Read the original article at this link:
http://monitor.icef.com/2016/11/canadas-international-student-enrolment-up-8/
With the release of the annual A World of Learning report from the Canadian Bureau for International Education (CBIE), Canada became the latest major study destination to report on international enrolment trends.
The 2016 edition of A World of Learning: Canada’s Performance and Potential in International Education reports that there were 353,570 international students in Canada in 2015. This represents year-over-year growth of 8%, and echoes the recent-year trend reported in the US of slowing growth for the year.
These statistics are based on Canadian immigration data, on a count of those students holding a study permit for extended studies in Canada. Similar data from Languages Canada indicates that there were an additional 90,000 international students in Canada for shorter-term language studies in 2015, suggesting that the total head count for the year was closer to 450,000 students.
Significantly, the number of foreign students in Canada grew by 92% between 2008 and 2015. About 75% of the students in the CBIE count are now enrolled at the post-secondary level, with another 16% in secondary studies or lower.
International student enrolment in Canada, all levels of study, 2008-2015. Source: CBIE
More than 60% of all international students in Canada come from five sending markets: China, India, France, South Korea, and the US – with the US supplanting Saudi Arabia for the number five spot this year. As the following chart reflects, nearly two-thirds come from Asia, and almost half from East Asia alone.
Regional distribution of Canada’s international student enrolment, 2015. Source: CBIE.
Competitiveness and student visas
Timeliness and transparency in student visa processing are key aspects of international competitiveness in student recruitment.
CBIE reports that overall study permit approval rates have been stable in recent years, with 71% of all student visa applications approved in 2015 (down slightly from 2014’s 72% approval rate).
More attractive
Canada’s attractiveness as a study destination has strengthened over the past year.
The CBIE report observes, “Recent world events suggest that Canada may become an even more popular study destination. In a recent study, almost one third of international students said they would be less likely to study in the UK as a result of the Brexit referendum, with 32% indicating that they would choose Canada as an alternative study destination. In addition, Canada has a strong educational reputation and is the most affordable study destination for international students at the university level among the top destinations of the US, the UK, and Australia. This combination of factors continues to make Canada an attractive choice for international students.”
