International Students are an important growth segment in Canada – at the end of 2021, there were over 620,000 students with valid study permits studying at Canadian Universities and Colleges.
International Students Report 2022 is an innovative new syndicated research study exploring consumer behaviours, social attitudes and demographics of the growing population of International Students in Canada, conducted by SRG in partnership with 55rush. The study is based on detailed interviews with 560 International students hailing from over 80 countries, representing 135 Universities and Colleges in every region of Canada. It covers a wide range of subjects, from when they acquired things like bank accounts, credit cards, wireless accounts as well as their mindset: what they like about studying in Canada and their challenges. This is complemented by their preferences on sports, banking, wireless and grocery habits, providing a unique 360 degree view of their priorities, mindset and consumer behaviours.
In this first of two posts summarizing the key findings from the study, we will highlight some general characteristics of International students in Canada.
NEARLY HALF ARE ATTENDING SCHOOLS IN ONTARIO AND FOUR-IN-FIVE WANT TO LIVE OR WORK IN CANADA AFTER THEIR STUDIES
Nearly half of International students are attending Ontario institutions, while 30% are attending educational institutions in Western Canada, followed by Quebec (15%) and Atlantic Canada (6%). Business, Health Sciences, Engineering and Computer Science are the four leading areas of concentration among International students in Canada.
Before deciding on Canada, International students were likely to have considered at least one other country on average, with the U.S., Australia and the U.K. being the most popular three other countries.
Nearly two-in-three International students are in University programs, with the balance in College programs; 70% are living in rental arrangements and the balance are living with friends/family on a temporary basis (15%) or in student residences (10%).
A majority – over 80% – either will or have already applied to work or live in Canada after their studies are finished – meaning there is a good chance many will become permanent residents or spend more than a few years in Canada.
THEY TEND TO ARRIVE RIGHT BEFORE SCHOOL STARTS AND ARE QUICK TO SET THEMSELVES UP
A very significant majority of students arrive very close to the start of the school year – 69% arrive within a few days to a month before start of school which means decisions about some important products and services are made very quickly.
The biggest priorities for students when they arrive are opening a bank account and getting a Canadian wireless phone number; further down the line in terms of importance is getting a credit card and things like signing up for Internet and purchasing furniture.
Google, YouTube and social media were the most important information sources relied on for information about life in Canada along with friends and family.
About the Study: International Students Report 2022 is an independent syndicated research study conducted and published by Solutions Research Group Consultants Inc. (SRG) in partnership with 55rush exploring consumer behaviours, social attitudes and demographics of International Students in Canada.
To participate the respondents that had to have a Student Visa, studying in a Canadian College or University. A total of 560 detailed interviews among International Students were conducted in July 2022 with students from 80+ countries and attending 135 Canadian Universities or Colleges. A sample of this size can provide results accurate to plus or minus 4.1 percent, nineteen times out of twenty. For more information on how your organization can access the full reports for internal use, contact robin@srgnet.com
