University enrolment, credential statistics released

11/04/2009

The student population at universities in the Maritime provinces is becoming increasingly diverse, according to statistics released today by the Maritime Provinces Higher Education Commission (MPHEC).

The MPHEC released 2008-09 university enrolment and credentials granted data for all public Maritime universities.

While the number of undergraduate students from the Maritimes declined 13 per cent over the last five years, the number from outside the region increased by eight per cent during the same period. In 2008-09, students from outside the Maritimes accounted for 29 per cent of students enrolled in Maritime universities, up from 25 per cent five years ago.

The change was mainly from international students, whose numbers increased by 14 per cent over five years. Students enrolled at Maritime universities came from 164 countries, but most were from China, the United States, the Bahamas, Bermuda and India.

The number of undergraduate Canadian students from outside the region hovered around 10,000 for the last five years, after a large increase of Ontario students in 2003. Enrolments from Ontario still represented more than half of Canadian students from outside the Maritimes.

The MPHEC was established in 1974. Its 20 members are drawn from the Maritime provinces and represent higher-education institutions, provincial governments and the public. Its mission is to help institutions and governments improve post-secondary education in this region.

source: (www.gnb.ca)