Continuing Education Enrolment Grows 16% at Canadian Universities

SASKATOON, May 20, 2025—A new national survey by the Canadian Association for University Continuing Education (CAUCE) highlights the critical role continuing education plays in supporting a vibrant future for Canadians and the Canadian economy.

In 2024, continuing education units at 33 Canadian universities reported over 499,000 enrolments. 

From career-focused certificates to industry-relevant microcredentials to community programming, the scale of continuing & professional education offerings in Canada is immense. And this diversity is reflected in the sector’s growth. 

Among 20 Canadian universities that have consistently reported data over the last three years, professional & continuing education enrolments have grown by 16.1% since 2022.

Canadian universities are offering a wide range of programming that has robust demand from diverse audiences across the country. Professional & continuing education units at 15 Canadian universities engaged students with more than 2.1 million instructional hours, and across 28 universities they offered over 21,000 course sections. This is a powerful sign of Canadians’ demand for flexible, accessible learning that’s relevant to their needs.

Notably, 59% of enrolments supported by Canadian professional & continuing education units are not otherwise reported to government. This means that without CAUCE’s efforts to track enrollment data of its sector, this major contributor to Canada’s workforce and economy would go unrecognized.

“Continuing education is meeting real needs—from career shifts to lifelong learning—but we need to tell that story clearly,” says Evan Cortens, Chair of CAUCE’s Data Collection Committee. “This survey helps us do just that.”