Market intelligence for international student recruitment from ICEF
15th Feb 2023

Canada’s foreign enrolment grew by more than 30% in 2022

Short on time? Here are the highlights:
  • Canada’s foreign enrolment reached a record high of nearly 808,000 at the end of 2022
  • India remains the leading sending market and a major driver of that overall growth
  • However, several other emerging markets are also showing real strength this year as well

Newly released data from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) tells the story of a record year of growth for Canadian institutions and schools. IRCC reports that, as of 31 December 2022, there were 807,750 foreign students with active study permits (study visas) for Canada. This compares to just over 617,000 the year prior and represents an astonishing 31% year-over-year growth rate.

That enrolment is also 27% higher than before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, and reflects overall growth of 43% over the previous five years and nearly 170% over the last decade.

As in 2021, India remains far and away the largest sending market for Canadian educators. There were just under 320,000 Indian students with active study permits at the end of December 2022. This represents year-over-year growth of just over 47%, and Indian students accounted for nearly four out of every ten foreign students in Canada as of the end of 2022.

In contrast, China, which for decades was the leading sending market for Canada, now accounts for roughly 12.5% of Canada's foreign enrolment. The 100,075 Chinese students with active study permits as of 31 December 2022 reflects a -4.3% decrease from 2021 levels.

In separate reporting on study permit processing, IRCC explains that, "Canada is on pace to set a new record this year. As of [30 November 2022], IRCC had processed over 670,000 study permits, compared to more than 500,000 during the same time period last year."

Processing times, however, remain a significant issue with average turnaround times reportedly running up to 10 weeks for new applications lodged from outside of Canada. IRCC's reporting in this respect revolves around an established service standard of 60 days, which, while processing times will vary by country, continues to suggest that students should file study permit applications well ahead of their planned programme starts.

Leading senders and notable growth markets

The following table summarises the top 15 sending markets for Canada for the period from 2019 through 2022.

Top sending markets for Canada, 2019–2022, with year-over-year growth indicated for 2021 to 2022. The proportion of total foreign enrolment accounted for by the top 15 source countries is also indicated along with the total foreign enrolment for each reference year. Source: IRCC

Along with India, notable gainers within this field of top sending markets include Philippines (+112.19%), Nigeria (+59.85%), Hong Kong (+72.60%), and Colombia (+54.34%). Those latest numbers also see Philippines surging into the top three sending markets for the first time.

Other notable growth markets just outside that top tier include Nepal (with 7,745 students for end of 2022 and +257.74% year-over-year growth); Algeria (7,510; +44.42%); Ukraine (7,150; +268.56%); Sri Lanka (5,205; +93.85%); Cameroon (4,075; +59.49%); and Peru (4,025; +114.67%).

Needless, this dramatic growth for 2022 represents a record-high level of foreign enrolment that places Canada squarely among the top study destinations worldwide.

For additional background, please see:

Most Recent

  • The surging demand for skills training in a rapidly changing global economy Read More
  • US issues corrected student visa data showing growth for 2024 while current trends point to an enrolment decline for 2025/26 Read More
  • Survey finds US institutions expanding agency engagement and focusing on new student markets Read More

Most Popular

  • Which countries will contribute the most to global student mobility in 2030? Read More
  • Research shows link between study abroad and poverty alleviation  Read More
  • Beyond the Big Four: How demand for study abroad is shifting to destinations in Asia and Europe Read More

Because you found this article interesting

US issues corrected student visa data showing growth for 2024 while current trends point to an enrolment decline for 2025/26 In April 2025, we reported that foreign enrolments in the US had declined by -11% between March 2024...
Read more
Survey finds US institutions expanding agency engagement and focusing on new student markets AIRC (The Association of International Enrollment Management) and BONARD have just released a second edition of the State...
Read more
Canada’s language sector buffeted by policy changes in 2024 Amid reports of mounting job losses and programme cuts across Canadian education, the country’s language education providers are...
Read more
Canada: List of non-degree college programmes linked to post-study work rights has changed The Canadian government is continuing its policy of linking eligibility for a post-study work permit (PGWP) – at...
Read more
US administration revives proposal to limit terms of student visas The Trump administration has given notice of a proposed rule change that seeks to limit the term for...
Read more
How have changes in policy settings impacted international student recruitment at Australian universities? Over the past couple of years, Australian universities have been operating within a policy framework that makes it...
Read more
New analysis sounds a note of caution for UK immigration reforms Within the UK’s higher education system, there are a group of institutions known as “Post-1992 universities”. The term...
Read more
US warns of expanded travel ban that could affect key African markets “The United States is considering restricting entry to citizens of an additional 36 countries in what would be...
Read more
What are you looking for?
Quick Links