/2015:

  • Business and administration: 36.1%
  • Trades, services, natural resources and conservation: 15.5%
  • Arts and humanities: 14.4%

2023/2024

  • Business and administration: 44.8%
  • Mathematics and computer and information sciences: 13.1%
  • Engineering and engineering technology: 9.4%

Notes:

  • International students include non-Canadian students who hold a study permit or another type of visa, as well as those who have no visa, who have refugee status, or whose status is unknown.
  • Data for the territories are excluded from this infographic.

Source: Statistics Canada, Postsecondary Student Information System, 2014/2015 and 2023/2024.

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Copyright

Published by authority of the Minister responsible for Statistics Canada.

© His Majesty the King in Right of Canada, as represented by the Minister of Industry, 2025

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

Catalogue no. 11-627-M

Frequency: Occasional

Ottawa

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