A comprehensive guide to studying in Canada

Canada has an education system that is ranked among the best educational systems around the world, in addition to being considered one of the ten best places to live in the world. We also mention that it provides a direct path to obtaining permanent citizenship, and thus international students can stay in it after the end of their studies. Canada is an educational haven for students from all over the world to flock to - hockey, maple syrup, and tuxedo jeans aside, there are many charms to be found for those who decide to study in Canada.

Why study in Canada

Canada - the second largest country in the world by landmass, after only Russia, with a population density of about 4 inhabitants per square kilometer (compared to India, where it has a whopping 416 / km2!).

Canada boasts 96 universities spread across its urban and regional regions, most of which are very welcome to international students. One of the special aspects of Canada is that it has two national languages ​​- that's right, you probably already know: English in most of the western side and French in the eastern province of Quebec. If you want to broaden your horizons as an ESL or FSL student, Canada is the place!

The Canadian educational system is proud of being a pioneer in the field of scientific research in the world and of being diverse and available as well, as it has more flexibility compared to others in other countries. Students can choose from 200 Canadian institutions of higher education to complete their studies for either a Bachelor's, Master's or Ph.D. An average student needs four years to obtain a bachelor’s degree, while a master’s degree takes one to two years. PhDs can range from four to six years, noting that all students - Canadian and International - will have to pay tuition fees.

Canadian people are known to be very friendly. Moreover, coupled with a large number of incentives to study in Canada as an international country, the country is always on the brink of social systems and technology, which makes it very suitable for the open-minded nature of students studying abroad.

Canadian universities

The major cities in Canada - Vancouver, Toronto, and Montreux - are where you might first be aiming for darts if you are looking to study abroad in Canada. According to QS Best Student Cities 2018, Montréal is the 4th best student city in the world, with Toronto at the 13th and the 17th!

However, some of the country's most internationally respected universities can be found in the areas in between. So, depending on your field of study, preferred geography, and your tolerance level for the cold, you may find it more enjoyable to study outside the three major cities.

The QS World University Rankings 2019 places 26 out of 96 universities in Canada on the list!

Here are the top 10:

Queen's University

University of Calgary

Western University

University of Waterloo

University of Montreal

McMaster University

University of Alberta

University of British Columbia

McGill University

University of Toronto

Canada would not host around 572,000 international students each year, if there was not a wide range of courses to study - from computer science & information technology to media and journalism, agricultural and forestry sciences to business and finance. Be sure to find a degree that works for you!

Canada is also home to more than 150 colleges that offer short courses and diplomas. You may find one that works perfectly for your aspirations. While you will have to go through the same process of obtaining a student visa, you may save some money on comprehensive tuition fees.

The Canadian academic year generally begins in September, although some graduate programs start sooner or later. Be sure to check!

University of Toronto

A global public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

McGill University

Join a community that creates solutions to global challenges.

University of British Columbia

A global center for research and teaching, it ranks among the top 20 public universities in the world.

Degrees study in Canada

Bachelor's degree

Obtaining a bachelor’s degree in Canada will give you the knowledge and qualifications to pursue a career in your chosen field, or continue your studies toward a master’s / doctoral degree.

The degree structure of undergraduate programs takes a more liberal approach regarding the classes you can choose within your field of study. A certain amount of credits are given upon completion of each course.

The student has the option to choose from a number of courses that are offered in the department in which he is studying. This differs from, for example, the degree structure in France, where the institute decides which courses should be taken each semester.

The competition is high to be accepted in most universities. If English is not your first language, you will need to take a proficiency test. Any evidence of high school accomplishments (GPA, volunteer work, student clubs, etc.) will increase your chances of being accepted!

Master's degree

Until the last few years, Canada (and the United States) only accepted students with a 4-year bachelor's degree in master's programs, while most countries offer bachelor's programs that can be completed within 3 years. But demand for international students wishing to study in Canada has increased dramatically (11% since 2017), along with universities now accepting 3-year bachelor's degrees as a prerequisite for master's programs.

Most master's programs take one to two years to complete, and come in the form of a Master of Science (MA) or Master of Arts (MA). If you want to lower your graduate degree further, you can also choose between the Master of Business Administration (MBA), Master of Engineering (MEng), or Master of Fine Arts (FCO).

You'll need to look at about $ 13,000-20,500 in California per year to obtain a master's degree.

Canada has a remarkable Postgraduate Work Permit Program (PGWPP) in place to further motivate international students to get jobs after completing School Grad. 90% of those stick across Canada after completing a graduate course in the workforce within 6 months!

PhD

Want to take your graduate studies a step further? Whether you have already completed a master's degree elsewhere, or you are currently chipping away, finding the right PhD program in Canada will come with a wealth of benefits.

Once again, tuition fees in Canada for international students seeking a PhD are more attractive than its North American neighbor to the south, as well as Australia and the United Kingdom. Some Canadian universities are reducing or even obliterating additional fees for international in doctoral programs.

There are currently nearly 200,000 international students with a PhD in Canada, which can take anywhere from three to six years to complete.

Upon completion of the PhD, you are entitled to a 3-year work permit, which can ultimately lead to permanent residency or citizenship.

Postdoctoral

Postdoctoral fellows (PDFs), known as postdoctoral researchers, are those who choose to remain in academia after completing their doctorate. Most universities have their own internal fellowships, but there are also many external agencies that can help create PDFs with organizations or institutions.

Tuition fees and living costs

If you haven't already figured it out, studying in Canada as an international student is generally much less expensive than studying in the UK, USA and Australia!

The costs vary widely on the basis of the institution, but generally, you'll pay $ 20,000 to $ 30,000 annually for undergraduate programs. Graduate programs tend to run slightly less (around CA $ 16,000 / year), while executive MBA programs are usually more (CA $ 30,000 / year).

The cost of living varies greatly, mainly depending on your spending habits and if you are in a large city. You must have a minimum of CAD $ 10,000 a year for living costs to obtain a student visa, although most universities recommend approximately CAD $ 15,000.

Housing costs vary according to the housing chosen by the student, where university housing costs range between 250 - 1,000 Canadian dollars / month, depending on the nature of the chosen residence, where apartments or studios are the most expensive, while the costs of shared housing are lower. When renting an apartment or studio, it must be taken into account that there are additional costs, as the basic costs of electricity, water, heating and garage cost 150 Canadian dollars / month, while the cost of the Internet may range between 50 - 70 Canadian dollars / month.

As for food, the cost will be around $ 300 CAD / month when shopping at the supermarket, and there are other cheaper options such as Canadian Superstore, Walmart, No Frills.

It's always a good idea to have a little extra money in the budget for any unexpected costs, like winter wear and supplies.

health insurance

Another huge advantage of studying in Canada is that some provinces offer some form of health insurance for free for international students! The important thing to check here is exactly what health insurance covers, as this varies widely between counties.

If you will be studying in a county that does not provide free health insurance, you will need to make your own arrangements while applying for a student visa.

Also know that whether you buy health insurance or apply for free health insurance, timing matters! Some coverage is not applicable once you arrive in Canada. Make sure to check this out in your search.

Funding for study and scholarships in Canada

Canada offers many scholarships for all levels of study for international students, whether governmental or private for each Canadian university. You can visit the official page to view scholarships in Canada.

Universities in Canada offer a wide range of their scholarships, ranging from academic and athletic achievements to more specific individual fields of study. It is also a good idea to do a thorough research of organizations in your country that offer scholarships to study abroad.

Although applying for a student visa requires you to demonstrate that you will have sufficient funds for the duration of your studies without work, getting a job on or off campus is an excellent way to supplement some of your spending money. As a full-time student in Canada, you are entitled to work 20 hours per week during the semesters and full-time during the winter / summer breaks. Gorgeous!

Student visas

You can study in Canada up to 6 months without a student visa. However, if you wish to work, you will need to obtain an appropriate permit to do so.

The following documents are required to apply for a study permit:

Proof of acceptance - the acceptance letter you received from your university.

Identity proof - a valid passport that serves this purpose.

Proof of Funds Adequacy - CA $ 10,000 / year + $ 833 per additional month.

How to apply

You can apply for a Canadian study permit either in paper or online, via Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC), knowing that the paper submission takes twice as long as the electronic application, which requires a credit card and the ability to secure the required documents and documents as electronic copies using a scanner Photocell for example.

The visa office in the applicant's country will inform him of the documents required to apply.

To know the required papers and how to apply, please visit the official website.

How to apply to study in Canada

Application to Canadian universities is done online via the university’s official website directly, and begins by choosing the desired university and program for study, then sending the required papers - mentioned on the university’s official website - with the application request. Usually, the student is asked to pay a fee to apply, then wait for the response from the university, either with acceptance or rejection. Usually the papers required to apply vary according to the major and the university, but in general the student will need his academic certificates, transcript, motivation letter, letters of recommendation in addition to his CV and certificate of English / French language proficiency.

Designated Institutes of Education are schools that have been approved by the provincial or territorial government to host international students. Make sure you are applying to a school that is on this list.

You must apply no later than March if you want to start classes in September. Some universities have different deadlines, so be sure to research which universities you would like to apply for!

Language requirements

As Canada is a bilingual country, courses at Canadian universities will be taught in either English or French.

Even if you are a native English or French speaker, you will need to take a language proficiency test. If you are applying for an English speaking university, the IELTS exam is accepted by all. As for French, TEF is the most widely used and accepted.

The fee is usually around $ 100.

Comparing studying in Canada with studying in the United Kingdom

As mentioned before, the cost of tuition is much lower in Canada. The cost of living is also slightly lower.

Although cost is a very important factor for most people in deciding which university to study at, it is really up to you. There are many universities in Canada and the United Kingdom that are internationally respected. Find the right person for your situation.

While the UK still has more universities in the 2019 QS World University Rankings, Canada is rapidly overtaking the UK and is the most desirable country for international students to study in.