Dictionary, Census of Population, 2021
Location of study

Definition

In the Census of Population, 'Location of study' refers to the province, territory or country of the institution from which a person obtained their highest certificate, diploma or degree.

Location of study refers to the location of the institution granting the certificate, diploma or degree, not the location of the person at the time they obtained the qualification or were attending the institution. The geographic location is specified according to boundaries current at the time the data are collected, not the boundaries at the time of study.

This variable indicates the province or territory (in Canada) or country (outside Canada) of the institution from which the highest postsecondary certificate, diploma or degree was obtained. It is only reported for individuals who had completed a certificate, diploma or degree above the high (secondary) school level.

This variable is reported for persons aged 15 years and over in private households.

Statistical unit(s)

• Person

Classification(s)

• Countries and Areas of Interest for Social Statistics - SCCAI 2019
• Location of study
• Standard Geographical Classification (SGC) 2021

Reported in

2021 and 2016 (25% sample); 2011^{Footnote 1} (30% sample); 2006 (20% sample).

Reported for

Population aged 15 years and over in private households

Question number(s)

Coded variable: Question 36

Responses

• Completed the highest certificate, diploma or degree in Canada – specify province or territory
• Completed the highest certificate, diploma or degree outside Canada – specify country

Countries outside Canada are classified according to the Standard Classification of Countries and Areas of Interest (SCCAI) 2019. A variant of this classification allows the countries to be aggregated into 19 geographical sub‑regions and 6 geographical macro‑regions.

Remarks

This variable is important in measuring the national and international flow of individuals with postsecondary (trades, college or university) education who were living in Canada at the time of the 2021 Census of Population, regardless of whether they were Canadian-born or immigrants.

Respondents were asked to indicate the location of study according to the boundaries in existence on May 11, 2021, the reference date for the 2021 Census of Population. For example:

• respondents who declared a location of study in an area which, at the time of the completion of their credential, was part of the Northwest Territories but which is now part of the territory of Nunavut were asked to write 'Nunavut';
• respondents who declared a location of study in an area which, at the time of the completion of their credential, was part of the USSR but which is now part of Kazakhstan were asked to write 'Kazakhstan.'

Note(s)

Related 2021 data products

• Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population (98-316-X2021001)
• Immigrant status and period of immigration by income and highest level of education: Canada, provinces and territories, census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations with parts (98-10-0313-01)
• Labour force status by major field of study, highest level of education, location of study compared with location of residence, age and gender: Canada, provinces and territories, census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations with parts (98-10-0445-01)
• Location of study compared with location of residence by highest level of education: Canada, provinces and territories, census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations with parts (98-10-0395-01)
• Occupation (STEM and non-STEM) by major field of study (STEM and BHASE, detailed) and highest level of education: Canada, provinces and territories (98-10-0402-01)
• Occupation (training, education, experience and responsibility category - TEER) by immigrant status and period of immigration, highest level of education, major field of study (STEM and BHASE, summary) and location of study: Canada, provinces and territories (98-10-0443-01)
• Occupation (training, education, experience and responsibility category - TEER) by visible minority, generation status, location of study and highest level of education: Canada, provinces and territories (98-10-0437-01)