CIMM – International Student Program At A Glance – February 28, 2024
Annual Study Permit Applications Received by IRCC (Excluding Extensions)
| Applications | |
|---|---|
| 2019 | 425,563 |
| 2020 | 315,783 |
| 2021 | 556,045 |
| 2022 | 713,779 |
Source: COGNOS (MBR) extracted as of January 12, 2024
Study Permit Applications Processed by IRCC (Excluding Extensions) – Comparison of 2019 and 2023
| 2019 | 2023 | |
|---|---|---|
| Study Permit Applications Processed | 423,767 | 863,067 |
| Approved | 252,927 | 510,361 |
| Refused | 169,672 | 346,987 |
| Withdrawn | 1,168 | 5,719 |
Based on applications processed by IRCC. Percentages are calculated as approvals, refusals, and withdrawals as proportion of total study permits processed (the sum of approved, refused, and withdrawn applications).
Source: COGNOS (MBR) extracted as of January 12, 2024
Transitions to Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) and Permanent Residence (PR)
| PGWP Holder | |
|---|---|
| 2019 | 95,719 |
| 2020 | 103,020 |
| 2021 | 126,385 |
| 2022 | 124,167 |
| 2023 | 243,294 |
Source: IRCC, RD, Temporary Residents, December 31, 2023 data
| PR Admissions | |
|---|---|
| 2019 | 58,509 |
| 2020 | 40,910 |
| 2021 | 157,288 |
| 2022 | 94,555 |
| 2023 | 118,646 |
Source: IRCC, RD, Permanent Residents, December 31, 2023 data
Profile of Study Permit Holders
| 2019 | |
|---|---|
| Countries | Applications |
| India | 218,522 |
| China | 140,537 |
| Other | 278,720 |
| 2023 | |
|---|---|
| Countries | Applications |
| India | 427,083 |
| China | 102,148 |
| Other | 511,753 |
Percentages represent the proportion of study permit holders on December 31 that are citizens of India, China, or a country that is neither India or China.
| Language | University | College/CEGEP | K-12 | Other | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 27,943 | 264,232 | 236,241 | 87,100 | 22,263 | 637,779 |
| 4% | 41% | 37% | 14% | 3% | ||
| 2023 | 17,230 | 379,261 | 466,109 | 144,372 | 34,012 | 1,040,984 |
| 2% | 36% | 45% | 14% | 3% |
| ON | BC | QC | AB | MB | Other | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 306,071 | 144,282 | 88,102 | 32,916 | 19,294 | 47,114 | 637,779 |
| 48% | 23% | 14% | 5% | 3% | 7% | ||
| 2023 | 539,482 | 204,099 | 117,743 | 62,751 | 27,676 | 89,233 | 1,040,984 |
| 52% | 20% | 11% | 6% | 3% | 9% |
- At the end of 2023, Ontario was the province of intended destination for more than half of all study permit holders in Canada.
- In 2023, College and CEGEP have overtaken University as the level of study with the highest number of study permit holders, when compared to 2019.
- In 2023, 30% of study permit holders were studying at a college and listed Ontario as their province of destination compared to 22% in 2019.
K-12 includes Primary, Secondary, and vocational programs at the secondary level in Quebec. “Other” levels of study include all programs that are not considered K-12, College/CEGEP, University, or language, such as flight schools and faith-based institutions.
Source: IRCC, RD, Temporary Residents, December 31, 2023 data
| 2019 | 2023 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Total (All Countries) | 637,779 | Total (All Countries) | 1,040,984 |
| 1. India | 218,522 | 1. India | 427,083 |
| 2. China | 140,537 | 2. China | 102,148 |
| 3. Korea | 24,089 | 3. Philippines | 48,869 |
| 4. France | 23,846 | 4. Nigeria | 45,965 |
| 5. Vietnam | 21,479 | 5. France | 26,978 |
| 6. United States | 14,813 | 6. Iran | 24,962 |
| 7. Iran | 14,612 | 7. Nepal | 20,465 |
| 8. Brazil | 14,490 | 8. Vietnam | 17,176 |
| 9. Nigeria | 11,869 | 9. Mexico | 16,981 |
| 10. Mexico | 8,672 | 10. Korea | 15,929 |
Data is preliminary and subject to change.
Emerging Trends
| Quebec (EN) | Quebec (FR) | Rest of Canada (EN) | Rest of Canada (FR) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 30% | 28% | 23% | 26% |
| 2020 | 34% | 21% | 22% | 21% |
| 2021 | 39% | 27% | 33% | 30% |
| 2022 | 44% | 35% | 38% | 34% |
| 2023 (Jan-Aug 31) |
46% | 37% | 40% | 35% |
This data reflects the client's declared official language on the application and excludes those that have official languages identified as Bilingual, Neither (E or F), and Unspecified
The data above does not include unspecified provinces of destination and the methodology used does not include TR exclusion. Approval rates are based on applications processed by IRCC and calculated using: total approved/(sum of approved and refused applications).
Source: COGNOS (MBR) extracted as of September 14, 2023
| Public | Private | |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 470,370 | 86,580 |
| 84% | 16% | |
| 2023 | 670,657 | 136,410 |
| 83% | 17% |
*excludes study permit holders at K-12 institutions since private or public status of K-12 institutions is not captured by IRCC data.
Source: IRCC, RD, Temporary Residents, December 31, 2023 data