Canada has over 50 accredited colleges and universities, including public and private institutions.
- Unlike the US, which only has one federal university system, Canada’s different educational institutions fall under each of its provinces and territories.
- In all, there are 14 such provinces and territories in the country, including Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia, and Yukon.
- The capital city of Canada is Ottawa, but its largest city is Toronto; both of these cities have several colleges in them as well as many more elsewhere across the country.
Canada has many different colleges and universities, many of which are located in major cities. In this article, we’ll talk about how many there are, what they offer, and what you should know if you’re thinking about going to school in Canada.
- Are you looking to study at one of these colleges?
- What are the best Canadian schools?
- Which ones should you consider visiting or applying to?
Let’s explore the answers to these questions and more below!
The history of Canadian education
Although students from other countries have studied in Canada since its founding, no formal system of higher education existed until 1895. That year, Prime Minister Sir Wilfrid Laurier introduced a bill to create an endowed and consolidated fund to be used for the establishment, maintenance, and extension of Universities.
- The legislation passed easily and came into effect on Jan. 1, 1896. Queen’s University was established as one of four institutions that would receive funding based on their religious affiliation: McGill University (Roman Catholic), Dalhousie University (Presbyterian), U Toronto (Anglican), and Queen’s (Church of England).
- Over time, other schools also received funding based on religion. Quebec didn’t open its first college until 1920; two years later, it opened a law school.
- New Brunswick had only one university at that point. Newfoundland, which joined Confederation in 1949, did not establish a provincial university until 1969.
- Nova Scotia opened its doors to non-denominational post-secondary education with St. Mary’s College in 1802 but didn’t begin offering degree programs until 1841, when King’s College was founded.
- By then, Ontario had already begun educating its citizens through what became known as Upper Canada College—the country’s oldest independent school—and King’s College itself (which later became part of U Toronto).
- In 1850, Lower Canada followed suit with Montreal’s Laval University and Bishop’s College (now part of Concordia University).
- British Columbia began its journey toward a modern education system in 1872 with Royal Military College, while Manitoba started building universities after joining Confederation in 1870.
- Saskatchewan began offering courses at Regina Normal School in 1906 and officially established itself as a province just five years later.
- Alberta offered classes through Calgary Normal School beginning in 1908 and finally gained status as a province six years after that.
And so it went until all ten provinces were up and running by 1960, when Canadian universities finally emerged from centuries of church-based learning to become secular institutions open to anyone who wanted an education—no matter where they lived or how much money they had.
Canadian education today
As of March 2013, there were 742 universities, colleges, and institutes operating in Canada. Of these institutions, 710 were registered and chartered as degree-granting educational institutions under provincial/territorial law.
There were also 16 Indigenous-owned and -operated postsecondary institutions that met institutional quality assessment standards set by the Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials (CICIC).
- The number of international students enrolled in Canadian post-secondary programs increased by more than 25 percent between 2002–03 and 2012–13 to reach over 274,000 full-time international students—an increase that represents 23 percent of total enrolment.
- In addition, from 2009–10 to 2011–12, tuition fees rose by an average of 5.2 percent across all provinces and territories, with Ontario leading at 6.3 percent, followed by Alberta at 4.6 percent.
- From 2010–11 to 2011–12 alone, tuition fees rose 10.1 percent on average across all Canadian public universities for undergraduate arts and science programs; however, some university campuses experienced increases above 20 percent during that period (Dionne & Bowdle 2013).
- By 2015, it is estimated that nearly 50% of Canadians will have a post-secondary education certificate or diploma compared with 42% in 2001 (Mellis et al., 2014), which has resulted in a growing need for skilled workers who can fill positions in areas such as business, engineering, computer science, and health care.
Canadian educational system facts
For international students, a primary decision point is what school system to choose. In an increasingly globalized world, most people have heard of both American and British universities.
But Canada has a completely different educational system that is often overlooked by international students. This guide will provide an overview of education in each country to help you make an informed decision on where to study. Keep reading below!
Primary Education (K-12)
Primary education lasts from kindergarten through 12th grade or secondary school. Depending on your location, some schools might be government-run while others may be private institutions.
- Generally speaking, Canadian public schools use either English or French as their main language of instruction.
- In contrast, American primary and secondary schools usually provide an Americanized version of classes taught in other countries.
- In addition to standard subjects like math and science, students learn about American history and culture during these years. In both countries, you can expect a high degree of diversity among teachers and classmates.
- For example, you’ll find that many students speak a foreign language at home due to immigration patterns within each country’s borders.
Postsecondary Education (Universities)
Students who want to continue their studies after graduating from high school attend college or university. This level of education is also known as tertiary schooling because it is considered higher than secondary schooling.
- Both American and Canadian colleges offer bachelor’s degrees, but there are some important differences between them: – Bachelor’s Degrees: A four-year undergraduate program in America is called a bachelor’s degree; however, Canadians refer to it as a four-year university program. – Universities: Universities have traditionally been more prestigious than colleges in Canada.
However, recent changes have made college programs increasingly competitive with universities for top students.
The future of Canadian education
The Canadian government is increasingly becoming aware of the critical importance of education to its people and its economy. In fact, research suggests that when it comes to boosting a country’s gross domestic product (GDP), education contributes more than anything else. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) estimates that every year 10% increase in a country’s adult literacy rate boosts its GDP by 2.5%. And for every extra year of school completed, countries tend to see an increase of approximately 20% in their GDP per capita.
- By investing heavily in its colleges and universities, it stands to reason that Canada could stand up tall against other global competitors when it comes to economic success.
Conclusion
This proves that Canada is a country with not only pristine lakes and mountains but also educational institutions that rank among the best in all of North America. Whether you’re looking for a school with an excellent business program or simply one with beautiful scenery, you won’t have to look far to find your perfect fit.
- There are currently 82 post-secondary schools spread throughout every province and territory of Canada. From large public universities to small colleges, there’s an institution of higher learning for every student.
- With more than 3 million students enrolled at all levels each year, Canadian education remains one of the best systems around.
- Don’t be surprised if you get lost while exploring—it can be hard to pick just one!
If you’ve never been to Canada before, it can feel overwhelming when trying to choose where to start your university degree. Luckily, this diverse country is home to campuses both big and small that cater specifically to their area’s needs.
For example, British Columbia has several prestigious universities as well as a handful of smaller colleges that provide some truly stunning views from their campuses.
- You’ll want to spend plenty of time exploring these options before making your final decision about where you’d like to begin your academic journey!
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