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Enrolments at public colleges and universities in Canada passed the 2 million mark in the 2013-14 academic year, led by a growth in international students.

The number of new students at post-secondary education institutions increased by 1.2 per cent within 12 months to reach 2,048,019, while the number of international student enrolments rose 2.5 per cent, according to data from . The number of international students in the country has steadily increased for almost two decades, and now accounts for almost 10 per cent of total enrolments.

On a provincial level, Ontario led the increase, claiming 17,493 more student enrolments (up 2.2 per cent), followed by Quebec (up 8,589) and British Columbia (up 4,410), which both saw a 1.6 per cent rise.

While more female students enrolled at colleges and universities in general and particularly for part-time courses, the balance tilted the opposite way for international students.?Women accounted for 56.3 per cent of total enrolments and 60 per cent of part-time enrolments but 45.6 per cent of all international student enrolments.

The number of new students rose in most fields of study in 2013-14, with the same three fields as the previous year accounting for nearly half of all enrolments: business, management and public administration (18.3 per cent), humanities (15.8 per cent) and social and behavioural sciences, and law (13.6 per cent).

The largest increase was in the field of architecture, engineering and related technologies, which saw a rise of 8,409. Enrolments in this field have been increasing for eight years.

ellie.bothwell@tesglobal.com