The questionnaire for this survey has remained stable over the years, although the format and wording have been modified based on feedback from survey respondents and data users.
In 2007/2008, the TLAC questionnaire was restructured to correspond with the changes to Statistics Canada’s Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP). As a result, the fields of study for which the TLAC survey collects and disseminates data became subject to the CIP. The CIP is developed jointly by Statistics Canada and the National Center for Education Statistics. It is based on work undertaken as part of the creation of the North American Product Classification System (NAPCS) by Canada, the United States and Mexico.
For the 2008/2009 TLAC data collection, changes were made to the TLAC questionnaire CIP groupings to increase data quality and comparability. The new fields of study presented for both undergraduate and graduate programs were adapted from the CIP.
At the undergraduate level, the “Medicine” field of study was subdivided into four individual fields of study: Dentistry, Nursing, Pharmacy, and Veterinary medicine.
At the graduate level, “Business Management and Public Administration” was subdivided into Executive MBA and Regular MBA.
As of 2008/2009, the undergraduate fields of study used for TLAC are:
As of 2008/2009, the fields of study for undergraduates and graduates are virtually the same, but the graduate fields of study also include:
As of 2017/2018, Social and Behavioural Sciences and Law, Legal Professions and Studies were renamed:
Each year TLAC collects data for the previous and current academic year. The previous academic year data are revised and finalized; the current academic year data are preliminary and will be revised and finalized in the next collection cycle.
","geospatial:Geographic Unit":"Country","socialscience:Characteristics of Data Collection Situation":"Responding to this survey is mandatory.
Data are collected directly from survey respondents.
As of 2011/2012, all universities and degree-granting colleges began reporting their fees using an Excel file distributed through Electronic File Transfer (EFT). Formerly, a paper questionnaire was used for data collection.
","Kind of Data":"Aggregate data","socialscience:Frequency":"Annual","socialscience:Unit of Analysis":"Post-secondary institutions","socialscience:Other Forms of Data Appraisal":"Each year a data comparison is done (percentage increases for major cells) for each university and college. Any major discrepancies are investigated with the respondent. The aggregated data are sent to the provincial ministries of education prior to release for final validation.
","Subject":"Other","citation:Related Material":"http://hdl.handle.net/10573/42683","citation:Production Date":"2011","socialscience:Type of Research Instrument":"Structured","socialscience:Universe":"The target population is all public degree-granting institutions (universities and colleges) in Canada; that is, those who offer programs leading to degrees as defined by the Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials (CICIC). These are: Bachelor's degrees, Applied (Bachelor's) degrees, Applied Master's degrees, Master's degrees, and Doctoral degrees. Such degrees are more commonly offered by universities.","citation:Notes":"03 October 2022 Note\n\nSome files replaced by Statistics Canada. From an email from Statistics Canada 03 October 2022:\n
\nThe data in Tables 1-7 final for the years 2015/2016, 2016/2017, 2017/2018, and 2018/2019 was updated due to incorrect data submitted by two institutions. The two institutions’ data affected by the updates were 24010000 Université Québec Abitibi-Témiscamingue and 24011000 Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières. Note that the updated values are not the ones used to calculate the weighted averages found in the TLAC NDM tables.
\nFor 24010000 Université Québec Abitibi-Témiscamingue, the data for Canadian Graduate was updated. The inconsistencies for this institution went back to 2016/2017. They submitted incorrect data and the mistake was carried forward.
\nFor 24011000 Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, the data for International undergraduate and graduate was updated. The inconsistencies for this institution went back to 2015/2016. They submitted incorrect data and the mistake was carried forward.
","citation:Distribution Date":"2013-09-18","citation:Description":{"dsDescription:Text":"The Tuition and Living Accommodation Costs (TLAC) survey collects data for full-time students at Canadian degree-granting institutions that are publicly funded. This annual survey was developed to provide an overview of tuition and additional compulsory fees, and living accommodation costs for an academic year.
The TLAC survey data are used to
Reference period: Academic year (September 1 to April 30)
Collection period: April through June
"},"citation:Producer":{"producer:Name":"Statistics Canada"},"citation:Contact":{"datasetContact:Name":"Abacus support","datasetContact:E-mail":"abacus-support@lists.ubc.ca"},"citation:Series":{"series:Name":"TLAC","series:Information":"Tuition and Living Accommodation Costs for Full-time Students"},"citation:Keyword":{"keyword:Term":"Education","keyword:Vocabulary":"ACV"},"geospatial:Geographic Coverage":[{"geographicCoverage:Other":"Canada (CA)"},{"geographicCoverage:Country / Nation":"Canada"}],"Author":{"author:Name":"Statistics Canada"},"socialscience:Notes":{"socialScienceNotes:Text":"A Statistical Analysis System (SAS) program is run on the completed file, comparing each institution to the previous year's results. Any significant changes are investigated with the respondents."},"@id":"hdl:11272.1/AB2/F4ZOJ5","@type":["ore:Aggregation","schema:Dataset"],"schema:version":"6.0","schema:name":"Tuition and Living Accommodation Costs for Full-time Students, 1993 -","schema:dateModified":"2025-11-14 10:13:55.546","schema:datePublished":"2013-09-18","dvcore:termsOfUse":"This licence is issued on behalf of His Majesty the King in Right of Canada, as represented by the Minister for Statistics Canada (\"Statistics Canada\") to you (an individual or a legal entity that you are authorized to represent).
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