Study permit holders
3,715
2025
Study Permit Explorer
University of Alberta · Alberta · University · 2025
Explore published study permit-holder results for University of Alberta in 2025, including historical trends and comparison with similar institutions.
At a glance
Study permit summary
Rank among comparable institutions
#1
Alberta · University
Share of comparable total
45.1%
University of Alberta
Historical peak
4,435
2021
Historical context
How University of Alberta compares with its historical performance
Peak year
2021
4,435
permit holders
-16.2%
from peak
Historical average
3,600
Complete years
Selected year
3,715
2025
Vs. historical average
+3.2%
Above average
Peer comparison
How University of Alberta compares with other universities in Alberta
Leading universities in Alberta based on published study permit-holder totals for 2025.
| Rank | Top institutions | Study permit holders | Share of published total | Suppressed records |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Alberta | 3,715 | 45.1% | 0 |
| 2 | University of Calgary | 2,660 | 32.3% | 0 |
| 3 | MacEwan University | 805 | 9.8% | 0 |
| 4 | University of Lethbridge | 510 | 6.2% | 0 |
| 5 | Mount Royal University | 250 | 3.0% | 1 |
| 6 | Concordia University of Edmonton | 130 | 1.6% | 3 |
| 7 | City University of Seattle | 95 | 1.2% | 4 |
| 8 | Ambrose University | 35 | 0.4% | 7 |
| 9 | Alberta University of the Arts | 15 | 0.2% | 8 |
| 10 | The King's University | 10 | 0.1% | 9 |
Key findings
What stands out in these results
A concise summary of the most notable patterns in the selected study permit data.
Below historical peak
University of Alberta had 16.2% fewer published study permit holders in 2025 than at its historical peak in 2021.
Compared with historical average
University of Alberta's 2025 published total is 3.2% above its historical average for complete years.
Rank among comparable institutions
University of Alberta ranks #1 among universities in Alberta for 2025.
Share of comparable total
University of Alberta represents 45.1% of the published study permit-holder total among universities in Alberta in 2025.
Historical trend
Annual study permit trend for University of Alberta
Annual published study permit-holder totals for University of Alberta.
| Year | Study permit holders | YoY change | Suppressed records | Coverage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 2,850 | — | 0 | Complete year |
| 2016 | 3,500 | +22.8% | 0 | Complete year |
| 2017 | 3,700 | +5.7% | 0 | Complete year |
| 2018 | 3,915 | +5.8% | 0 | Complete year |
| 2019 | 3,830 | -2.2% | 0 | Complete year |
| 2020 | 2,315 | -39.6% | 0 | Complete year |
| 2021 | 4,435 | +91.6% | 0 | Complete year |
| 2022 | 4,115 | -7.2% | 0 | Complete year |
| 2023 | 3,955 | -3.9% | 0 | Complete year |
| 2024 | 3,275 | -17.2% | 0 | Complete year |
| 2025 | 3,715 | +13.4% | 0 | Complete year |
About this data
Definitions and methodology
Important terms and notes for interpreting the published study permit data.
Definitions
Study permit
Authorization that allows a foreign national to study in Canada.
This Explorer primarily reports study permit holders based on the year in which permits became effective. This is not the same as the total number of international students physically present in Canada at a given time.
Designated Learning Institution
An institution approved to host international students.
A Designated Learning Institution, or DLI, is an institution approved by a provincial or territorial government to host international students.
Study level
IRCC's broad classification of the level of study.
The available study-level categories are broader than specific academic disciplines. They do not represent programs such as Nursing, Computer Science, or Business.
Institution type
IRCC's classification of the type of learning institution.
Published institution types include categories such as University, College, Career College, Language School, Flight School, Theological School, and Other.
Public / private status
IRCC's published administration classification for a DLI.
Institutions may be classified as Public Institution, Private Institution, or Not Stated in the source data.
Country of citizenship
The country of citizenship reported for the study permit holder.
Country values are preserved from the official IRCC source data.
Methodology notes
Suppressed values
Some IRCC values are suppressed in the source data. Suppressed values are treated as unknown and are not interpreted as zero. Published totals therefore represent the sum of available numeric values only.
Partial-year data
The most recent year may contain only part of the calendar year. Partial years are identified as year-to-date and should not be compared directly with completed years without considering the difference in coverage.
Annual totals
Annual totals displayed by this Explorer are calculated by summing the published monthly values for the selected year and compatible dimensions.
Dataset compatibility
Not every search dimension is published together in the same IRCC dataset. The Explorer uses only combinations supported by the underlying source data and does not infer relationships between incompatible datasets.
Institution and citizenship data
Country of citizenship is not published together with individual institution names in the datasets used by this Explorer. Citizenship analysis can therefore be combined with province and institution type, but not with a specific institution.
Study level
Study level is available as a broad classification and is not published together with individual institution data in the datasets used by this Explorer.
Institution names
Institution names are preserved from the official IRCC source. Some entries may identify campuses, partner locations, or institution names that differ from commonly used public names.
Interpretation
The Explorer presents published administrative data and does not classify institutions, determine intent, or make conclusions about fraud, educational quality, or compliance. Users should interpret the data together with appropriate policy and institutional context.
Source
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
Study permit holders by DLI province or territory, DLI name, institution type and year in which permits became effective
Post-secondary study permit holders by DLI province or territory, DLI name, institution type, and year in which permits became effective.