Canadian Students Abroad

Level of Study by Experience Type Post-COVID

Exchange Programs Faculty-led Programs Research/Fieldwork Work-integrated Learning Other

Undergraduate Programs

50%, 30%, 3%, 9%, 8%

Graduate Programs

12%, 38%, 23%, 14%, 13%

PhD and Post-graduate

0, 4%, 45%, 9%, 42%

Certificates and Diplomas

31%, 50%, 0, 11%, 8%

Fields of Study by Experience Type Post-COVID

Exchange Programs Business 37% Social Sciences 19% Humanities 10% Faculty-led Programs Business 24% Humanities 17% Social Sciences 15% Research/Fieldwork Social Sciences 21% Health Science 19% Natural Sciences 17% Work-integrated Learning Business 27% Social Sciences 19% Engineering 12%

Destination by Experience Type (Pre-COVID)

Exchange Programs

United Kingdom
France
Australia
The Netherlands
Spain

Faculty-led Programs

Italy
China
Hong Kong
United Kingdom
France

Research/
Fieldwork

France
China
Germany
United Kingdom
United States

Work-integrated Learning

United States
China
Germany
Japan
India

Respondent Education Profile

Year of Learning Abroad

First: College 46%, University 7%; Second: College 37%, University 13%; Third: College 12%, University 44%; Fourth: College 4%, University 27%; Fifth+: College 2%, University 10%.

Level of Study

75% Bachelor’s Degree 7% Master's Degree 6% Diploma 3% PhD/Doctorate 2% Professional Degree 1% Certificate 5% identified multiple credentials

Top Destinations

Recognition

Received academic credentials: 79%; Received co-curricular credit: 20%; Required learning abroad to graduate: 8%.

Top Fields of Study

Type of Experience

20% were first in their family to attend post-secondary education

75% were first in their family to participate in learning abroad

4% had dependents while learning abroad

25% had an early learning abroad experience

Barriers of Note by Gender

Financial Barriers

Men: 63%; Gender-diverse: 73%; Women: 67%;

Feelings of Anxiety About Leaving

Men: 37%; Gender-diverse: 45%; Women: 48%.

Concerns About Racism and Discrimination

Men: 24%; Gender-diverse: 45%; Women: 31%.

Sources of Funding

Personal Savings: 85%; Parents or Relatives: 64%; Home Institution: 61%; Work Income: 56%; Canadian Gov't (Prov/Fed): 26%; Financial Aid: 24%; Personal Debt: 19%; Paid WIL/Co-op: 13%; Gov't Outside of Canada: 5%; Third-party Organization: 5%; Other: 5%; Spouse: 5%.

Contribution to Future Plans and Career Path

Increased my network of people in a country outside of Canada: 84% Physical, Virtual 70%.
Encouraged me to pursue additional learning abroad experiences: 78%, Virtual 77%.
Increased my desire to pursue an internationally focused career: 72%, Virtual 73%.
Provided direction for my post-graduation plans: 62%, Virtual 65%.
Provided skills to give me an advantage in today’s Canadian job market: 62%, Virtual 61%.
Equipped me with skills to enter/progress in the Canadian job market: 55%, Virtual 58%.
Directly helped me to obtain work experience in my field of study in the Canadian job market: 31%, Virtual 39%.
Equipped me to become an entrepreneur in the Canadian job market: 29%, Virtual 42%.