Study In Canada
- Choose to study in Canada, and you’ll have the opportunity to encounter vastly different cultural and natural experiences – from the ski slopes of British Columbia to the prairie province of Manitoba, with cities such as Toronto, Montréal, Vancouver and Quebec famously friendly, tolerant and multicultural.
Occupying the northern half of the North American continent, Canada is known for its natural beauty – few nations in the world can boast anything close to its wealth of forests, lakes and mountains – and for its multicultural diversity. The country has official bilingual status, with English and French used concurrently in government and official documents.
It’s also known for its sparse population (despite being the world’s second-largest country, it has a population smaller than that of just one US state, California) and for its harsh winters. In some parts of Canada, snow covers the ground for almost half the year – but you’re unlikely to find any Canadian universities in those regions!
Canada has a well-established position among the world’s leading study destinations; as of 2014, it was the seventh most popular country for international students, who accounted for 8% of all post-secondary students in the country. The most popular Canadian provinces for international students are Ontario, British Columbia and Quebec, which between them are home to many of the top universities in Canada.
For those looking to study at an elite university in one of the world’s most developed nations, applying to study in Canada can be an attractive option. A total of 26 universities in Canada feature in the QS World University Rankings 2015/16, of which three are in the world’s top 50, with 10 more making the world’s top 300 – a feat matched only by a handful of other nations.
The two highest Canadian entries are McGill University (24th) and the University of Toronto (34th), located in Montréal and Toronto respectively, the two largest cities in Canada. Also ranked within the global top 300 are the University of British Columbia, the University of Alberta, Montréal, McMaster, the University of Waterloo, Western University, the University of Calgary, and Queen’s University.
Education System
Canada has become one of the most sought-after destinations for international students thanks to its world-class universities, safety factor, academic excellence, affordable tuition fees, rewarding courses,ample job opportunities, and a unique multicultural experience. Canadian degrees are revered throughout the planet. These degrees can get students ample skill sets thus making them qualified for a career in these competitive times. Be it engineering curriculum, nursing prospects, or management subjects, Canada has it all. However, many students are still unfamiliar with the great offerings of Canada. If you are one of those students, you might want to follow this article which acts as a beginner’s guide to study in Canada.
Why Study in Canada?
Getting out of the comfort zone and leaving one’s home country for the sake of future studies has become normal for quite some time. Ambitious and knowledge-hungry people are drawn to the opportunities to learn more. And, this is exactly what, further studies in Canada promises them. Below, we have laid out some reasons why students pick Canada for their future endeavors.
- World Class Education System
Canadian Education System covers research, thesis, and practical-workplace based skills. In addition to providing theoretical knowledge, it also prepares students for real-world problems and applications. The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) states that Canada is one of the 3 top countries to invest in public post-secondary education. Additionally, the education system is flexible and practical introducing several programs that students can pick from.
- Ph.D./ Doctorate program (4 to 7 years in general)
- Master’s Degree program (1 to 2.5 years in general)
- Postgraduate degree program (diploma and certificates, 1 to 2 years in general)
- Bachelor Degree program (4 years in general)
- Diploma (General, 1 to 2 years, and Advanced diploma programs, 2 to 3 years in general)
- Certificate Level programs (up to 1 years in general) Students can choose the educational programs as per their academic preference, affordability, and time.
- Globally recognized degrees
Educational institutes in Canada are devoted to delivering high-quality education to students. Students are tutored via on-site lectures, tutorials, and online mediums. Other than the technical knowledge revolving around a specific field, students also learn general management and leadership skills. Canadian degrees and graduates are just as revered as the US and European ones. As a result, Canadian degrees are globally acclaimed and will help you land a competent job anywhere in the world. Statistics and facts suggest that around 90% of Canadian college graduates land a job in their respective fields in less than a year of graduation. To add the cherry on top, 93% of employers are happy with the graduates’ skill set and work.
- Affordable programs and courses
One thing that separates Canada from its contemporaries like Australia and the United States, is its affordable tuition fees. Many international students hail from developing countries. While the fees of public colleges and universities in Canada are significantly lower for its domestic students compared to international students, the fee structure is still quite affordable. For international students, the fee structure generally looks like this:
| Different Study Programs | Average Tuition Fees per year in Canadian Dollars |
| Diploma | 12000 – 18000 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 13000 – 25000 |
| Postgraduate Degree | 12000 – 20000 |
| Masters Degree | 8000 – 45000 |
| Doctorate | 10000 – 25000 |
- Safe abroad study destination
Canada boasts impressively low crime rates. With friendly and helpful locals, it is a safe destination to study overseas. According to Global Finance ranking in 2019, Canada is one of the 20 safest countries in the world. As per the statistics by NumDiploma: the safety index of Canada, Australia, the UK, and the USA are 62.42, 57.94, 57.9, and 49.99 respectively. Moreover, the Canadian natives are popular as the most polite and friendly people in the world. The petty crime rates and racial discrimination-related violence are minimal in Canada. We hope this answers “Is Canada safe for International Students?”.
- Work permit in Canada
International Students in Canada can indulge in on-campus and off-campus part-time jobs to compensate for their cost of tuition and living. During the school terms, students are allowed to work up to 20 hours a week. While on the semester breaks (which generally is 3 months long), international students are permitted to work full time (40 hours per week). International students can apply for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) upon completion of their studies. Other than this kind of work permit, you can also apply for an employer-specific work permit and Open Work permit.
- PR opportunities If the work culture and Canadian lifestyle allures you, you can take the advantage of Permanent Residency opportunities to stay in Canada permanently. Canada provides the option of PR to the eligible International students based upon options like Canadian Experience Class (CRS), Quebec Experience Class, and Provincial Nomination Program. It is much easier to gain a PR in Canada compared to the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia. There are good chances of you encountering someone from your home country.
Top Universities in Canada
As per the 2020 QS News World University Ranking, 25 Canadian universities made it to the list of top ranking universities worldwide. As of 2021, some of the top universities of Canada are:
| Universities in Canada | QS World UniversityUNiversity ranking 2021 |
| University of Toronto | 25 |
| McGill University | 31 |
| University of British Columbia | 45 |
| University of Montreal | 118 |
| University of Alberta | 119 |
| McMaster University | 144 |
| University of Waterloo | 166 |
| Western University | 203 |
| University of Calgary | 246 |
| University of Ottawa | 279 |
Other than these universities, Canada also offers useful programs via public colleges. The public colleges in Canada are affordable and prepare you for skill based jobs. Most of the public colleges also provide placement to domestic and international students. Some of the best colleges in Canada are:
1.Humber college
2.Conestoga college
3.Fanshawe college
4.Lambton college
5.Seneca college
6.Centennial college
7.Langara college
8.Cambrian college
9.Canadore college
10.Georgian college
Undergraduate and masters program
The universities of Canada seek out competent students for their bachelor’s and master’s programs. The university even provides merit based scholarships for eligible students. Canadian universities are popular for undergraduate and postgraduate studies on programs like business, agriculture, engineering, IT, nursing, tourism, medicine, and arts. The master’s program is generally course-based and thesis-based. On the thesis-based master’s program, you can reach out to professors for stipend and funding of your masters. If the professors find your case, SOP, and expertise appealing, you might get an opportunity to study free of tuition costs. Canadian University admission requirement for international Students The admission requirement in Canada varies from university to university and program to program. It’s tough to get into the popular universities of Canada. But, the learning experience and degrees are completely worth it. General Admission requirement for a bachelor’s degree in Canada
- A + 2 first division score, in general
- A language proficiency test English Proficiency test like TOEFL (at least 70 with no band less than 20) and IELTS (at least 6.5 with no band less than 6), in general.
- A well written Statement of Purpose, showcasing why you chose the program, university, and country. General Admission requirement for postgraduate degrees in colleges and universities in Canada
- 3 or 4 year Bachelor’s degree in relevant fields with 50 % in general.
- English Proficiency tests like TOEFL (at least 70 with no band less than 20) and IELTS (at least 6.5 with no band less than 6).
- A well written SOP showcasing why you picked the university/college, program, and country.
- An experience letter is always a plus General admission requirement for masters in Canada You need to show excellence in academics, projects, Language proficiency tests. Below, we have curated a general admission requirement to get enrolled in a master’s program in Canada.
- 4 year bachelor’s degree in a relevant field with a minimum of 3.0 GPA.
- 2-4 academic and professional Letters of Recommendation (LORs).
- An impressive Statement of Purpose (SOP).
- English Proficiency tests like TOEFL (at least 70 with no band less than 20) and IELTS (at least 6.5 with no band less than 6).
- Some work experience and GMAT scores (Average of 600) if you are targeting MBA programs.
- Work experience letter in case of Gaps.
- Some precise subjects like Business Analytics and Data science require GRE.
- Note: Some universities and programs might have higher or lower cut-off scores. Though the French proficiency test is not “the must” for most universities, it’s a plus point. Apply for Study Permit in Canada The process of obtaining a Canadian Study permit can be summarized in the following steps:
- Apply for the course The first step is to apply for the course and educational institute. Take your time on this one. A simple google search would do. Check the official websites of the university and you will get a hint of program duration, tuition fees, syllabus, the academic requirement to be eligible for applying, and so on. You can also contact reliable consultancies for this. You will have to present the following documents in general.
- Citizenship Id Card
- Passport
- 10th Marksheet and character certificate
- 12th Marksheet, Transcript, and character certificate.
- Bachelors Marksheet, Transcript, and provisional/ character certificate and LORs
- Masters Marksheet, Transcript, provisional.
- Character certificate and LORs.
- An updated Curriculum Vitae (CV) acting as a summary for all academic and professional achievements. ∙
- IELTS/ TOEFL score proof
- Work experience letter depending upon the program.
- Process after getting an offer letter from Canadian Institutes. If the Canadian university or college finds your profile as a suitable fit for their organization, you will receive the offer letter. This is likely to take 1 week 3 months depending upon the institute. Generally, universities take longer to provide offer letters compared to colleges.
- Apply for Visa to Canada These are the documents that you will require.
- Visa application
- Application letter from the university.
- Statement of Purpose ∙Medical reports
- Passport
- Police clearance certificates
- Proof of funds and financial documents.
- Processing fees of Visa Application