The WHO estimates that the global shortfall of health workers will reach 10 million by 2030. As we detailed in our 2024 trends report, there’s a global skills shortage in STEM fields, and the skill gaps are expected to widen as aging destination countries see higher proportions of their workforce retire.
This makes recruitment of international students vital, as they will account for a large percentage of those replacing retirees in the coming years. But resources are limited. This means that institutions must be intentional and purposeful in their recruitment strategies.
Which student populations are driving diversity in STEM programs at Canadian universities? Read further to learn which student corridors schools can focus on strengthening to fill the country’s skills gaps.
Key Insights at a Glance
- African countries are driving STEM diversity at the undergraduate level. The Nigerian, Algerian, and Ghanaian student populations all grew significantly for health and sciences, computing and IT, and engineering.
- Schools looking to fill postgraduate seats should look at the Chinese, Iranian, and Bangladeshi student populations.
- Business programs accounted for 36% of all student visas issued at the university level from January to September 2023, an increase of 15 percentage points over full-year 2019.1
Note that this article covers university programs only. As such, all discussions and uses of undergraduate and postgraduate include only the university level and not the college equivalent.
Business Programs Continued to Capture a Larger Proportion of International Students at Canadian Universities in 2023
Before jumping into which students are driving STEM growth, let’s look at the larger field of study picture in Canada. From January to September 2023, business and management courses accounted for a larger proportion of study permits issued than they did across full-year 2022. This continued a seven-year trend:
Since 2016, business and management has accounted for a larger proportion of student visas issued for Canadian universities each year. Through September 2023, this proportion reached 36%, a 15 percentage point increase over 2016.
But digging deeper into these numbers shows that Indian students have played a significant role in this shift:
Business and management programs accounted for 48% of all study permits issued to Indian students at the university level through September 2023. This was 25 percentage points higher than full-year 2016.
30% of students outside of India pursued business and management in 2023, a 10 percentage point increase over full-year 2016.
So which student populations might schools want to target in order to grow fields of study outside of business? Let’s break it down, starting at the undergraduate level.
The Shifting Landscape of Undergraduate Studies at Canadian Universities
The chart below shows the proportion of study permits issued by field of study at the undergraduate level:
Through September 2023, the total number of study permits issued for undergraduate studies grew 49% over full-year 2019. Computing and IT was the fastest-growing field over this time, up 110%. It accounted for 14% of all study permits issued, an increase of four percentage points.
All remaining fields of study grew by at least 32% at the undergraduate level except for other studies (-5%) over this period.2
The non-Indian student population has been a major driver of undergraduate arts, social sciences, and humanities programs. 27% of all study permits issued to this demographic were for the arts through September 2023, more than any other field of study.
The Student Populations Driving Diversity in Undergraduate Health and General Science Programs
Health and general sciences grew 51% through September 2023 over full-year 2019 at the undergraduate level. The table below shows the top 10 student populations in this field:
Nigeria has been the biggest driver of diversity in health and general sciences at the undergraduate level. More than 1,300 Nigerian students were issued a study permit for this field through September 2023, a growth of 430% over full-year 2019. As a result, Nigerians accounted for 10 percentage points more of the total number of study permits issued in this field over this period.
One emerging student population that schools will want to ensure is on their radar is Ghana. The number of Ghanaian students issued a study permit at the undergraduate level for this field already doubled through September 2023 over full-year 2022, and was 660% higher than full-year 2019. Ghana could be a key source of students in the coming years, though high inflation and slowing economic growth could be a potential barrier with many Ghanaian households under considerable financial pressure.
In 2021 and 2022, IRCC cited insufficient finances as a study permit refusal reason in 74% of refusals for Nigerian applicants and 65% of refusals for Ghanaian applicants.
The Student Populations Driving Diversity in Undergraduate Computing and IT Programs
As mentioned above, computing and IT grew 110% through September 2023 over full-year 2019 at the undergraduate level, higher than any other field of study. The table below shows the top 10 student populations in this field:
One of our five predictions for 2024 is that software engineering programs will increase in popularity. That’s because 12% of all searches on the ApplyBoard platform in 2023 were for technology, software engineering, computer programming and IT.
The countries driving that increased popularity? Nigeria, Algeria, Guinea, and Nepal. The proportion of student visas issued to Nigerian, Algerian, Guinean, and Nepali nationals at the undergraduate level rose three percentage points each in 2023 compared to full-year 2019. The growth of Guinean and Nepali students in this field is particularly impressive. In full-year 2019, neither student population surpassed 35 total study permits issued.
On the ApplyBoard platform, Nepali nationals search for technology, software engineering, computer programming, and IT more frequently than any other student population.
The Student Populations Driving Diversity in Undergraduate Engineering Programs
Engineering grew 32% through September 2023 over full-year 2019 at the undergraduate level. The table below shows the top 10 student populations in this field:
Compared to full-year 2019, engineering had the second-lowest study permits issued growth rate of all undergraduate fields of study (+32%). As a result, the proportion of international students in this field dropped two percentage points over this period.
African countries are driving growth and increased diversity in undergraduate engineering programs. Through September 2023, 5 of the top 10—and 12 of the top 20—populations of undergraduate engineering students were African. What’s more, no country outside of Africa surpassed 10% growth compared to full-year 2022.3
Algeria could be a key source of engineering students for Canadian universities in the future. Engineering studies accounted for 22% of all study permits issued to Algerian undergraduate students through September 2023. The Algerian economy returned to its pre-pandemic levels in 2022 and first half of 2023, and investments are expected to continue supporting economic growth through 2025.
The Shifting Landscape of Postgraduate Studies at Canadian Universities
The chart below shows the proportion of study permits issued by field of study at the postgraduate level:
The total number of study permits issued for postgraduate studies grew 69% through September 2023 over full-year 2019. Business and management was the fastest-growing field over this time, up 180%. It accounted for 38% of all study permits issued, an increase of 15 percentage points.
Both Indian and non-Indian students are pursuing postgraduate business courses at higher rates. This field accounted for half of all study permits issued to postgraduate Indian students through September 2023, an increase of 23 percentage points over full-year 2019. One third of non-Indian students pursued this field in 2023, an increase of 13 percentage points over the same period.
But that doesn’t mean the remaining fields of study failed to grow. In fact, every postgraduate field of study grew by at least 25% except for other studies (-10%) over this period.
The Student Populations Driving Diversity in Postgraduate Health and General Science Programs
Health and general sciences grew 25% through September 2023 over full-year 2019 at the postgraduate level. The table below shows the top 10 student populations in this field:
Post-pandemic, this field has had the second-slowest growth rate at the postgraduate level. In fact, the number of student visas issued through September 2023 was 5% lower than full-year 2022, meaning the field may struggle to avoid a second consecutive full-year decline.
Students from India (+20%), Iran (+41%), and Nigeria (+230%) have driven the field’s growth since full-year 2019. This led to Iranian students accounting for two percentage points more of all study permits issued in 2023, and Nigerian students capturing an additional three percentage points.
Schools may want to pay attention to Bangladesh. Through September 2023, the Bangladeshi student population in health and general sciences grew 33% over full-year 2022 and 140% over full-year 2019. Bangladeshis join Nigerian and Ghanaians as the only student populations to see double digit growth across both time frames. The proportion of students in this field who came from Bangladesh rose two percentage points since full-year 2019.
The Student Populations Driving Diversity in Postgraduate Computing and IT Programs
Computing and IT grew 70% through September 2023 over full-year 2019 at the postgraduate level. The table below shows the top 10 student populations in this field:
Computing and IT has had the second-fastest growth rate among Canadian postgraduate programs since full-year 2019. Chinese students have largely driven this growth. Through September 2023, the number of study permits issued to Chinese students for these programs was up 74% over full-year 2022 and 170% over full-year 2019. The proportion of students in this field who came from China has risen nearly seven percentage points since full-year 2019.
Schools looking to fill seats in postgraduate computing and IT programs will want to ensure they’re strengthening student corridors in Bangladesh. Compared to full-year 2019, the number of study permits granted to Bangladeshi students through September 2023 more than tripled. As a result, the field’s proportion of students from Bangladesh nearly doubled over this time.
The Student Populations Driving Diversity in Postgraduate Engineering Programs
Engineering grew 41% through September 2023 over full-year 2019 at the postgraduate level. The table below shows the top 10 student populations in this field:
Like health, engineering may see a full-year decline in 2023 compared to 2022. Through September 2023, the number of student visas issued for this field was down 8% over full-year 2022.
The proportion of visas issued to the top 3 student populations—India, Iran, and China—dropped a combined 12 percentage points compared to full-year 2019. Algeria, Nigeria, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Ghana were key countries that drove this shift in student diversity. Each of these emerging student populations more than doubled over this time period, and their proportion of all student visas issued grew by at least two percentage points.
Key Takeaways
Filling undersubscribed seats is one of the most common challenges that we hear our partners are facing. Knowing which student populations are emerging as most interested in those seats is critical to ensuring that limited recruitment resources are utilized in the most efficient ways possible.
Universities should use this data to ensure that they’re targeting student populations with a proven interest in certain fields of study. Increasing the diversity of the classroom is a win for both the university and the students. For institutions, diversity means mitigating risks of downturn during times of heightened geopolitical tensions. For students, it means more voices and more perspectives, which ultimately leads to a higher-quality educational experience.
We should note that the impact of Canada’s updated minimum financial requirement remains to be seen. As of January 1, 2024, the financial requirement of a study permit application will rise to C$20,635 to reflect the rising cost of living. This update will help ensure students are set up for success while they study, work, and live in Canada, but could also lead to students from emerging markets like Ghana and Nepal delaying their applications in the short term.
Stay tuned to ApplyInsights, as in the coming weeks we’ll have articles coming out that cover developments across all destination markets.
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FOOTNOTES:
1. All Canadian data courtesy of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). New study permits only. The terms student visa and study permit are generally used interchangeably for Canadian international students. Rather than student visas, Canada provides accepted international students with study permits, which allow those students to enroll in classes at Canadian institutions. When a student is accepted for a study permit, they are also usually provided with a visitor visa, which allows that student to enter Canada for their studies.
2. “Other Studies” consists of the following fields: agriculture, architecture, ESL/FSL, flight training, tourism, law, theology, trades, other and unspecified.
