College postgraduate credential programs typically requiring a previous postsecondary credential as a prerequisite for entry and aimed at providing career-specific skills have grown in popularity, accounting for 13% of all college graduations in 2019, more than double the share (6%) recorded five years before in 2014.
The largest part of this increase is due to the growing number of international students at colleges. International students made up the majority (67%) of graduates from college postgraduate programs in 2019, with Indian students accounting for more than half (53%) of graduates. This contrasts the situation in 2014, when less than one-third (30%) of graduates from these programs were international students.
A new study released on September 12, "The rising popularity of college postgraduate credential programs in Canada," sheds light on the outcomes of students graduating from these programs in terms of graduation rates, transition to permanent residency, and post-graduation earnings.
