Participation in post-secondary education in the Maritimes in general is higher than the national average, with participation rates in Nova Scotia in particular of 35-40% compared to 20-26% for Canada as a whole. Demand for skilled labour has prompted an increase in participation rates from the nation's post-secondary institutions. However, the number of 18- to 24-year-olds in Nova Scotia and the rest of the Maritime provinces are predicted to decline greater than the rest of Canada. Between 1990 and 2000, the number of 18- to 24-year-olds dropped 13% in the Maritimes while in the rest of Canada, it dropped less than 1%.
National enrolment
From 2000 to 2006, over 32,000 full-time and part-time students were enrolled in Nova Scotia's 11 universities. In 2006-07, 61% of Nova Scotians aged 25-54 had a post-secondary certificate, diploma or degree. This is on par with the national average for Canadians with post-secondary credentials. Over a five-year period, the number of credentials issued by Nova Scotia's institutions increased by 9.4%. In 2013-2014 students from other provinces in Canada accounted for 25% of the student population in Nova Scotia Universities - a 12.4% increase over the last five years, and a 20.2% increase over the last ten years. Nova Scotians make up two thirds of those enrolled in the province's institutions and of the Maritime provinces, participation in university education is greatest among Nova Scotia residents. The majority of out of province students come from Ontario. In fact, the peak of undergraduate enrolment in the Maritimes was in 2003, attributable to changes in Ontario, where the graduating class doubled in the province upon the elimination of its grade 13 year of high school.
First Nations
Nova Scotia's universities, through the Atlantic Association of Universities, have developed working relationships with leaders of the Atlantic Policy Congress of First Nation Chiefs to better understand critical issues concerning access for and increased graduation of Aboriginal learners. For example, Sydney's Membertou First Nation and the Nova Scotia Community College signed a memorandum of understanding in 2004 that focuses on three key components: customized training programs relevant to Membertou's employment opportunities, high school transition support programs and information technology initiatives. Since 1996, the Council on Mi'kmaq Education (CME) has worked to provide guidance and advice to Nova Scotia's Minister of Education on programs development and funding for the Mi'kmaq people of the province. Similarly, the Mi'kmaw Kina'matnewey serves various Mi'kmaw communities in the province. The Mi'kmaq Liaison Office (MLO) works as a liaison between the Department of Education and the aboriginal community of Nova Scotia.
Women
In largely urban areas such as Halifax, participation of female students has increased steadily over the last twenty years. Conversely, the proportion of full-time male students have declined by 9% in the Maritimes. Women who complete a university degree earn 50% more than female high school graduates. Those between the age of 20-34 years old in metro or rural areas are only marginally different in their completion rates for high school. However, when compared to women who have completed post-secondary studies, the gap widens, particularly in University certificate, diploma or degree programs. Women in metro areas average 34.8% completion to 15.9% in rural areas.
Rural and urban participation
Urban and rural students have relatively equal access to universities in the province due to the good number and well distributed campuses throughout the province. There are financial implications for rural students resulting in graduates borrowing nearly $5,000 or 24% more than those from urban areas. Nearly 24% of urban residents held a university degree, compared to 9-12% of rural residents in Canada overall.
Students with disabilities
The number of students with a disability that have graduated from post secondary institutions in the province has grown 45%, from 2003 to 2006. This is due to the increasing number of students accessing an increasing number of services and resources offered by government and the institutions they attend. The Post Secondary Disability Services is a web-based resource that outlines grants, services and contacts for post-secondary students with disabilities. Government grants are available including the Canada Study Grant for Accommodation for Students with Permanent Disabilities and the Canada Access Grant and for Students with Permanent Disabilities.
International students
Nova Scotia and its 10 universities attract students from around the world. In 2004-2005, there were 3,594 full-time international students attending Nova Scotia universities and community colleges. This accounts for 11% of total students enrolled in Nova Scotia undergraduate programs, above the 7% national average. Universities set their own tuition fees for international students and there are ceilings for the number of students receiving grants in Nova Scotia with only 10% of undergraduate and 30% of graduate students receiving them. According to the Maritime Provinces Higher Education Commission, between 2003-2004 and 2013-2104, the number of international students increased by 90.5%.
African Canadians
In an effort to eliminate racism and ensure African Canadians receive equity in education, the Black Learners Advisory Committee (BLAC) Report of 1994 made 46 recommendations for change in the province. One of them was the formation of a provincial advisory council, so the Council of African Canadian Education (CACE) was established in 1996. The Council's responsibility is to review and provide recommendations on education policy to better respect and address the needs of Black learners and educators.
Financial accessibility
University tuition fees in Nova Scotia are among the highest in the country. This is in large part due to low government grants to fund university operating costs. This underfunding, the lowest in the country, has caused tuition in the province to double over the past decade. As a result, fees in Nova Scotia far surpass the median income or saving potential of its population. Other shortages make the province inaccessible to students, such as the elimination of the loan remission program in 2000. It is the only province without a non-repayable student financial assistance program.
Transferability
The Atlantic Provinces Community College Consortium (APCCC) is an inter-provincial organization which gathers and disseminates resources to improve college-level postsecondary education in the Atlantic provinces. An important aspect of the APCCC is to provide maximum mobility for students learning throughout the postsecondary education system in Atlantic Canada. It is composed of four college systems; Nova Scotia Community College, the College of the North Atlantic in Newfoundland and Labrador, Holland College in Prince Edward Island, and New Brunswick Community College. The APCCC produced a "Guide to Block Transfer Agreements" in 2006. These 'blocks' usually refer to a semester, year, diploma or certificate transferred from a college to a university. The Guide includes approximately 250 potential credit transfer arrangements. Students can choose from several course delivery mechanisms, including distance e-learning.