Québec, September 26, 2024. – In 2021, a record 69,990 degrees and diplomas were granted at the bachelor’s level or higher in Québec. The number of degrees granted was up by 11.8% from 2020 and reached a new high at all three levels:
- 42,384 at the undergraduate level (+8.0%)
- 16,779 at the master’s level (+21.2%)
- 2,463 at the doctoral level (+22.2%)
For the first time, the majority (51.0%) of doctorate degrees were awarded to women. In Ontario, 49.8% of students who received a doctorate degree were women.
This was revealed in the publication Les diplômés des niveaux baccalauréat et supérieur released by the Institut de la statistique du Québec.
The share of degrees granted in science, technology, engineering and mathematics is slightly lower in Québec than in Ontario
Overall, in 2021, the share of degrees awarded in fields of study related to science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM) was lower in Québec (26.3%) than in Ontario (31.8%).
From 2011 to 2021, in both Québec and Ontario, the share of degrees in STEM fields awarded to women increased at the bachelor’s and doctoral level.
Over the same period, international students became the majority among students who received a degree in STEM at the master’s and doctoral level in Québec.
Share of international students at the master’s and doctoral level higher in Québec than in Ontario
In Québec, international students accounted for 18.7% of students who received a degree. However, a much larger proportion of them received a master’s degree (36.7%) or a doctorate degree (38.9%) than an undergraduate degree (10.4%).
In Ontario, international students accounted for a slightly smaller share of students who received a degree (16.6%) than in Québec. Compared with Québec, the share of international students was lower among those who received a master’s (30.0%) or doctorate degree (25.0%), but higher among those who received an undergraduate degree (12.6%).
Median employment income of graduates in Québec
Data on the median employment income of the cohorts from 2010 to 2020 show that, two years after graduation:
- Undergraduate degrees in STEM fields are the most “profitable.”
- Master’s degrees in commerce and administration are more “profitable” than any other, no matter the cohort.
- Degrees in the arts and humanities fields—even doctorate degrees—are the least “profitable”.
Furthermore, data on the cohorts from 2010 to 2017 show that, two to five years after receiving an undergraduate or master’s degree, men’s median employment income had improved more than women’s.
The data analyzed by the Institut in this publication come from Statistics Canada.
For 25 years, the Institut de la statistique du Québec has been producing, analyzing, and disseminating official, objective and high-quality statistical information on various aspects of Québec society. It is responsible for conducting all statistical surveys of general interest. The relevance of its work makes it a strategic ally for decision makers and an essential source of information for all those wishing to learn more about Québec.