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Higher Education Trend Report: Student Mobility

Education & Skills

By: Ibrahim Abuallail

    

Key insights 

International student enrolment falling

  • Over the past academic year, Canada’s post-secondary institutions continued attracting a large number of international students, with business, engineering, and tech programs drawing the highest demand.
  • Ontario has led as a top destination, with colleges playing a major role in attracting global talent.
  • However, federal government policy shifts are now influencing these trends, reducing and reshaping enrolment patterns.

Shifting student flows: who’s coming, who’s leaving

  • India has surged as the top source of international students, with a 41.5 per cent increase in enrolments last year. Meanwhile, trends are rapidly shifting among other source countries.
  • Canadian students remain less likely to study abroad, and the U.S. remains their dominant choice when going abroad. This contrasts with their European peers, who embrace international education at much higher rates.

Life after graduation: staying, moving, or returning home

  • Students graduating from Atlantic provinces are most likely to leave their provinces, with the lowest retention rates in Prince Edward Island.
  • Western provinces are the largest net beneficiaries of post-secondary graduate migration, with total inflows exceeding outflows by a wide margin.
  • International students are far more likely than domestic students to move—either within Canada or back home—creating challenges for long-term retention.

The future of student mobility: adapting to change

As global demand for education shifts, Canada’s position as a leading study destination will be shaped by policy decisions, economic factors, and institutional strategies.

Explore the full report for a deeper dive into the forces shaping student mobility in Canada.

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