Research summary – Distance education in Canada

Official title: Demographic Profile and Labour Market Outcomes of Post-secondary Graduates Who Participated in Distance Education

Author of report: Mohammad Chowdhury

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Distance education in Canada: Alternate Formats [PDF - 222 KB]

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Why this study

We took on this research to learn more about:

  • the characteristics of students taking part in distance education programs, and
  • the benefits and barriers related to online learning, or distance education

What we did

We took data from the 2013 and 2018 National Graduates Surveys. Our focus was on post-secondary graduates who took part in distance education while they were in school in Canada. We looked at their demographic characteristics and how they did after completing their studies. This included:

  • whether they got a job
  • how much they earned, and
  • how much it matched to what they studied in school

We compared these findings with post-secondary graduates who did not take part in distance education while they were in school.

What we found

About one-third of post-secondary graduates who finished school in 2015 took part in some form of distance education. Nearly one-quarter of graduates took less than half of their studies through distance education and 7% of graduates took half or more of their program through distance education.

Certain factors played a role in a graduate's decision to having taken part in distance education, such as:

  • sex
  • age
  • marital status
  • citizenship status
  • disability status
  • field of study
  • level of study
  • location of post-secondary school

Graduates who took part in distance education were more likely to have a permanent job 3 years

out of school.

Graduates who took part in distance education were not any more likely to be working in a job

related to their field of study.

Graduates who took half or more of their schooling through distance education were more likely to

have earnings higher than $60,000. This is in comparison to graduates who did not take any distance

education.

Taking part in distance education was more beneficial for college and bachelor's graduates aged 40

and older.

What it means

The findings help the federal government better understand how well graduates who took part in distance education did after leaving school. Such information can be helpful in supporting learners through school and their efforts to find a job after graduation.

Contact us

Learning Branch, Learning Policy and Services Directorate, Policy, Planning and Partnerships Division

Email: ESDC.NC.SSPB.RESEARCH-RECHERCHE.DGPSS.CN.EDSC@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca

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