Sectoral study Economy

Study of the impact of international student presence on regular education in the public CEGEP system

In January 2021, the Fédération des cégeps commissioned Aviseo Consulting to conduct a study on the impacts of the presence of international students in Quebec’s public CEGEP system. The study estimates the economic spinoffs, as well as their impact on the education provided, the labour market, and communities. In addition to enriching their community with their unique background, the province’s 5,000 or so international students contribute to diversity and to maintaining the education options available, while also providing a solution to labour shortages.

Fédération des cégeps - Étude sur les retombées de la présence des étudiants internationaux

Key figures

  • In 10 years, the number of international students has almost tripled, reaching 4,993 students from 97 countries in the 2019–2020 school year.
  • Of these students, 84% are in career programs.
  • Students support 677 jobs—412 directly.
  • International students contribute to Quebec’s economy, generating $62.8 million in value added.
  • Of these students, 63% study at an institution outside of the Montreal and Capitale-Nationale regions. Thus, it is mainly the regions that benefit from the economic spinoffs that result from the presence of international students, as opposed to the major urban centres (the Montreal and Capitale-Nationale regions).
  • The provincial and federal governments benefit from gross tax revenues of $5.7 million and $3.3 million, respectively.
  • International students contribute to maintaining 37 career programs, the majority of which are taught in institutions in the regions.
  • Of all international students in Quebec, 24% are enrolled in programs that lead to the 10 professions with the biggest labour shortages in the province.
Please note this publication is only issued in French.

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