Canada continues to be a top destination for international students, with Immigration Minister Marc Miller indicating that the country is on track to host around 900,000 international students in 2023. Recent data from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada suggests even that number could be an undercount.
From January to June 2023, the Canadian government issued more than 280,000 new study permits,1 a 77% increase compared to the same period in 2022.2
In today’s ApplyInsights, we’ll take a close look at the makeup of this growing student cohort. Where are these students coming from, and where in Canada are they going? Which student populations are experiencing the most rapid growth? Read on for the data and our analysis.
Key Insights at a Glance
- The Canadian government processed over 435,000 new study permit applications from January to June 2023, representing a 49% increase over January to June 2022.
- Over the same period, more than 280,000 new study permits were issued to international students looking to study abroad in Canada.
- We expect Nigeria to surpass 40,000 study permits issued in 2023 and solidify its position as Canada’s second-largest source market.
- 60% of all new study permit applications were approved from January to June 2023, up three percentage points from full-year 2022.
Canadian Study Permit Applications, Issued Poised to Hit Record Numbers
Canada has been working hard to attract more talent to Canada to address economic pressures following the pandemic. In 2022, Canada accounted for approximately nine percent of all global international student inflows, and its influence is poised to grow even further in 2023.
So far, 2023 numbers are more than two-thirds of the way to matching 2022 numbers. The Canadian government processed over 435,000 study permit applications in the first half of the year, marking a 49% increase from the same period in 2022.
The chart below shows how many study permits were issued from 2017 through the first half of 2023, as well as our projection for the rest of the year:
From January to June 2023, over 280,000 new study permits were issued to international students looking to study abroad in Canada. This represented a 77% increase compared to 2022, when the first six months saw the issuance of just over 159,000 study permits.
With that in mind, we expect to see new study permits issued to hit a new record for full-year 2023 of nearly 600,000 permits.
Quebec, Prairies See Strongest Growth in International Student Numbers
Ontario, British Columbia, and Quebec have historically been hotspots for incoming international students. However, with housing and affordability top of mind, more students are choosing to study in Canadian provinces with lower cost of living and tuition rates this year.
Let’s take a closer look at where international students are studying in Canada in 2023:
In the first half of 2023, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Quebec were among the fastest-growing provinces compared to last year. Students coming to Alberta were issued 139% more study permits from January to June 2023 as over the same period last year. In Saskatchewan, 116% more study permits were issued compared to January to June 2022. Parts of Atlantic Canada saw above average growth as well.
While the shift is minor, we are seeing more international students favouring smaller provinces. Canada’s two largest destination markets, Ontario and British Columbia, had year-over-year growth of 87% and 42%, respectively, with British Columbia’s market share dropping by a percentage point. This shift in regional choice is likely to continue as more students opt for more affordable provinces with post-graduation employment opportunities.
African Student Populations Among Those Growing Rapidly in Canada
With student diversity a top consideration among Canadian institutions, many are concentrating their recruitment efforts on markets that are growing quickly. With that in mind, let’s take a look at which countries were the fastest-growing markets in 2023:
Many top student populations had a faster-than-average pace in the first half of 2023. For example, India had 92% more study permits issued in the first six months of 2023 than the first six months last year, with nearly 135,000 study permits issued from January to June.
Nigeria, Nepal, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, and Guinea grew significantly this year. Each country has (nearly) matched or surpassed full-year 2022 numbers and should stand out to Canadian institutions looking to attract more international students. Higher study permit approval rates and shorter study permit processing times are making a Canadian education more attainable for African students.
If this momentum continues, we expect Nigeria to surpass 40,000 study permits issued in 2023 and become Canada’s second-largest source country for international students.
Stay tuned to ApplyInsights for a deep dive into the latest study permit trends for Nigeria.
Application Numbers and Approval Rates are Rising in Early 2023
Since 2016, new study permit approval rates have generally been declining. But early in 2023, there was a slight uptick in approval rates, as the following chart shows:
Between January and June 2023, approval rates for study permit applications reached 60%, marking a three-percentage-point increase from the previous year. In 2022, the approval rate from January to June was 57%, consistent with the full-year approval rate. If this trend continues over the remainder of the year, it will mark just the second time the approval rate has increased in seven years.
Approval rates do fluctuate later in the year, particularly with the high volume of study permit applications processed ahead of the fall term. Even so, we expect the full-year rate to fall within a percent or two of 60%. While that would only be a small increase from 2022, it’s still good news for students and institutions.
Looking Forward
As we look into the second half of 2023, Canada’s international education sector shows no signs of slowing down.
With much of this growth happening in emerging markets, Canadian institutions have a real opportunity to diversify their student bodies. Countries like Nigeria, Nepal, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, and Guinea have emerged as some of the fastest-growing source markets in Canada this year and are worth exploring.
Over the last few weeks, we’ve seen growing concerns about Canada’s housing crisis and burgeoning international student population. At ApplyBoard, our top priority is that students are successfully supported throughout their educational journeys. If Canada does not maintain its momentum in showing students that Canada is prepared to welcome students to greater opportunities, we risk generational damage in attracting top talent.
Long-term solutions will take careful planning and coordination among stakeholders. In speaking with representatives of our partner institutions, we know many are working closely with their communities to share their student intake goals. This critical first step allows planning to be conducted at a regional level to ensure alignment, adequate housing, and student support. We look forward to continue working with each of our partners to ensure every student coming to Canada can live and study in safety and comfort.
Subscribe to ApplyInsights
Sign up for the latest insights on international education.
About the ApplyInsights Team
FOOTNOTES:
1. The terms student visa and study permit are generally used interchangeably for Canadian international students. Rather than student visas, Canada provides accepted international students with study permits, which allow those students to enroll in classes at Canadian institutions. When a student is accepted for a study permit, they are also usually provided with a visitor visa, which allows that student to enter Canada for their studies. For the purposes of this article, we’ll use the terms interchangeably.
2. All data courtesy of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
