The student population in Maritime universities is becoming increasingly diverse, according to statistics released recently by the Maritime Provinces Higher Education Commission.
The commission has released 2008-09 university enrolment and credentials granted data for all public Maritime universities.
While the number of undergraduate students from the Maritimes has declined 13 per cent over the last five years, the number from outside the region has increased by eight per cent during the same period. 
In 2008-09, students from outside the Maritimes accounted for 29 per cent of students enrolled in Maritime universities, up from 25 per cent five years ago.
The change is mainly from international students, whose numbers have increased by 14 per cent over five years. Students enrolled at Maritime universities come from 164 different countries, but the majority of international students are from China, United States, Bahamas, Bermuda and India.
The number of undergraduate Canadian students from outside the region has hovered around 10,000 for the last five years, after a large increase of Ontario students in 2003.  Enrolments from Ontario still represent more than half of Canadian students from outside the Maritimes.
Ten statistical tables and three databases are available for download from the commission’s website www.mphec.ca.
The Maritime Provinces Higher Education Commission was established in 1974.
The 20 members are drawn from the Maritime provinces and represent higher education institutions, provincial governments and the general public. Its mission is to assist institutions and governments to enhance the post-secondary learning environment.
The commission collects and maintains data about post-secondary education in the Maritimes and conducts research on the Maritime post-secondary sector.
The enrolment and credentials-granted data are obtained from the MPHEC post-secondary student information system (PSIS), which contains detailed information on student demographics, programs and courses for all students enrolled in public Maritime universities. Reports and research articles are available at www.mphec.ca free of charge.
Following are key statistics for 2008-09:
— Total enrolments: Maritimes 68,623 (-0.7 per cent over 1 year), New Brunswick 23,182(-1.5 per cent), Nova Scotia 41,310 (-0.9 per cent), Prince Edward Island 4,131 (+5.4 per cent);
— Total undergraduate enrolments: Maritimes 59,471 (-1.2 per cent over one year), New Brunswick 20,877 (-1.6 per cent), Nova Scotia 34,749 (-1.5 per cent), Prince Edward Island 3,845 (+4.8 per cent);
— Total graduate enrolments: Maritimes 9,152 (+2.1 per cent over one year), New Brunswick 2,305 (+0.9 per cent), Nova Scotia 6,561 (+2.7 per cent), Prince Edward Island 286 (13.5 per cent);
— Change in undergraduate enrolment over five years by region of origin: Maritimes down 6,491 students (-13 per cent), Canadian students from outside the region down 119 (-1.2 per cent), International students up 684 (+14 per cent);
— Change in graduate enrolment over five years by region of origin: Maritimes up 628 students (+13 per cent), Canadian, outside the region, up 242 (+12 per cent), International students up 51 (+4 per cent);
— Undergraduate enrolments decreased in every major field of study over the last five years, except for health professions (+8.7 per cent) and education (+12 per cent);
— International students make up 9.9 per cent of all enrolments in Maritime universities. New Brunswick: 11.4 per cent, Nova Scotia: 9.3 per cent, Prince Edward Island: 8 per cent;
— A total of 15,969 certificates, diplomas and degrees were granted in 2008 (-3.1  per cent over one year). New Brunswick 5,409 (+3.3 per cent), Nova Scotia 9,730 (-6.9 per cent), Prince Edward Island 830 (+4.3 per cent). The number of credentials awarded in Nova Scotia had peaked in 2007, after the majority of Ontario students from the 2003 double cohort completed degrees that year;
— bachelor’s or first professional degrees granted, 12,210 (61 per cent women); master's degrees, 2,525 (63 per cent women); doctoral degrees, 145 (45 per cent women).