Welcome to the latest edition of our newsletter, where we dive deep into the landscape of visa approvals for Canadian universities. A lot of the narrative in the Canadian post-secondary international education space is around colleges. It’s worth noting that universities account for almost 33% of Canadian study permit approvals for 2023. This edition presents a comprehensive analysis of visa approval numbers, approval rates, and the distribution of international students by country for Canadian universities. By examining data from top-performing universities and key markets, we uncover the trends and dynamics shaping the future of international education in Canada.
Visa Approval Rate Trends
One thing that jumps right out is the visa approval rate. Generally, it has been perceived that universities boast significantly higher approval rates than colleges. Historically, universities have indeed maintained a higher approval rate compared to all institutions. However, 2023 marked an exception, with all institutions collectively achieving a higher approval rate of 58%, surpassing universities by 2 percentage points, which had an approval rate of 56%.
Both universities and all institutions saw significant growth in SP approvals from 2018 to 2023. However, the growth rate for all institutions (129.82%) was higher compared to that for universities (97.61%). Universities consistently account for a substantial share of SP approvals, ranging between 32% and 40% of the total for all institutions. However, there has been a significant decline in the last few years from 40% (2020) to a little less than 33% (2023).
Top Universities by SP Approval
(SP Approvals, approval rate, province, public/private)
1. University Canada West: 13,942 , 65.03%, British Columbia, Private
2. Algoma University: 9,351 , 67.43% , Ontario, Public
3. University of Toronto: 7,064, 87.89% , Ontario, Public
4. University of British Columbia: 5,090, 85.05%, British Columbia, Public
5. Cape Breton University: 4,466, 37.81%, Nova Scotia, Public
6. York University: 4,234, 70.72%, Ontario, Public
7. Université Laval: 3,595, 46.40%, Quebec, Public
8. University of Ottawa: 3,163, 70.23% , Ontario, Public
9. Université de Montréal: 3,136, 60.03%, Quebec, Public
10. Université du Québec à Chicoutimi: 3,027, 30.20%, Quebec, Public
11. University of Regina: 2,996, 42.40%, Saskatchewan, Public
12. McGill University: 2,918, 93.59%, Quebec, Public
13. University of Windsor: 2,877, 74.23%, Ontario, Public
14. Concordia University: 2,863, 77.15%, Quebec, Public
15. University of Manitoba: 2,855, 33.25%, Manitoba, Public
16. Yorkville University: 2,747, 58.70%, New Brunswick, Private
17. Yorkville University – Toronto Film School: 2,747, 48.59%, Ontario, Private
18. Capilano University: 2,690, 79.85%, British Columbia, Public
19. Kwantlen Polytechnic University: 2,414, 76.49%, British Columbia, Public
20. Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières: 2,394, 26.61%, Quebec, Public
Top Universities by SP Approval Rate
(SP approval above 200 – visa approvals, approval rate, province, public/private)
- McGill University: 2,918, 93.59%, Quebec, Public
- University of Toronto: 7,064, 87.89%, Ontario, Public
- University of the Fraser Valley: 1,458, 87.31%, British Columbia, Public
- University of Waterloo: 1,801, 86.13%, Ontario, Public
- University of British Columbia: 5,090, 85.05%, British Columbia, Public
- McMaster University: 1,332, 84.09%, Ontario, Public
- Queen’s University: 1,212, 83.47%, Ontario, Public
- Simon Fraser University: 1,016, 83.35%, British Columbia, Public
- Wilfrid Laurier University: 453, 81.62%, Ontario, Public
- Providence University College and Theological Seminary: 514, 81.33%, Manitoba, Private
- OCAD University: 290, 81.23%, Ontario, Public
- Capilano University: 2,690, 79.85%, British Columbia, Public
- International Business University: 454, 79.37%, Ontario, Private
- University of Alberta: 2,155, 77.63%, Alberta, Public
- Concordia University: 2,863, 77.15%, Quebec, Public
- University of Guelph: 837, 77.14%, Ontario, Public
- Western University: 1,519, 77.11%, Ontario, Public
- Kwantlen Polytechnic University: 2,414, 76.49%, British Columbia, Public
- Dalhousie University: 1,161, 74.38%, Nova Scotia, Public
- University of Windsor: 2,877, 74.23%, Ontario, Public
Universities with the Lowest Approval Rate
1. Cape Breton University: 4,466, 37.81%
2. Brandon University: 332, 36.52%
3. University of Manitoba: 2,855, 33.25%
4. Université de Moncton: 1,936, 32.76%
5. Université du Québec à Chicoutimi: 3,027, 30.20%
6. Université du Québec à Rimouski: 1,597, 29.76%
7. Laurentian University: 1,548, 28.51%
8. Université du Québec en Outaouais Pavillon Alexandre-Taché: 2,093 , 27.45%
9. Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières: 2,394, 26.61%
10. Université Sainte-Anne: 279, 18.88%
Observations
Public vs. Private:
- Most of the top universities by both visa approval rate and numbers are public institutions, with the University of Canada West being a notable private institution in the top rankings by visa approval numbers. With that being said, International Business University has the highest visa approval rates among private non-religious institutions.
Provinces:
- The provinces with the most representation among the top institutions are Ontario, Quebec, and British Columbia. However, It is very concerning to see that a lot of universities that have the lowest approval rates are from Quebec or rural areas in other provinces. The lower rates for Quebec institutions may be due to the focus on francophone African countries. Also, Cape Breton, Brandon, Manitoba, and Laurentian are other public institutions with some of the lowest approval rates.
High Approval Rates:
- Public Institutions like McGill University, the University of Toronto, and UBC show high visa approval rates.
Volume and Approval Rate Balance:
- Very few universities, like the University of Toronto and the University of British Columbia, can boast of high numbers of approvals along with high approval rates.
Top Countries for Canadian Universities
(Country, visa approvals, visa approval rate, proportion of total visa approvals)
1. India: 50,866 visa approvals, 75.09% visa approval rate, 35.37% of total visa approvals
2. People’s Republic of China: 13,124, 85.91%, 9.12%
3. Nigeria: 9,694, 32.14%, 6.74%
4. Iran: 5,840, 56.49%, 4.06%
5. France: 5,015, 94.86%, 3.49%
6. Bangladesh: 3,796, 49.36%, 2.64%
7. Ghana: 3,705, 49.52%, 2.58%
8. United States of America: 3,558, 95.77%, 2.47%
9. Nepal: 2,461, 60.89%, 1.71%
10. Senegal: 2,083, 25.20%, 1.45%
11. Cameroon: 1,545, 31.15%, 1.07%
12. Morocco: 1,578, 74.22%, 1.10%
13. Pakistan: 1,909, 36.80%, 1.33%
14. Republic of Ivory Coast: 1,805, 41.90%, 1.25%
15. South Korea: 1,053, 95.55%, 0.73%
16. Vietnam: 883, 90.19%, 0.61%
17. Philippines: 1,453, 70.19%, 1.01%
18. Kenya: 605, 37.23%, 0.42%
19. Egypt: 557, 72.62%, 0.39%
20. Turkey: 536, 83.36%, 0.37%
Observations on Top Countries
High Volume Contributors:
- India and China dominate the visa approval landscape, together accounting for almost half of the total approvals (44.49%). Additionally, India alone contributes over one-third (35.37%) of all approvals, highlighting its substantial influence and the importance of the Indian student market for Canadian universities.
Approval Rates:
- High Approval Rates: Countries like the United States (95.77%), France (94.86%), Germany (95.36%), and Japan (96.27%) have exceptionally high approval rates.
- Moderate Approval Rates: Countries such as Iran (56.49%), Ghana (49.52%), and Bangladesh (49.36%) have moderate approval rates. This indicates that while there is significant interest, there are also challenges that students from these countries face in the application process.
Emerging Markets:
- Significant Contributions from Emerging Markets: Countries like Nigeria, Bangladesh, and Ghana are notable contributors, reflecting growing interest in Canadian education from these regions. However, the lower approval rates in these countries suggest that there are barriers that need to be addressed to increase their success rates.
- Africa: Several African countries, including Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon, and Kenya, feature prominently in the visa approval numbers. In fact, this highlights the continent’s increasing interest in Canadian education and the potential for growth in this market.
Regional Trends:
- Asia: The dominance of Asian countries such as India, China, Bangladesh, and Pakistan showcases the region’s strong demand for Canadian education. This aligns with the demographic trends and the growing middle class in these countries that value higher education abroad.
- Middle East and North Africa (MENA): Countries like Iran, Egypt, and Morocco have significant numbers of approvals, indicating a robust interest from the MENA region. The varied approval rates suggest different levels of challenges faced by students in these countries.
- Americas: The United States and Brazil show strong numbers and high approval rates, reflecting close educational ties with Canada. Other countries in Latin America have lower numbers, indicating room for growth.
Conclusion
The visa approval landscape for Canadian universities reveals a dynamic and evolving international education sector. In fact, with universities accounting for nearly a third of all study permit approvals, they continue to play a critical role in attracting global talent. While public institutions dominate in both approval numbers and rates, notable private institutions like University Canada West and International Business University also make significant contributions.
Regional trends highlight the importance of Asia and Africa as key markets, with India and China leading the way in student numbers. However, the varied approval rates across different countries underscore the need for targeted strategies to address the unique challenges faced by students from emerging markets. Therefore, as Canadian universities continue to adapt and grow, understanding these trends will be crucial in shaping the future of international education in Canada.
