Postsecondary Student Information System (PSIS) Record Layout, Files, and Data Element Descriptions 2025/2026

RepStartYear

Year of start of report cycle

The year in which the current report cycle starts. Assign the same first four (4) digits of the start date of the report cycle (as found in element ID1005 on the ID file).

YYYY (Year)

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Instit

Institution code

Reporting PSIS postsecondary institution code.

Refer to the Postsecondary Institution Codes in Section 4 of the document titled “PSIS Reporting Documentation 2025/2026”.

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ProgCode

Program code

A program is a structured collection of educational activities (courses and other learning activities) arrayed to meet a set of learning objectives.

A program "proxy" may be used in PSIS to identify educational activities which fall outside the definition of "program."

Note: For degrees granted in Canadian universities, programs should fall within the parameters detailed in the Council of Ministers of Education, Canada (CMEC) Ministerial Statement on Quality Assurance of Degree Education in Canada (2007), which uses similar descriptors as those used in the Bologna process.
Please refer to the Reporting Guide for Program Type and Credential Type for additional information on how to report programs.

Please report the program code as stored in the postsecondary institution's administrative files. For more details, refer to element SP2000 on the SP file. All program codes on the SP file must be present on this file including the non-program record(s) as element Program Code is used as a key field to match record on IP and SP files. Universities that store their program data with separate fields for degree and specialization(s) or major field(s) of study may be able to report just the degree code in element IP2000 and the students' specialization(s) or major field(s) of study in elements SP5015, SP5016 and SP5017 on the SP file. For example, if all BA programs have the same duration, credit requirement, provincial funding code, entrance requirements, co-op requirements, etc., you could report only one (1) IP record for all BA's, with element IP2000 = "BA", and then show the different majors on the SP records of individual students. But if some of the BA programs have different durations or credit requirements etc., then you must provide separate IP records for them. In these cases, you would combine the degree code and the specialization(s) or major field(s) of study in element 2000 of the IP and SP records.

The combination of the previous element (IP1025), this one and the next one (IP2010) constitute a key and therefore must be unique. Do not report duplicate combinations of these three (3) elements.

None

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CredenTyp

Credential type

The type of formal qualification awarded for successful completion of a program, excluding certificates of attendance.

A "qualification" acknowledges successful completion of a program of study containing evaluative components. A "formal qualification" is a qualification that is recognized by an official body such as ministries of education, boards of governors or other ministry appointed bodies, federal departments or ministries, industry associations or sectors, apprenticeship and trades commissions, regulatory bodies or licensing agencies.
Definitions of the categories:
01: A non-postsecondary credential awarded as a high school diploma or its equivalent.
02: A credential awarded and recognized by official bodies as a "certificate".
03: A credential awarded and recognized by official bodies as a "diploma".
04: This category must only be used to assign "degree" credentials which are supported by the Council of Ministers of Education, Canada (CMEC) Ministerial Statement on Quality Assurance of Degree Education in Canada.
05: This category must only be used to assign credentials which are introduced as a response to the labour market shortage across the country. These programs usually are short, can be offered on-line or on-campus, may have an on-the-job training component, and may be developed to meet needs of the specific employer or occupation. Depending on the province/institution, these programs can also be assessed and recognized for both employment and/or further learning opportunities.
10: Formal qualifications granted upon successful completion of programs that are shorter than programs where a certificate is the formal qualification awarded.
11: A credential granted upon completion of sixty (60) transferable credits of an undergraduate program.
97: A credential from programs that do not fit in any of the other categories.
98: This category is used for non-programs (where no formal qualification can be obtained), credentials for programs where the learning or performance is not measured or evaluated, such as for certificates of attendance, as well as for any other program where no formal qualification is offered.

Please refer to the "Credential type" entry in the Reporting Guide for Program Type and Credential Type for inclusions, exclusions and additional information on each of the categories.

If the same program can award two (2) credentials, one for completing a certain level and a higher one for completing a longer version of the program, then provide two (2) records having the same program code (element IP2000) but different values in this element; e.g., a program awarding a certificate after one (1) year or a diploma after two (2) years would have two (2) records for this data element, the first with code "02 - Certificate" and the second with code "03 - Diploma".

For joint programs in which a student normally receives two (2) credentials, please refer to the "Joint credential program" entry in the Reporting Guide for Program Type and Credential Type to code the credential type.

For programs offered under an agreement with another (other) institution(s), please refer to the "Programs offered under an agreement" entry of the Reporting Guide for Program Type and Credential Type to code the credential type.

Please refer to Appendix B for acceptable reporting combinations between Credential type (IP/SP2010) and Program type (IP2015).

01 - General Equivalency Diploma/high school diploma
02 - Certificate
03 - Diploma
04 - Degree (includes applied degree)
05 - Micro-credential program
10 - Attestation and other short program credentials
11 - Associate degree
97 - Other type of credential associated with a program
98 - Not applicable

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ProgType

Program type

A classification of programs that is based on a combination of factors such as the general purpose of the program; the type of instruction offered in terms of educational content; and the expected outcome of the program.
Definition of the categories:
01: Non-postsecondary programs that are offered in postsecondary institutions.
10: In-class or technical components of apprenticeship training when offered in postsecondary institutions.
20: Postsecondary programs that prepare students for entry into career, technical or pre-university programs.
21: Postsecondary skills programs that usually lead to a specific career path and into the labour market that is neither apprenticeship, pre-university, undergraduate nor graduate program. Educational requirements for this program are usually not greater than the secondary school diploma.
22: Postsecondary skills programs that usually lead to a specific career path and into the labour market and requires a certificate or a diploma from a career, technical or professional training program.
30: Postsecondary programs that prepare students for undergraduate studies but is not an undergraduate program.
40: Programs that prepare students for entry into a bachelor's degree program. It is an access or bridging option for a student who does not fully meet the requirements for entry into a bachelor's degree program. While this program does not generally lead to a qualification, some credits may be granted towards a bachelor's degree.
46: These are programs that are more academically-based programs which normally require a secondary school diploma or a college diploma in Quebec. Educational activities in these programs can be counted towards a bachelor's degree (applied, general or honours) or a professional degree. Undergraduate degrees normally allow entry into a second cycle graduate program.
47: Postsecondary programs that are not graduate programs and require a bachelor's degree for admission either explicitly or implicitly, such as is the case for concurrent bachelor's degree programs (where the outcome of these programs is equivalent to a program requiring a bachelor's degree, but the degree is not a requirement because of the concurrent nature of the program).
In Saskatchewan and British Columbia, this category also captures postsecondary programs at the undergraduate level for which degree completion requires a scope beyond a bachelor's degree due to its breadth and depth of learning.
50: Postsecondary programs that prepare students for entry into a master's degree program. A bachelor's degree is normally required for entry into this program.
53: Postsecondary programs that prepare students for entry into a doctoral degree program, without the student being admitted to the doctoral program.
58: This category covers health-related residency programs. At a minimum, these programs require undergraduate degrees for entry.
59: Graduate programs that normally require a bachelor's degree. Educational activities in these programs can be counted towards a master's degree. Degrees from second cycle graduate programs normally allow entry into third cycle graduate programs.
62: Graduate programs that normally require a master's degree. Educational activities in these programs can be counted towards a doctoral degree.
63: Graduate programs that normally require a doctoral degree. Post-doctorate activities that do not meet the definition of a "program," such as those in the labour market, are excluded from this category.
89: Any postsecondary program that does not fit in any of the program categories listed above.
91, 92, 93 and 94: Categories that serve to identify students registered in educational activities without being registered in a program. It includes students enrolled in courses who have not declared a program of intent.
91: These are courses or other educational activities that are not within a program and have no evaluative component.
92: These are undergraduate courses or other educational activities not within a program and have an evaluative component.
93: These are graduate courses or other educational activities that are not within a program and have an evaluative component.
94: These are postsecondary courses or other educational activities that are neither undergraduate nor graduate, are not within a program and have an evaluative component.

Please refer to the Reporting Guide for Program Type and Credential Type for inclusions, exclusions and additional information on each of the categories. Please refer also to Appendix B for acceptable reporting combinations between Credential type (IP/SP2010) and Program type (IP2015).

For joint programs in which a student normally receives two (2) credentials, please refer to the "Joint credential program" entry in the Reporting Guide for Program Type and Credential Type.

01 - Basic education and skills program
10 - Apprenticeship program
20 - Qualifying program for career, technical or pre-university
21 - Career, technical or professional training program
22 - Post career, technical or professional training program
30 - Pre-university program
40 - Undergraduate qualifying program
46 - Undergraduate program
47 - Post-baccalaureate non-graduate program
50 - Graduate qualifying program (second cycle)
53 - Graduate qualifying program (third cycle)
58 - Health-related residency program
59 - Graduate program (second cycle)
62 - Graduate program (third cycle)
63 - Graduate program (above the third cycle)
89 - Other programs
91 - Non-program (non-credit)
92 - Non-program (credit, undergraduate)
93 - Non-program (credit, graduate)
94 - Non-program (credit, other postsecondary)

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ProgName

Program name

The program name as stored in the postsecondary institution's own administrative files.

None

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ProgDur

Program duration

The normal instructional time to complete the course work for the entire program for a full-time student by traditional program delivery.

Use the next element (IP2071) to specify which unit of measure you are using. Use half-semesters (code 10), quarters or trimesters (code 12) or semesters or trimesters (code 15) if possible. Use weeks or months (code 08 or 09) only for programs shorter than one (1) year or for programs specifically organized in weeks or months. Use academic years or years (code 25 or 30) only if the program's courses are not delivered in shorter periods such as semesters or half-semesters or quarters.

Exclude program segments that are mainly on-the-job training or field placement or co-op work terms.

Leave this element blank only for non-program records and programs having no set duration, such as graduate programs.

Blank or numeric value including decimal point and two (2) decimal places.
e.g.,
1016.50 = 1016.5 units required
1.00 = 1 unit required

Numeric

ProgDurUnit

Program duration units

Identifies the unit of measure used in the previous element (IP2070). Assign "98 - Not applicable" only for non-program records and programs having no set duration, such as graduate programs.

06 - Hours
08 - Weeks
09 - Months (a period of about 30 days)
10 - Half-semesters (a period of about 2 months)
12 - Quarters or trimesters (a period of about 3 months)
15 - Semesters or trimesters (a period of about 4 months)
25 - Academic years (a period of about 8 months)
30 - Years (a period of about 12 months)
98 - Not applicable

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ProgCred

Credits needed to graduate

The number of credits or units of academic achievement required for graduating from or completing the entire program. Credits refer to the value that a postsecondary institution attaches to successful completion of a formal course of instruction and that can be applied by the recipient towards the requirements for a credential.

Use the next element (IP2081) to specify which unit of measure you are using. If the program is not organized by credits but instead requires the successful completion of some number of courses, report the number of courses here and assign code "06 - Courses" in the next element (IP2081). Exclude credits for on-the-job training (OJT) segments that cover most or all of a semester or other period (e.g., co-op work terms).

Leave this element blank only for non-credit programs or programs with no set credit or course requirements, such as graduate programs.

Blank or numeric value including decimal point and two (2) decimal places.
e.g.,
1.00 = 1 unit required
1016.50 = 1,016.5 units required
10000.00 = 10,000 units required

Numeric

ProgCredUnit

Program credit units

Identifies the unit of measure used in the previous element (IP2080).

Assign code "98 - Not applicable" only for non-credit programs or programs with no set credit or course requirements, such as graduate programs.

01 - Credits
02 - Credit hours
03 - Semester hours
04 - Course hours
05 - Credit points
06 - Courses
07 - Student contact hours
96 - Other units
98 - Not applicable (non-credit program or no set credit requirement)

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ProvIP

Provincial IP elements

Provincial ministries wanting to define additional elements for provincial reporting can use this composite element. Leave any unused portion of the 80 characters blank.

Components and codes as defined by provincial ministry

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RepStartYear

Year of start of report cycle

The year in which the current report cycle starts. Assign the first four (4) digits of the start date of the report cycle (as found in element ID1005 on the ID file).

YYYY (Year)

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Instit

Institution code

Reporting PSIS postsecondary institution code.

Refer to the Postsecondary Institution Codes in Section 4 of the document titled “PSIS Reporting Documentation 2025/2026”.

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CourCode

Course code

The unique code for the course as it is stored in the postsecondary institution's administrative files; e.g., the course code "CHEM 101" might represent "Introduction to Chemistry".

Include non-credit courses.

In cases where a lab and a lecture have independent course codes in the postsecondary institution's administrative system, report separate courses on the IC file, e.g., "CHEM 101 Lecture" would be a different course from "CHEM 101 Lab".

All course codes in element SC3000 on the SC file must also be present on this file.

None

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CourName

Course name

The course name as it is stored in the postsecondary institution's administrative files. In the above example for "CHEM 101", "Introduction to Chemistry" would be recorded here.

None

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CourCred

Course credits normally awarded

The number of course credits or units of academic achievement normally awarded for successful completion of the course. Use the next element (IC3091) to specify which unit of measure you are using. If possible, use the same unit of measure as in elements IP2080 or IP2081 on the IP file.

For non-credit courses or courses having no credit or course value assigned, leave this element blank and assign code "98 - Not applicable" in the next element. Also, leave blank for continuing education courses that do not count for academic credit.

In some cases, the credits awarded for a course will vary from student to student depending on the student's program. In those cases, report the normal number of credits here and show the variation on the students' course records in element SC6060.

Blank or numeric value including decimal point and two (2) decimal places.
e.g., 1.00 = 1 unit awarded
16.50 = 16.5 units awarded

Numeric

CourCredUnit

Course credit units

Identifies the unit of measure used in the previous element (IC3090).

01 - Credits
02 - Credit hours
03 - Semester hours
04 - Course hours
05 - Credit points
06 - Courses
07 - Student contact hours
96 - Other units
98 - Not applicable (non-credit course or course having no credit or course value assigned)

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ProvIC

Provincial IC elements

Provincial ministries wanting to define additional elements for provincial reporting can use this composite element. Leave any unused portion of the 80 characters blank.

Components and codes as defined by provincial ministry

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RepStartYear

Year of start of report cycle

The year in which the current report cycle starts. Assign the same first four (4) digits of the start date of report cycle (as found in element ID1005 on the ID file).

YYYY (Year)

Text

RepTyp

Report type

Report F for an entire Full-year reporting period (twelve (12) months).

F - Entire Full Year reporting period

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Instit

Institution code

Reporting PSIS postsecondary institution code.

Refer to the Postsecondary Institution Codes in Section 4 of the document titled “PSIS Reporting Documentation 2025/2026”.

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StudID

Institution's Student Identifier

The postsecondary institution's permanent identifier for the student while in this postsecondary institution. Use the same number for this student from year to year.

None

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TStudID

Type of Student I.D.

Indicates the type of I.D. number reported in the previous element (SD4000).

01 - I.D. number assigned by postsecondary institution independently of any provincial or national numbering system
02 - Provincial student Identification number

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SIN

Social Insurance Number

The student's Social Insurance Number (SIN) if the student is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident. Otherwise, leave blank. Do not report dummy SIN's. SIN's failing the check-digit routine will be deleted at Statistics Canada.

9-digit SIN

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PSIS_NSN

PSIS National Student Number

The PSIS respondents currently using this data element to report the provincial student number can continue to use it.

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FirstName

First name

Student's first (given) name.

None

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MidName

Middle name(s) and/or initials

Student's middle name(s) and/or initials.

If your postsecondary institution stores first name and middle name(s)/initials together as one (1) field, enter both in the previous element (SD4040) and leave this element blank.

None

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Surname

Surname

Student's surname (last name).

None

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PrevSurname

Previous surname

Student's previous surname; e.g., name prior to marriage. If the postsecondary institution stores more than one (1) previous surname report the most recent only.

None

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CurrPostal

Current postal/zip code

Student's postal or zip code while enrolled in the program or course(s).

None

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CurrCntry

Current country of residence

Student's country of residence (where the student is living) while enrolled in the program or course(s).

For most students this is Canada, but some students live in the U.S. and commute to Canada for classes, and others study by Distance Education from other countries.

Refer to the Standard Classification of Countries and Areas of Interest Codes in Section 4 of the document titled “PSIS Reporting Documentation 2025/2026”.

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CurrCntryTxt

Current country of residence (Text)

Student's country of residence (where the student is living) as reported in the postsecondary institutions administrative records. Leave this element blank if the country code is reported in the previous element (SD4070).

None

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CurrPhone

Current telephone number

Student's telephone number while enrolled in the program or course(s). Include the area code.

None

Text

CurrEmail

Current e-mail address

Student's Internet e-mail address while enrolled in the program or course(s).

None

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PermLine1

Permanent address line 1

Line 1 of the permanent address reported by the student on their application for admission or the most current address maintained by the postsecondary institution for follow-up surveys of students after graduation. Ensure that city/town, county, province, country and postal or zip code are reported in their own respective elements (SD4110 onwards) and not included in this element or the subsequent address lines.

None

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PermLine2

Permanent address line 2

If applicable, line 2 of the permanent address. Lines 1 and 2 should contain all the address information up to but not including the city/town. See element SD4100 for more details.

None

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PermLine3

Permanent address line 3

If applicable, line 3 of the permanent address. Note that this element is smaller than lines 1 and 2. See element SD4100 for more details.

None

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PermLine4

Permanent address line 4

If applicable, line 4 of the permanent address. Note that this element is smaller than lines 1 and 2. See element SD4100 for more details.

None

Text

PermLine5

Permanent address line 5

If applicable, line 5 of the permanent address. Note that this element is smaller than lines 1 and 2. See element SD4100 for more details.

None

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PermCity

City or town of permanent address

City or town of the permanent address reported by the student on their application for admission or the most current city or town of the permanent address maintained by the postsecondary institution for follow-up surveys of students after graduation.

None

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PermProvUpdt

Province or state of permanent address (updated)

Province or state of the permanent address reported by the student on their application for admission or the most current province or state of the permanent address maintained by the postsecondary institution for follow-up surveys of students after graduation.

Assign ZY (Not applicable) for addresses outside Canada and the U.S.

Refer to the Province and State Codes in Section 4 of the document titled “PSIS Reporting Documentation 2025/2026”.

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PermCntry

Country of permanent address

Country of the permanent address reported by the student on their application for admission or the most current country of the permanent address maintained by the postsecondary institution for follow-up surveys of students after graduation.

Refer to the Standard Classification of Countries and Areas of Interest Codes in Section 4 of the document titled “PSIS Reporting Documentation 2025/2026”.

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PermCntryTxt

Country of the permanent address (text)

Country (text) of the permanent address reported by the student on their application for admission or the most current country (text) of the permanent address maintained by the postsecondary institution for follow-up surveys of students after graduation.

Leave this element blank if the code is reported in the previous element (SD4150).

None

Text

PermPostal

Postal or zip code of permanent address

Postal or zip code of the permanent address.

None

Text

PermPhone

Telephone number at permanent address

Telephone number at the permanent address reported by the student on their application for admission or the most current telephone number at the permanent address maintained by the postsecondary institution for follow-up surveys of students after graduation. Area code must be included.

None

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SensRec

Sensitive record

Identifies sensitive records. Report Code "1 - Yes" only for deceased students or students who might be endangered by being included in a follow-up survey, such as students who are under the witness protection program. If you do not carry this information, assign code "2 - No".

1 - Yes, sensitive record
2 - No

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Aboriginal

Indigenous identity

Indicates the self-declared Indigenous identity of the student as defined by the Canadian Constitution which recognizes three groups of Indigenous peoples: First Nations (North American Indians), Métis and Inuk (Inuit).

Depending on how your institution collects data on Indigenous students, First Nations (North American Indians) could include those who are 'Status' or 'Non-Status' Indians/First Nations.

If the student reported being an Indigenous person without specifying the group, use code 7-Indigenous, group not specified.

If the student did not report being an Indigenous, use code "8"-Not self-declared Indigenous".

4 - First Nations (North American Indians)
5 - Métis
6 – Inuk (Inuit)
7 –Indigenous, group not specified
8 - Not self-declared Indigenous
9- Unknown

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Birth

Birth date

Student's birth date. If your postsecondary institution uses a fictitious date to represent "Unknown" (e.g., 19010101 or 19000101), do not report the fictitious date here. Leave blank if unknown.

YYYYMMDD (YearMonthDay)

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Gender

Gender

Student's gender.

1 - Man
2 - Woman
3 - Non-binary person
9 - Unknown

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Tongue

Mother tongue

Mother tongue, defined as the language first learned at home in childhood and still understood.

001 - English
002 - French
123 - Other language
124 - English and French
125 - English and non-official language(s)
126 - French and non-official
language(s)
127 - Eng.,Fr. and non-official
language(s)
999 - Unknown

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Citiz

Country of citizenship

Country of citizenship as of the end of the report cycle (end of winter term).

For permanent resident (formerly called "landed immigrant"), code the country of which the student is currently a citizen, not Canada.

For students with dual citizenship, one of which is Canadian, code Canada.

For students from a colony or a dependency, code the colony or dependency and not the parent country; for example, code St. Pierre-et-Miquelon as the country of citizenship for students from that dependency even though France is the country from which they hold citizenship.

If a student is registered in a department, faculty or division of continuing education or adult training extension, and the information on the country of citizenship is not available, code Canada as country of citizenship.

Refer to the Standard Classification of Countries and Areas of Interest Codes in Section 4 of the document titled “PSIS Reporting Documentation 2025/2026”.

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CitizTxt

Country of citizenship (text)

Country (text) of citizenship as stored in the postsecondary institution's files. Leave this element blank if the code is reported in the previous element (SD4280).

N/a

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StatStud

Status of Student in Canada

The status of the student in Canada as of the end of the report cycle (end of winter term).

If a Canadian citizen or permanent resident is studying outside Canada by internet or at an offshore campus, please report them as either 0 or 1.
Do not leave this element blank.

0 - Canadian citizen (including North American Indian/First Nation, Métis and Inuk)
1 - Permanent resident (formerly called landed immigrant)
2 - International student with study permit/student visa (a permit obtained by a student to enter Canada for the sole purpose of attending a postsecondary educational institution)
3 - International student with other visa status
5 - Non-Canadian, no visa status (as student is studying outside Canada; e.g., by internet or at an offshore campus)
6 - Refugee
7 - Non-Canadian, status unknown
9 - Unknown

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PermProv1st

Permanent province of residence declared upon admission

Permanent province or state of residence reported by the student on their application at admission.

For Canadian citizens and permanent residents, report the permanent home province in Canada as follows:
(a) For those students entering your institution immediately after high school/Cégep completion (i.e., within the last twelve (12) months), report the province of the last high school/Cégep attended.
(b) For all other students (i.e., not coming immediately after high school/Cégep completion), report the province of permanent home address on the date of application for admission.

The information should not be updated for students who were enrolled at the reporting postsecondary institution within the last twelve (12) months (returning/on-going students). However, the information for this element should be updated for students who were not enrolled at the reporting postsecondary institution within the last twelve (12) months but had attended the reporting postsecondary institution at some time in the past (re-entering students).

This element may or may not be the same as Province or state of the permanent address (element SD4130) declared on the SD file.

The element SD4130 requires the permanent address maintained by the postsecondary institution for follow-up surveys of students after graduation.

No blanks permitted.

Refer to the Province and State Codes in Section 4 of the document titled “PSIS Reporting Documentation 2025/2026”.

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ProvSD

Provincial SD elements

Provincial ministries wanting to define additional elements for provincial reporting can use this composite element.

Leave any unused portion blank.

Components and codes as defined by provincial ministry

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RepStartYear

Year of start of report cycle

The year in which the current report cycle starts. Assign the same first four (4) digits of the start date of the report cycle (as found in element ID1005 on the ID file).

YYYY (Year)

Text

Instit

Institution code

Reporting PSIS postsecondary institution code.

Refer to the Postsecondary Institution Codes in Section 4 of the document titled “PSIS Reporting Documentation 2025/2026”.

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StudID

Institution's Student Identifier

The postsecondary institution's permanent identifier for the student while in this postsecondary institution. Use the same identifier for this student from year to year.

There must be a record on the SD file for this student.

Report one (1) SP record for each program in which the student is registered at any time during the report cycle.

None

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ProgCode

Student's program code

The student's program code as stored in the postsecondary institution's administrative files. There must be one (1) record on the IP file for this program; i.e., this code must be present in element IP2000 on the IP file.

For students taking courses without being registered in a program, create one (1) SP non-program record for each of the appropriate non-program categories. Note that there must be a corresponding record on the Institution program (IP) file in element IP2000. Follow the instructions in the other elements for the assignment of "Not applicable" codes. Please refer to the "Program type" and "Non-credit" entries of the Reporting Guide for Program Type and Credential Type for additional information on the non-program records.

Universities that store their program data with separate fields for degree and specialization(s) or major field(s) of study should report the student's degree in element IP/SP2000 and the student's specialization(s) or major field(s) of study in elements SP5015, SP5016 and SP5017.

None

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CredenTyp

Credential type

The type of formal qualification awarded for successful completion of a program, excluding certificates of attendance.

A "qualification" acknowledges successful completion of a program of study containing evaluative components. A "formal qualification" is a qualification that is recognized by an official body such as ministries of education, boards of governors or other ministry appointed bodies, federal departments or ministries, industry associations or sectors, apprenticeship and trades commissions, regulatory bodies or licensing agencies.

See element IP2010 for more details.

The combination of information of the previous data element (SP2000) and this one must also be present on the IP file in data elements IP2000 and IP2010.

01 - General Equivalency Diploma/high school diploma
02 - Certificate
03 - Diploma
04 - Degree (includes applied degree)
05 - Micro-credential program
10 - Attestation and other short program credentials
11 - Associate degree
97 - Other type of credential associated with a program
98 - Not applicable

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ProgStart

Original start date in program

The date the student started (first enrolled or registered) in the program as defined in element SP2000 above. Report the date the student originally started in the program, not the date the student continued in the current report cycle. The start date will remain unchanged for subsequent enrolments by the same student in the same program, even if the student quits the program and then resumes it. For a student who completed a common first year and is now enrolled in the next phase of the program, report the start date of the common first year.

Do not leave this data element blank.

For students in non-programs, report the first date the student registered for courses in the non-program.

YYYYMMDD (YearMonthDay)

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Major1

First specialization or major field of study

The student's first specialization or major field of study code as stored in the postsecondary institution's administrative files. Do not report "minors".
Postsecondary institutions that assign unique program codes for each combination of Degree and Specialization/Major(s) should report those codes as part of element SP2000 and leave elements SP5015, SP5016 and SP5017 blank.

Leave this data element blank for students in non-programs.

None

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Major2

Second specialization or major field of study

The student's second specialization or major field of study code as stored in the postsecondary institution's administrative files. Do not report "minors".
Postsecondary institutions that assign unique program codes for each combination of Degree and Specialization/Major(s) should report those codes as part of element SP2000 and leave elements SP5015, SP5016 and SP5017 blank.

Leave this data element blank for students in non-programs.

None

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Co_op

Co-op program indicator

Indicates whether the student was classified as a Co-op student in this program as of the end of the report cycle (end of winter term). A co-operative education program is a program that formally integrates a student's academic studies with work experience in their field of study. Students in a co-op program will alternate periods of time spent in school with paid work in business, industry, or government.
Assign "1 - Yes" for all Co-op students whether they are on work terms or in class at the end of the report cycle.

For students in non-programs, report code "8 - Not applicable".

1 - Yes
2 - No
8 - Not applicable (non-program)
9 - Unknown

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RegStat

Student's registration status

Registration status (full-time/part-time) of all students enrolled at the postsecondary institution at the time of the fall snapshot date, that is, a single date chosen by the institution which falls from September 30 to December 1. A student is considered to be enrolled if they are registered in at least one (1) educational activity (course or other learning activity) on the day of the fall snapshot.

The designation of full-time versus part-time registration status is defined by the reporting postsecondary institution.

If a student is not registered on the fall snapshot date, assign code "98 - Not applicable".

For students in non-programs, they are unlikely to be coded to "01 - Full-time".

01 - Full-time student
02 - Part-time student
98 - Not applicable (not registered on this date)

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ProgEnd

End date in program

The date the student completed or withdrew from the program or else transferred to another program. This element refers to the entire program, not just the component taken during the report cycle.

If the next element (SP5100) is coded "02 - Successfully completed" or "04 - Graduated from program", give the date the program was completed. If SP5100 is coded 05, 06, 07 or 08, give the date the student ended the program or transferred to another program. Otherwise, leave this element blank.

YYYYMMDD (YearMonthDay)

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ProgEndStat

Status in program at end of report cycle

The student's status in the program as of the end of the report cycle, as known by the postsecondary institution.

If the student completed the program during the report cycle by meeting the minimum academic requirements to receive credit for the whole program, and the graduation date is more than one (1) month after the end of the report cycle, assign code "02 - Successfully completed" and report the program end date in element SP5090 ProgEnd.

If the graduation date is before or within one (1) month of the end of the report cycle, assign code "04 - Graduated from program" and report the program end date in element SP5090 ProgEnd as well as graduation date in element SP5120 GradDate.

If the student's status was under review or dependent on the completion or grading of courses which would normally have ended by the end of the report cycle, assign "99 - Status Unknown". Note: A student with "99 - Status Unknown" is to be included in the next report cycle with an updated program end status.

If the student enrols in the next phase of program (e.g. at the end of report cycle, the student is registered to return next fall), assign code "01- Eligible to enrol in next phase of program". Note: For students completing a prerequisite program (e.g., common first year), assign code 01.

If the student is enrolled in a program and the current year registration continues through the end of the report cycle, assign code "03 - Still enrolled in program".

If the student has not completed the program and will probably not be continuing in or returning to the program, assign code 05, 06, 07 or 08. For students who have transferred to another program within the same faculty or to another faculty, assign code "06 - Withdrew from program" and report the transfer date in SP5090 ProgEnd. Students under suspension as of the end of the report cycle should be coded "07 - Not eligible to enrol at same institution" even if the suspension is likely to be lifted later.

If a student is enrolled in a non-program, assign code '98 - Not-applicable".

01 - Eligible to enrol in next phase of program
02 - Successfully completed course-work requirements for whole program but had not officially graduated as of date PSIS files were produced
03 - Still enrolled in program (registration continued through end date of report cycle)
04 - Graduated from program (officially received qualification at the end of the report cycle)
05 - Not eligible to enrol in same program
06 - Withdrew from program (e.g., discontinued studies in program) or transferred to another program within the same faculty or not, at the same institution
07 - Not eligible to enrol at same institution or under suspension
08 - Student deceased
96 - Other
98 - Not applicable (non-program)
99 - Status unknown (under review or not yet determined when the PSIS files were produced)

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GradDate

Convocation or graduation date

The date the student received the degree, diploma or certificate for completing the program. The graduation date reported must be within the reporting cycle or within one (1) month of the end of the report cycle. Students coded "04 - Graduated from program" in the previous element (SP5100 ProgEndStat) must have a convocation or graduation date reported.

Leave blank if the student is not in a program that leads to a credential.

YYYYMMDD (YearMonthDay)

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TotTranCred

Total transfer credits

The total number of credits or units of academic achievement granted by this postsecondary institution toward this program for education taken at other postsecondary institutions, including prior learning assessment (PLA). Report the total number granted from the time the student first enrolled in the program until the end of the report cycle. Use the same units of measure as reported in elements IP2080 or IP2081 on the IP file (credits needed to graduate). Leave blank for students not in a program or in non-credit programs or programs with no set credit or course requirements.

Blank or numeric value with decimal point and two (2) decimal places.

Numeric

TotCred

Cumulative credits for program

The cumulative number of credits or units granted to the student for this program as of the end of the report cycle. Report the total number granted from the time the student first enrolled in the program until the end of the current report cycle. Include credits earned at this postsecondary institution and transfer credits reported in the previous element (SP5220). Use the same units of measure as reported in element IP2080 or IP2081 on the Institution Program (IP) File (credits needed to graduate). Leave blank for students not in a program or in non-credit programs or programs with no set credit or course requirements.

Blank or numeric value with decimal point and two (2) decimal places.

Numeric

ProvSP

Provincial SP elements

Provincial ministries wanting to define additional elements for provincial reporting can use this composite element. Leave any unused portion of the 80 characters blank.

Components and codes as defined by provincial ministry

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CIPCodeRep

Classification of Instructional Programs code reported

The CIP code assigned to the student's program by the provincial ministry or other administrative body to identify the field of study of the program according to the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) Canada 2021 (Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) Canada 2021 Version 1.0)
Leave this element blank in the following cases:

• If you do not assign these codes
• For students in non-programs.

CIP codes reported here may be referred to along with other program information in finalizing the CIP code that Statistics Canada will assign to the student program.
It will not necessarily be used as the final code, unless specific discussions and agreements have first taken place with Statistics Canada.

Verify if codes reported by provincial ministry correspond with the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) Canada 2021

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RepStartYear

Year of start of report cycle

The year in which the current report cycle starts. Assign the same first four (4) digits of the start date of the report cycle (element ID1005 on the ID file).

YYYY (Year)

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Instit

Institution code

Reporting PSIS postsecondary institution code.

Refer to the Postsecondary Institution Codes in Section 4 of the document titled “PSIS Reporting Documentation 2025/2026".

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StudID

Institution's Student Identifier

The postsecondary institution's permanent identifier for the student while in this postsecondary institution. Use the same number for this student from year to year.
There must be a record on the Student Description (SD) File for this student.

None

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CourCode

Student's course code

The unique code for the course as it is stored in the postsecondary institution's administrative files. All course codes on this file must also be present in element IC3000 on the IC file. Include a course record for students that are registered either in a CO-OP work term, writing a thesis, or performing any other academic activities related to their program but not structured as a course. Also include non-credit courses. See element IC3000 on the IC file for more details.

Report each course the student was enrolled in after the final day for course additions and deletions (as defined by the postsecondary institution: usually about two (2) weeks after classes begin). Exclude courses for which the student is wait listed. Also, exclude courses for which the student was not registered and did not actually attend, even if the student received credit for the course by means of a challenge or by some other administrative method.

Include courses taken under a formal brokering agreement (see element SC6080) only if the course is present in your postsecondary institution's inventory of courses as given on the IC file. Exclude courses taken at another postsecondary institution for which you do not have a course record on your IC file.

None

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CourPer

Period in which course was delivered to student

The period (session, term or other interval) that describes when the course was delivered to the student. Use your code or name as defined in element ID1035 of the ID record. This element combined with the next one (ID1036) must be present on the ID file.

The postsecondary institution's code or name of the period as reported in element ID1035 of the ID file

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CourSubPer

Sub-period in which course was delivered to student

The sub-period that best describes when the course was delivered to the student. Use your code or name as defined in element ID1036 of the ID record. This element combined with the previous one (ID1035) must be present on the ID file.

The postsecondary institution's code or name of the period as reported in element ID1036 of the ID file

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CourStart

Date student started course

The date the student started the course. This date may be before the start of the report cycle.
Do not leave this element blank. If the actual date the student started the course is not recorded in the postsecondary institution's student record, use the start date of the course as it appears in the postsecondary institution's timetable.

YYYYMMDD (YearMonthDay)

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CourEnd

Date student ended course

The date for which the student withdrew from, has completed or will complete the course. If the course extends beyond the end of the report cycle, report the date the course will end.

If the date for which the student has completed or will complete the course is not recorded in the postsecondary institution's student record, use the end date of the course as it appears in your timetable or calendar, or estimate when the course would end for a full-time student taking the course by traditional course delivery. Leave this element blank only if the student has not yet completed the course and the end date cannot be predicted because the course has no set duration, such as a thesis or a course in which the student continues until achieving a certain mastery level.

YYYYMMDD (YearMonthDay)

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CourEndStat

Status in course at end of report cycle

The student's status in the course at the end of the report cycle. A student who completes a course and has met the minimum academic requirements to receive credit for the course should be assigned code "01 - Successfully completed". If the course extends beyond the end of the report cycle, assign code "02 - Still enrolled". If the student is repeating the course to improve his grade, report the end status as if the student were taking the course for normal credit.
Assign code "98 - Not applicable" only for non-credit courses.

01 - Successfully completed
02 - Still enrolled
03 - Withdrew without academic penalty
04 - Did not complete (failed course or withdrew with academic penalty)
05 - Not applicable (student audited course)
07 - Student deceased
96 - Other
98 - Not applicable (non-credit course)
99 - Status unknown (incomplete or under review or not yet determined)

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ProvSC

Provincial SC elements

Provincial ministries wanting to define additional elements for provincial reporting can use this composite element. Leave any unused portion of the 80 characters blank.

Components and codes as defined by provincial ministry

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