Location of Study, 2006

View this map

Abstract

In the 2006 Census individuals aged 15 and over were asked to provide the location where their highest certificate, diploma or degree was obtained according to the boundaries in existence on Census Day, May 16, 2006. For the population with postsecondary certification, the map shows by census division and census subdivision, the location of study of the highest level of educational attainment as classified into the following three classes:

• Inside Canada, same province or territory as province or territory of residence
• Inside Canada, different province or territory than province or territory of residence
• Outside Canada.

The data were collected only from individuals who had completed a certificate, diploma or degree above the secondary (high) school level. The information shown on the map is important in measuring the national and international flow of skilled Canadians, regardless of whether they are Canadian-born or immigrants.

In 2006, 10% of Canadian postsecondary graduates aged 15 and over had earned their highest certificate, diploma or degree outside the province or territory in which they resided in 2006. Another 16% had completed their highest postsecondary certificate, diploma or degree outside of Canada.

Most Canadians completed their postsecondary certification in their province of residence

The province with the highest proportion of those aged 15 and over who had studied in their province of residence was Quebec at 88%, followed by Newfoundland and Labrador at 86%. By contrast, 65% of those who lived in Prince Edward Island or Alberta had completed their highest postsecondary credential from an educational institution in their home province. Most Canadians in the territories had studied in another location. For example, of the residents of the Northwest Territories aged 15 and over, 22% had earned their highest postsecondary credential in Alberta, while 25% had studied in their home territory.

Many Canadians aged 15 and over had studied outside of Canada in 2006

In general, the higher the level of education, the more likely a person was to have earned their highest postsecondary credential from outside of Canada. For example, 46% of those with an earned doctorate (PhD) studied outside of Canada, whereas only 10% of those with a trades certificate had done the same. Of those with a bachelor's degree as their highest credential, 20% were granted from institutions outside of Canada as were 33% of medical, dental, veterinary medicine or optometric degrees and 34% of master's degrees.

The most common country of study outside of Canada was the United States, followed by the United Kingdom, India, the Philippines and People's Republic of China.

The Daily is Statistics Canada's official release bulletin. The Daily for March 4, 2008, marked the public release of this census variable. Highlight tables allowing users to perform simple rank and sort functions with the data at various levels of geography are available for this variable here: Education Highlight Tables, 2006 Census. More information on this variable and all education variables for 2006 can be found at Education Reference Guide, 2006 Census.

The text was adapted from Statistics Canada, Educational Portrait of Canada, 2006 Census, Catalogue number 97-560-XIE2006001. Statistics Canada information is used with the permission of Statistics Canada. Information on the availability of the wide range of data from Statistics Canada can be obtained from the Statistics Canada's Regional Offices, its World Wide Web site at www.statcan.gc.ca, and its toll free access number is 1-800-263-1136.