University enrolment

A record number of students enrolled in Canadian universities in 2001/02, exceeding the peak recorded in 1992/93. In its strongest increase in 10 years, university enrolment rose 4.3% compared with 2000/01, reaching the record number of 886,800.

The proportion of university students enrolled full time has grown steadily in recent years. Nearly three quarters (72%) of students were enrolled full time in 2001/02, the largest proportion ever observed. Full-time university enrolment rose 11% between 1997/98 and 2001/02, whereas part-time enrolment rose less than 1% during the same period.

Record enrolment for both women and men

In 2001/02, women enrolled in record numbers. Their total reached 510,000, up 4% from the previous record set in 1992/93.

Female undergraduate enrolment also reached a record level, exceeding 400,000 for the first time. Since enrolment numbers resumed their upward movement in 1997/98, the number of female undergraduates has grown by 39,200, including 14,200 in the last year.

Most of the increase in the number of female undergraduate students was in full-time enrolment, which was up 13.3% from 1997/98 compared with an increase of 3.7% for part-time enrolment.

For the first time in 10 years, the annual increase in men's university enrolment numbers was similar to the increase for women, at 4.1% compared to 4.4%. The number of men enrolled in universities in 2001/02 reached 376,800.

This sizable increase, largely attributable to a rise in full-time enrolment (+11,200), brought male full-time enrolment to a record high, at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. However, this gain was not enough to bring overall male enrolment up to the record level of 394,300 reached in 1992/93.

Enrolment rises in almost all fields of study, both traditional and non-traditional

University enrolment rose in almost all fields of study. The Health, Parks, Recreation and Fitness field showed the largest gain (+9%) compared with 2000/01. This sizable increase ended a period of more than four years of stagnating enrolment.

The strong growth in the number of students in this field is largely attributable to increases in the categories Health and Physical Education/Fitness (+2,700), Nursing (+2,400) and Medical Residency Program (+1,500). This field has the 4th largest enrolment of the 13 major fields of study in the Classification of Instructional Programs. Women showed a 10% increase in that field within the last year.

At 7%, the Architecture, Engineering and Related Technologies field shows the strongest increase over the last five years. Engineering students accounted for 91% of enrolment in this field. While the great majority of students in this field are men, female recorded an increase of 50% since 1997/98. Women account for 24% of enrolment in this field, compared with 19% in 1992/93.

The number of students registered in Mathematics, Computer and Information Sciences grew by a sizable 6% over the past year. With students in Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services dominating at nearly 76%, this field of study has been the fastest-growing since 1992/93 (44%). After peaking at 11% in 1999/00, growth rates in this field appear to be tapering off, registering 4% and 6% in the following two years.

The field Business, Management and Public Administration posted its strongest annual increase (+5%) in 10 years. The leading sector in both total enrolment (143,700) and male enrolment in 2001/02, it ranked third for female enrolment. The past year's growth is a result of the almost identical increases in the number of male and female students.

The other two most popular fields of study—Social and Behavioural Sciences and Law and Humanities—grew by 3% and 5% respectively compared with 2000/01.

Agriculture, Natural Resources and Conservation (-4%) and Personal, Protective and Transportation Services (-13%) were the only fields to register a decline in enrolment compared with the previous year.

Full-time university enrolment at the provincial level

Most provinces saw their number of students rise in the past year. They posted increases ranging between 2% in Saskatchewan and 7% in British Columbia. Enrolment in Prince Edward Island remained stable. Only Newfoundland and Labrador experienced a modest decline of 200 enrolments.

During the last five years, the increase in full-time enrolment was such that all provinces saw their numbers exceed those for 1997/98. By contrast, with respect to part-time enrolment, Quebec, Manitoba and British Columbia saw a decrease during the same period. All other provinces experienced increases.

Foreign student enrolment continues to rise

The number of foreign students enrolled in Canadian universities continued to rise. It surpassed the 50,000 mark to reach 52,600 in 2001/02, up 60% compared with 1997/98. However, as a proportion of total enrolment, the number of foreign students remains relatively low, at just under 6% of the total.

This increase is largely attributable to enrolment at the undergraduate level, which accounts for more than half (54%) of foreign students. Whereas there were 15,200 foreign students enrolled at the undergraduate level in Canadian universities in 1997/98, there were 28,600 in 2001/02. Graduate enrolment jumped 11% compared with 2000/01, the largest increase in the past five years.

The proportion of male foreign students has decreased from year-to-year in favour of their female counterparts. In 1992/93, just over 60% were men; in 2001/02, the corresponding proportion was 55%.

Foreign students' places of origin have become more diverse in the past 10 years. In 1992/93, nearly 50% of foreign students came from Asia, while only 39% did so in the most recent year. This shift in places of origin in 2001/02 was in favour of Europe (21% of total enrolment) and North America, Central America and the Caribbean (18% of total enrolment).

Available on CANSIM: table 477-0011.

Definitions, data sources and methods: survey numbers, including related surveys, 3124 and 5017.

For general information or to order data, contact Client Services (1-800-307-3382; 613-951-7608; fax: 613-951-9040; educationstats@statcan.gc.ca).

For more information or to enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact Sylvie Bonhomme (613-951-5366; fax: 613-951-6765; sylvie.bonhomme@statcan.gc.ca) or Manon Declos (613-951-9298; fax:613-951-6765; manon.declos@statcan.gc.ca), Culture, Tourism and the Centre for Education Statistics.