Comprehensive study abroad resources

Why Study In Canada

Canada, a dream place for several students across the world to study, is situated in North America. It withholds several world-class universities in it. While there is a standard education system provided in this country, there are some other reasons why students should prefer Canada as their study abroad destination.

With astounding landscapes, Canada has several places that make us go awestruck about it. Moreover, the country is one of the safest places in the world to live in and pursue your higher education. The student-friendly society will also help the students to study effectively and fulfill their dreams.

Apart from this, Canadians possess a friendly-nature, and it helps you in all walks of your student life. Several places in the country opens the gate of exploration for its visitors. Some of the highly scenic places include the pristine beaches of Prince Edward Island, the impressive fords of the Saguenay and the Percé Rock of the Gaspé in Quebec, the fascinating Rockies, Lake Louise and Jasper National Park in Alberta, Niagara Falls in Ontario, and Whistler Mountain in British Columbia. On the whole, from the sea to its mountains, prairies, and forests, Canada is an endless source of natural beauty.

Why Should You Choose to Study in Canada?

Several hundred students across the globe, choose Canada and its high-standard universities to pursue their higher education. Below are the reasons why Canada is one of the highly-preferred countries for education:

Value for money

Apart from the standard of a university, the top factor that every student would consider to choose a country where the cost of living is low. In that case, Canada is a place where students can lead a pocket-friendly life. Compared to the other top international study destinations, the students can meet their house, finance, and other daily lives need within the budget. Hence, regarding money, Canada is highly-affordable to live.

Affordable tuition fees

The average annual tuition fee paid in Canada is comparatively less than that of the US, Australia, and the UK. The average tuition fee amount is given below:

Country - Approximate amount (Tuition fee + cost of living)

Canada - $20,000

Australia - $28,000

US - $27,000

UK - $25,000

Earn while you study

Apart from the affordable cost of living society in Canada, earning while you study is the added benefit in this country. Luckily, you need not take special permission from your college/university to work. In fact, for a week, 20 hours will be allocated for your work and 30 hours during the weekend or vacation time. The nature of work can be either on or off-campus. It helps you save some and enjoy your student’s life in the country.

Accommodation

Where to stay - is a big question that stands in front of every student who decides to study abroad. The stay place should ensure safety and should fall under your budget at the same time. In that case, hostel facilities in Canada meet the demands of students at its best. So, one need not worry about the stay while choosing Canada as their study destination.

Friendly people

In general, Canadians are so friendly, and it won’t be a tough task for you to make your neighbourhood people your friends. If you approach them with respect and friendly-nature, they will treat you back with the same attitude. Also, it is a custom for Canadians to use, ‘Please,’ ‘Sorry,’ ‘Excuse me’ – at appropriate places. So, do know the commonly used terms and words to mingle with their culture easily.

Weather

The weather in Canada differs from place to place as the country stretches from Pacific to the Atlantic Ocean and withholds five different time zones in it. However, the winter season is extremely cold in this region. The snowfall period starts from November and ends by April. The details of major cities in Canada and its weather are given below:

City - Highest temperature - Lowest temperature

Vancouver - 22 degrees Celsius - 0 degree Celsius

Montreal - 26 degrees Celsius - 4 degrees Celsius

Halifax - 23 degrees Celsius - 19 degrees Celsius

Toronto - 26 degrees Celsius - 4 degrees Celsius

Calgary - 19 degrees Celsius - 11 degrees Celsius

Apart from the winter season, the fall in Canada is also the best. The scenic beauty of this country’s nature and landscapes will make you fall in love with this place.

The Qualified Education System In Canada

Canada is one of the most educated countries in the world. As per a study in 2015, 90 percent of Canadians between the age group of 25 and 64 had the minimum qualification of high school, and 66 percent has got their post-secondary credential.

The universities generally run from September to May, and the exams will be based on a semester or trimester system. Also, each university has its own admission standards and qualification assessment methodology for each applicant individually.

As we mentioned earlier, the Canadian country has different provinces that follow a system of the standardized education system. Of them, Quebec, Ontario, and British Colombia are some of the top provinces. These provinces are also home for some of the top-class universities in the world. According to research, in 2017, Canada served an educational destination for almost 5 lakh international students. In the QS World University Rankings 2019, several 26 Canadian Universities were featured.

Canada is known for introducing several new concepts in the field of education and its system. Some of them are mentioned below:

Community Colleges In Canada

There are over 130 community colleges in Canada. Most of them are present in several locations across the country. Most colleges offer either general education in numerous fields or targeted or culture-specific education. However, the target of these colleges is to train students and make them an expert in the field of business, industry, public service sectors, etc.., Opting for a community college is a wise choice to build your future perfectly.Features of Community Colleges in Canada:

• These colleges are highly popular among both international and regional students.
• The community colleges in Canada offer a wide range of courses. Some of them include a two year Diploma program to students, Bachelor’s program under various fields of education, special training in hotel management, aviation, etc..,
• Students can transfer their score credits that they earned at the community colleges to a Bachelor’s degree program.
• To step into a well-known university, achieving a good score in foreign language entrance exams like TOEFL, and IELTS. However, if a student cannot get the score that is demanded by a university, still, he/she will be eligible to apply for the community colleges.

Community colleges - - Courses

Conestoga College - School of Engineering and Information Technology

Georgian College of Applied Arts & Technology - Business/Automotive/Aviation

Horizon College & Seminary - Bachelors program

NAIT - Engineering and Technology Programs

Humber Institute of Technology & Advanced Learning - The Business School

Under-Graduate Colleges In Canada

Undergraduate education in Canada denotes the completion of senior secondary or high school. A usual bachelors degree completion takes up to three to five years. For international students, a minimum of four years to complete a bachelors (undergraduate) degree is required. Canada also offers many certificates, diplomas, and Associate Degrees at the undergraduate level. While these do not qualify students to undertake a Masters degree in Canada, they may be useful for immigration or employment purposes.

Features of an Undergraduate course

• It is generally a four-year degree course that enables every student to gain a thorough knowledge right from the foundation in the respective fields.
• Students who acquired a diploma certificate from a community college take up the degree course in undergraduate colleges.
• The undergraduate colleges also offer diploma courses to their students.
• Students who score six or above in IELTS are only eligible to pursue an undergraduate course.

The Life of Indian Students In Canada

Canada, being ranked sixth on Global Peace Index 2018, is one of the safest countries to live and study. It is the foremost reason why Canada is a popular destination for Indian students to pursue higher education.

Most Indians choose to live at larger urban centers like Toronto and Vancouver, where more than 70% of Indians live. Smaller communities are also growing in Calgary, Edmonton, and Montreal. Indians in Vancouver are from different parts of India.

Below are some of the factors that students should consider:

Safety - Most of the universities provide proper security to their international students. The hostels are mostly of gated-community sort where there will be 24 hours of surveillance by guards. All universities in Canada have a special body appointed to ensure International students’ safety. If you are staying in a private place, a proper escort will be provided for you.

Rules and Regulations - The Canadian laws are different from India. So, learn them prior to avoid breaking of rules. There are a number of different concepts like special parking areas near public transport areas, regional trains, and buses, etc.., Also, do not drive before you are aware of the nature of your route. Because the breaking of road rules will cost you more in these countries.

Money and documents - As an international student, it is essential that you keep your passport, visa, and other essential documents safe with you. Please keep them in a safer place. And, if you are about to carry them with you, mostly try to have the copies. When it comes to expenditure, rather than cash, prefer card or any mode of online payments.

Food for you - The western food and lifestyle are some of the top things that are tough to adapt to Indian students. But not to worry, there are several Indian restaurants in Canada. So, you need not worry about how to get good food. However, never forget to explore their regional food. We are sure you will love them too.

What Are The Documents To Be Submitted For The Admission Process?

Here are the set of documents/proofs that a student must submit before the initiation of admission process:

• Copies of X, XII grade mark sheets and the Bachelors degree (for masters)
• A minimum of two academic reference letters from your professors
• In case of possessing work experience, you should submit at least two letters of recommendations from your manager
• Documents like Statement of Purpose (SOP), Resume, photocopies of GMAT / IELTS / TOEFL scoresheets, portfolio (for the required courses), certificates of State/national level achievements in extracurricular activities, proof of funds, medical tests should be submitted.

What Is The Right Time To Apply For Colleges In Canada?

In order to know all the updates, exam dates, and fee details of a university, a student should create an account on the college website. Most Canadian colleges accept online applications.

However, the process of application differs with each college. Please refer the official websites of the colleges of your choice to know the required process of applying.

Application fee details

All colleges require that you pay an application fee while applying. The fee amount will differ depending upon the college and course being applied to, so check with individual colleges about their application fee.

Steps To Follow During The Application Process

The common steps to applying for admission are as given below:

• Check out the colleges
• Choose the apt colleges
• Get information all by yourself
• Cut short the list
• Foreign language entrance exams
• Write SOPs and ask for LORs
• Video interviews
• Apply for student visa

Eligibility For Admission Into Canadian Universities

The below points are the top eligibility criteria to get admission into a Canada university:

• The admission process and the requirements for enrollment into a university in Canada differs with each study programs and levels. However, in general, for every course the international students should meet a minimum English language requirement.
• Percentage requirement - XII grade - 65% in humanities stream, 70 - 80% in Science/Commerce stream
• For those who have secured below 60%, foundations and Diploma programs are available
• The student should have completed 18 years of age before joining a degree program.
• However, it is important that these numbers are just for reference and the actual numbers may differ with universities.

Exams To Take To Pursue Higher Education In Canada

Before enrolling yourself into your dream university, there are certain exams that you have to take to be eligible for joining in the particular college. They are called as general exams and they will differ in accordance with the course that you will be opting for.

However, the language skill test is mandatory to fly to Canada and other international study destinations as well. The common foreign language entrance exams are IELTS (International English Language Testing System), TOEFL (Test of English As a Foreign Language), PTE (Pearson Test of English), etc.., Though all these exams have different format and come up with unique band scores, the motto of all foreign language tests are to examine the English proficiency of the candidates. It will be tested under the parameters like – Reading, Writing, Speaking, and Listening.

Other than this, some of the general exams are also taken up by the candidates. The exams are as follows:

General Exams - Fees

GMAT - Rs 16,000

GRE - Rs 12,000

LSAT - Rs 3,500

Language entrance exams - Fees

IELTS - Rs 12,000

TOEFL - Rs 13,000

PTE - Rs 10,000

Cost of Living in Canada

The major division of expenditure can be said as:

Cost of studying - Compared to other international study destinations, studying in Canada is quite affordable. However, depending on the university and the location, the education and tuition cost might differ. Choosing of a programme/course is also another important factor that determines the fee cost.

Course/Programme - UG - PG

Humanities - $19,000 - $13,000

MBA - $10,000 - $30,000

Engineering - $20,000 - $15,000

Medicine - $28,000 - $35,000

Architecture - $20,000 - $18,000

Business Management - $20,000 - $18,000

Dentistry - $40,000 - $50,000

Tuition fees - $22,000 - $17,000

This is the average educational cost. However, the actual cost might differ according to the university, location, course, and provision.

Cost of living

The cost of living is comparatively affordable. Especially, one need not spend much in basic essentials like food, transportation, accommodation, etc.., This, again, differs according to the location you choose. However, the submission of incomes and funds proof to the Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) is important during the process of application to study in Canada. With this, you will be permitted to hold certain amount of assets and funds for a particular period. This proof denotes as a backup on how you will be meeting your daily needs in Canada.

The cost of living in Canada will include all expenses related to your day-to-day activities. These expenses include medical insurance, transportation, clothing, accommodation, food, and so on.

For example, Ontario is one of the major cities in Canada. Here, an average amount of CAN $89,000 is spent for whole housing by its citizens. Among them, the expenditure can be divided as below:

Housing - CAN $15,000

Transportation - CAN $12,000

Food - CAN $8,000

Education - CAN $2,500

However, the monthly budget of people living in Ontario goes as following:

Items - Cost

Phone and Internet - CAN $127

Transportation - CAN $170

Groceries - CAN $250

Insurance - CAN $50

Scholarships And Loans To Avail To Study In Canada

There are a handful of scholarships that can be availed by the students who apply for a particular course/programme. To become an eligible candidate who can avail the scholarship facilities, one has to be either strong in academics or should have achieved big in sports/extracurricular activities in national/international level.

However, the applicant has to follow the proper procedure for applying scholarships. Also, the university will ask the applicant to submit certain proofs/documents to submit. So, provide the essential documents within the given time to be eligible for a scholarship.

Following are the documents that a student has to submit to be eligible for a scholarship:

• Academic mark sheets
• Resume
• Letter of intent
• Score sheet of IELTS/TOEFL
• Letter of Recommendation (LOR)

Some of the scholarship plans in Canada are:

UBC International Leader of Tomorrow Award

The international undergraduate students who have won this award are eligible for this scholarship.

The students who are applying for this scholarship should excel in academics, student affairs, community services, creative writing, oratory skills, sports and other arts.

These applicants will be provided with financial-aid to tuition fees, and other living costs.

Humber International Entrance Scholarships

The new international undergraduate students can apply for this scholarship.

The student who is applying for this scholarship can renew it if she/he scores a minimum of 75% GPA in each year of his/her programme in Humber.

Humber will be providing a full or partial tuition fees scholarships for the eligible candidates.

Loan facilities

Not everyone can make the entire fee payment all by their own. So, the payment can be made by availing the loan options.

For an amount of Rs 15 lakh, you can avail 80% of the amount through loan and the remaining 20% has to be paid by you. A student can avail loan up to Rs 20 lakh. However, an additional processing fee has to be paid in case if you are applying loan for more than Rs 20 lakh.

Also, if the loan amount is more than INR 7.5 Lakhs, then borrowers need to furnish collateral as security.

Who is eligible to avail loans?

The below applicants are available for applying education loan:

The candidate should be an Indian national with strong academic record

The candidate should be pursuing admission to a professional and a job-oriented course.

The student should be above 18 years, if not the parents can avail the loan

However, all banks have different requirement for documentation, so you need to confirm with the bank first.

Repayment of loans

The loan amount can be repaid once after your course period ends. If the student secured an employment opportunity within one year after the completion of the course, the payment should be made immediately after one month of placement.

If you do not secure a job within a year of completing the course, then repayment starts irrespective of whether or not you are employed. The loan is generally to be repaid in 5-7 years after commencement of repayment.

If the student is not able to complete the course within the scheduled time, an extension of time for completion, of course, maybe permitted for a maximum period of two years. Generally, you will get up to a maximum number of 10 years to repay the loan.

Detailed Visa Process To Fly To Canada

Once after you are eligible for stepping into your dreamland and your desired university, the next big process is visa application. This process requires a lot of verification, document submission, and more.

Thankfully, the immigration and visa application process for Canada is less complicated when compared to other countries. However, you have to be careful while submitting the documents and filing the forms because a small mistake can lead to a big blunder. So, begin your visa application process far ahead.

There are several types of Visa in Canada like temporary Visa, student Visa, super Visa, visitor Visa, work permits, business class immigration, skilled federal worker Visa, Canadian experience class visa, etc..,

Documents required during Visa application

It is advisable to apply for Visa at least three months before your admission day. The below documents should be submitted during the Visa application:

During the Visa application letter, the university that you have enrolled should provide you the letter of acceptance. You should attach this letter to the study permit application. Proof of financial support

You should provide your asset and funds detail that is enough to lead your life in Canada at least for a year. For this country, an amount of $10,000 should be shown as fund detail. Further, during the personal interview, additional documents will be requested by the officials. Some of them include the following:

Degrees/certificates that you acquired from your school and college

Score sheet that you got from exams like TOEFL, SAT, GRE, GMAT

A letter denoting your intent to leave Canada once after the course completion

A proof that states your fund details on how you will lead life and meet daily needs in Canada

How to apply for a Canadian Visa?

There are two ways to apply for a Canadian Visa. Usually, 3 to 4 weeks will be taken for a visa application cycle. However, it is advised to go through the Canadian consulate website to know all the details required throughout the Visa application process.

The Visa can be applied either in person or online. Let us see the process in detail:

Apply online

While using online, you will be asked to submit the scanned version of all documents. So, make sure you have a scanner with you. In addition, have a valid credit card for all payments.

Apply in person

To apply for Visa in person, you will have to download the application kit and read the instruction guide. Know the complete information regarding the study permit and other essential details. Also, the processing fee has to be paid to Visa officials.

Usually, the processing fee is non-refundable. The biometrics and photo details of the individual will be collected at the VACs (Visa Application Center). There are over 130 VACs in more than 90 countries. The Indian students who are applying for the Visa for Canada have to contact the local VAC.

If chosen to apply in person, you will be submitting all your documents in person. However, even if you use online, you will have to visit VAC to provide your biometric details.

Medical examination

The submission of a proper medical examination form is essential during the Visa application process. However, the applicant cannot visit the doctor of their own choice. The Canada Immigration Center (CIC) would have provided a panel of physicians, and you can do the check-up with them. Once the examination is done, the reports will be sent directly to the CIC.

Eligibility criteria to work post-study in Canada

There is a set of eligibility criteria that a candidate should fall under if he/she wishes to pursue a job after their study. They are:

• The candidate should have opted for a full-time professional or a technical course which has the length of at least eight months
• The student should have graduated from a post-secondary institution either in a government or a private institution
• If a student does not possess graduation from a post-secondary institution, then he/she applies for work within three months after receiving a letter from the institute saying that he/she has completed the course from the institute. Also, the work permit will be provided only if you possess a student Visa.
• The work permit will be given as equal to your course duration. If your course length is for one year, then the work permit will also be provided for one year only.

Dependent Visa

If you are planning to take your spouse with you, then you can apply for a Dependent Visa. Under this, you mainly have to show that adequate amount is available to lead both of your life in Canada.

The Top Universities in Canada

The top universities in Canada are:

University of Toronto

This university was founded in 1827 and is one among the world’s most prestigious universities. It offers over 700 undergraduate degree and 200 postgraduate degree programmes to a cohort of almost 60,000 students.

Courses offered:

• Life sciences
• Arts & humanities
• Physical sciences
• Computer science
• Law
• Business and Economics and more

University of British Columbia

This is a global centre for teaching, learning and research. The University of British Columbia has been consistently ranked among the top 20 public universities in the world and recently recognized as North America’s most international university.

Courses offered

• Computer science
• Physical sciences
• Arts & humanities
• Life sciences
• Engineering & technology
• Psychology and more

McGill University

Courses offered

• Engineering & technology
• Arts & humanities
• Business & economics
• Physical sciences
• Law
• Life sciences
• Clinical, pre-clinical & health and more

McMaster University

One of only four Canadian Universities consistently ranked in the world’s top 100, McMaster has a proud tradition of academic and research excellence, evidenced by the achievements of our best and brightest whose ranks include three Nobel Prize winners, global business leaders, technological innovators, prominent politicians, public intellectuals, philanthropists and performers.

Courses offered

• Social sciences
• Clinical, pre-clinical & health
• Psychology
• Arts & humanities
• Engineering & technology
• Computer science and more

University of Montreal

With its affiliated schools, Polytechnique Montreal (engineering), and HEC Montreal (business), University of Montreal is one of the largest university complexes in North America.

Courses offered

• Engineering & technology
• Arts & humanities
• Business & economics
• Physical sciences
• Law
• Life sciences
• Psychology and more

University of Alberta

The University of Alberta is situated in Edmonton and was established in 1908. It is a public research university in Canada, located at the edge of the North Saskatchewan River valley.

Its main campus spans about 50 blocks of the city, and the university comprises a total of 150 buildings spread over four campuses. Edmonton is home to the world’s second biggest fringe theatre festival, a folk music festival, and the university’s ‘festival of ideas’.

Courses offered

• Clinical, pre-clinical & health
• Arts & humanities
• Engineering & technology
• Social sciences
• Law
• Psychology

University of Ottawa

The University of Ottawa was first established as the College of Bytown in 1848. But now, it is the largest bilingual (English-French) university in the world.

Courses offered

• Engineering & technology
• Arts & humanities
• Business & economics
• Physical sciences
• Law
• Life sciences
• Psychology and more

University of Calgary

The University of Calgary is a public research university based in the city of Calgary, in Alberta, Canada. It was founded in 1966 and attracts around 30,000 students, around 25,000 of which are undergraduates, 6,000 are graduates, and around 500 are postdoctoral fellows. About 3,000 or so of its student body are international, hailing from around 125 countries.

Courses offered

• Engineering & technology
• Arts & humanities
• Business & economics
• Physical sciences
• Law
• Life sciences
• Psychology and more

University of Waterloo

In just half a century, the University of Waterloo, located at the heart of Canadas technology hub, has become one of Canadas leading comprehensive universities with 35,000 full- and part-time students in undergraduate and graduate programs.

Courses offered

• Engineering & technology
• Arts & humanities
• Business & economics
• Physical sciences
• Law
• Life sciences
• Psychology and more

Western University

Founded in 1878, Western University ranks as one of Canada’s top research-intensive universities, and is among the top 1% of universities worldwide.

Courses offered

• Engineering & technology
• Arts & humanities
• Business & economics
• Physical sciences
• Law
• Life sciences
• Psychology and more