SMU International Student Experience Study

ATN Strategies worked with Saint Mary’s University (SMU), with support from the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, to address a central question for the region’s future: how do international students experience life and study in Atlantic Canada, and what drives their decision to stay or leave after graduation? Post-secondary institutions and governments recognized international students as a key source of talent and population growth, but lacked detailed, region-specific evidence to inform retention strategies.

Working with SMU, we designed and delivered a comprehensive study on the international student experience across Atlantic Canada. ATN developed and administered a large-scale survey of current and former international students (2017–2023), capturing their academic, social, cultural, and community experiences. The survey explored motivations for choosing Atlantic Canada, satisfaction with supports and services, challenges during and after study, and intentions and barriers related to staying in the region.

Our team conducted in-depth demographic and thematic analysis, segmenting results by institution type, country of origin, field of study, and post-graduation pathways. We also collaborated with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to align our work with federal data, improving data quality and interpretation and ensuring findings could connect to immigration policy and program design.

The final report, “Experiences of International Students in Atlantic Canada,” provides clear, actionable insights for universities, colleges, and policymakers. It highlights priority improvements in student services, settlement supports, work-integrated learning, employer engagement, and immigration navigation.

Today, the findings are informing institutional strategies to better attract and support international students and helping federal and provincial partners shape policies that improve post-graduation retention. The study has become a key resource for advancing immigration planning and analysis and for positioning international students as long-term contributors to Atlantic Canada’s population, workforce, and community vitality.