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Feasibility Study: Estimating the International Student Population in Canada Using Administrative Data. Education, Learning and Training Research Paper Series. Catalogue No. 81‑595‑M

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Bibliographic Details
Title: Feasibility Study: Estimating the International Student Population in Canada Using Administrative Data. Education, Learning and Training Research Paper Series. Catalogue No. 81‑595‑M
Language: English
Authors: Félix Blain, André Lebel, Camille Proulx, Ted Si Yuan Cheng
Source: Statistics Canada. 2026.
Availability: Statistics Canada. 150 Tunney's Pasture Driveway, Ottawa, ON K1A 0T6, Canada. Tel: 800-307-3382; Fax: 613-951-4441; e-mail: educationstats@statcan.gc.ca; Web site: http://www.statcan.gc.ca
Peer Reviewed: N
Page Count: 15
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Reports - Research
Education Level: Postsecondary Education
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Foreign Students, Feasibility Studies, Data Use, Postsecondary Education, Population Trends, Full Time Students, Demography, Geographic Regions
Geographic Terms: Canada
ISSN: 2818-7628
Abstract: Following the changes to the international education program announced by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) in 2024, this study examines the feasibility of producing current estimates of the number of international students enrolled in public postsecondary institutions in Canada. Using data from the Postsecondary Student Information System (PSIS) and supplemented by administrative data sources, these estimates are intended to fill an important data gap for recent academic years, specifically 2024/2025 and 2025/2026. Preliminary results suggest that the new government measures led to a sharp decline in the new cohorts of international students and, to a lesser extent, a decline in total international student enrolment in public postsecondary institutions. The results indicate that in the short term--over two academic years--these measures may have significantly reduced the size of new cohorts of international students (-64%) in 2025/2026 and, more moderately, the total number of international students in public postsecondary institutions (-29%). The total number of international students appears to have particularly fallen in college programs (-42%) and in Ontario (-36%).
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: ED680600
Database: ERIC
Description
Abstract:Following the changes to the international education program announced by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) in 2024, this study examines the feasibility of producing current estimates of the number of international students enrolled in public postsecondary institutions in Canada. Using data from the Postsecondary Student Information System (PSIS) and supplemented by administrative data sources, these estimates are intended to fill an important data gap for recent academic years, specifically 2024/2025 and 2025/2026. Preliminary results suggest that the new government measures led to a sharp decline in the new cohorts of international students and, to a lesser extent, a decline in total international student enrolment in public postsecondary institutions. The results indicate that in the short term--over two academic years--these measures may have significantly reduced the size of new cohorts of international students (-64%) in 2025/2026 and, more moderately, the total number of international students in public postsecondary institutions (-29%). The total number of international students appears to have particularly fallen in college programs (-42%) and in Ontario (-36%).
ISSN:2818-7628