Canada is the largest country in North America and consists of 10 provinces and 3 territories. It is located in the northern part of the continent. It is the second largest country in the world territory-wise. Capital of Canada is Ottawa and Toronto is the largest city, both located in Ontario province. English and French are the official languages in the country.
With its immigration friendly policies study in Canada has become easier than ever. A Canadian education opens the door to employment opportunities and life in Canada after your studies. The university degrees and college diplomas are recognized worldwide and their tuition fees are amongst the lowest in English speaking countries. 10 Canadian universities have been ranked in the top 200 by QS World Universities Ranking in 2020.
Canada has a wide range of climates because of its diverse landscape. However, Canada is among the coldest countries in the world, at the same time, Canada witnesses all four seasons along the US borders.
Why Canada?
Canadian Education System has been globally ranked at No. 03 in the best countries for higher education by The US News 2019. Academic Excellence is another important factor, 10 Canadian universities have been ranked in the top 200 by QS World Universities Ranking in 2020. Canada has been ranked as the “best & safe place to live” in the world by the UN with a low crime rate and high in quality of life and education. Canada is amid the top 10 safest nations in the world, according to the Global Peace Index 2019. Education in Canada is affordable along with the accommodation cost, International students are allowed to work part-time during the course of their education. According to the immigration department of Canada there are above 350000 international students who choose to study in Canada every year.
- Top notch educational institutions
The top-notch educational institutions make Canada one of the leading study abroad destination in the world. Canadian universities are known for being consistently high quality and for offering internationally accepted degrees and credentials. Studying in Canada makes student automatically a part of global alumni network and make them more able to excel in their career in the future.
- Globally recognized universities
Canadian universities are reputed, recognized and respected worldwide for the quality of their education and career development. Canada is also ranked no 1 by the organization for economic cooperation and development (OECD) for higher education achievement.
- Cost effective education
Cost of tuition fees as well as other living expenses while studying in Canada is cheaper as compare to some of the other hot destinations for abroad education such as UK and USA.
- Participation in extra activities
It is necessary to participate in all activities during your classes. You may be asked to participate in class discussions, group work, or other activities. It is very important to participate outside of the classroom as well. This will provide you with many opportunities to practice your English skills in many different settings.
- Work and study
Canada has one of the fastest economic growth rates among the G8 countries. Canada is one of the world’s wealthiest countries and is a major industrialized trading nation. International students can work while they study, taking advantage of many cooperative education and internship opportunities. In Canada, students are allowed to work part-time along with their studies on-campus or off-campus for 20 hours per week during their class and full time during vacation while studying. The minimum wage for odd jobs range from CAD 12- CAD 14 depending on the state you are in. You will find most of the international students doing part-time jobs to meet their needs.
- Opportunities after study
There are also immigration programs that international students qualify for post-graduation. And after finishing their course duration students get work permit according to their study duration ranging from 1 to 3 years. A huge number of opportunities are available for graduates and preference is given to students who graduate from Canadian universities.
- Option of citizenship
Students studying in Canada can get additional points under the express entry system and thereby increases the chances of getting an ITA for Canadian PR. Over the past 150 years, Canada has welcomed 15 million immigrants from a vast number of countries. Canada is also known to be a modern, progressive nation with open minded citizens who are proud of our diverse origins and ethnic diversity.
Application process
Admission process in Canadian universities is fairly simple. Student need to submit application form, application fees, academic documents, English proficiency certificate and passport to receive offer letter from college or universities. After submitting documents it takes around anywhere between 3 days to a month depending upon the course and institution to receive offer letter. It is better to start application 3 to 4 months before the start of the program. Once student gets an offer letter the student has to fulfill conditions (if any) specified in the offer letter and should submit one year tuition fee and the financial documents as a proof of sufficiency of funds. Then student get letter of acceptance (LOA) based on which they can file for student visa.
Entry Requirements
- Proof of secondary school completion (usually 12 years of schooling)
- average good academic score
- Certification of English language proficiency (IELTS/PTE)
- Statement of purpose
- Resume
- Letter of Recommendation
- Related experience certificate if applicable
- Application fee
- Passport
- Evidence of financial support.
Costs
Tuition fee varies according to the institutions and programs. Generally in public/state/private Universities and college’s tuition fee ranges from AUD $4,000 to AUD $37,000 per annum.
- Colleges fees = CAD $10,000 to 14,000
- Universities fees = CAD $10,000 to 22,000
- Living costs
- Living expenses varies according to the location. An estimated average living cost CAD $10,000 (as per Canadian high commission) per annum. This includes accommodation and food.
- Health insurance cost
- Health insurance is mandatory for international students. It would range from $1500 to $2000 per annum.
- Miscellaneous charge
- It costs about $2000 per annum.
Major intake
Canadian education institutions typically have two main intakes.
- January
- September
- May/June – few institutions with limited courses
Test Required
- English proficiency test is required to get admission in education institution. Australian education institutions recognize IELTS/PTE for both Graduate & under Graduate Program.
Accommodation
Accommodation are available both on & off Campuses.
On Campus: Students stay in the dormitories available on campus.
Off Campus: Students can stay in the rented apartments which are available outside the University Campus.
Work options
International students while studying in Canada can work for 20 hours per week and full time during public holidays or vacations. Dependents of students can work full time. Some Canadian universities and colleges provide co-op program in which a student can work as part of the course in their related field and also earn credits for it. Students are eligible for a post study work permit for a period of 3 years if the study program is for a minimum of 2 years duration. Otherwise the work permit is for a period same as the duration of the course. International students who have graduated from a course in Canada would gain points under the skilled migrant category and may lead the path for applying for PR.
Scholarship in Canadian University
There are plenty of options for international students interested in applying for scholarships to study in Canada. Student can choose between governmental or non – governmental as well as University-oriented scholarships offered to students at different levels of education, ranging from graduation to post-graduation and postdoctoral.
- A variety of options are available for students who plan to study in Canada but are unable to afford the fees one of them being studying on a scholarship. The scholarships typically cover either the entire or part of the costs of tuition fees in Canada. Some most popular scholarships for studying in Canada are
- The Lester B Pearson international scholarship for students studying at the University of Toronto offers scholarships to undergraduate students. The scholarship is based on merit and covers full cost of tuitions, books and accommodation for four years.
- The Donald A Wehrung International Student Award for students studying abroad at the University of British Columbia. The scholarship is offered to international students who come from a politically unstable or war-torn region and show exceptional academic ability.
- The Vanier Canada graduate scholarships is sponsored by the Canadian government and is offered to international students who are pursuing doctoral research in the country. The scholarship covers of cost of studies in Canada up to 50,000 CAD every year for three years.
- Pierre Elliot Trudeau foundation scholarship is awarded to foreign students who are pursuing their doctoral research in the country. The scholarship provides an amount of 40,000 CAD every year for three years initially and can also be extended for a fourth year for support in writing and dissemination.
Visa process
To apply for study permit, you will need a letter of acceptance from designated learning institution (DLI). Under Canadian rules only DLI’s are eligible to accept international students.
Visa processing time normally takes about 2-6 months. Health insurance for the duration of study is mandatory requirement to apply for study visa. To get a student visa, you will have to prove that you have enough finances to pay for living expenses, education costs and travel for your course duration. According to new visa rules students have to pay 1st year annual fee in advance to the Canadian college. Student should provide the proof of health insurance, statement of purpose (SOP), English language proficiency score, valid passport and letter of acceptance (LOA) to lodge Canadian study visa. After completing 1 year of open work permit, candidates are eligible to apply for permanent residency for Canada under various immigration programs.
Best programs to study in Canada:
- Most of the international students visit Canada for post-graduate certificate courses or Masters.
- However, there are a list of most popular courses:
- MBA
- Bachelor's in Engineering
- IT
- Business Management
- Marketing
- Master's (Engineering)
- Finance