Growing Numbers of Business Students Choose to Study in Canada

/0 Comments/in /by

Canada is an increasingly popular destination for international business students, new figures show. In 2009, four percent of potential MBA students looking to study abroad was hoping to study in Canada. By 2016, this figure had grown to nine percent. In 2016, Canada was the second most preferred study destination for international student candidates from Africa, and the third most preferred study destination among Latin American and Central and South Asian candidates. As almost 60 percent of potential business students intend to study abroad, this growth could translate to an exciting future for international students studying business programs in Canada.

These figures come from a recent report from the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC), which surveyed more than 11,000 prospective business students in 2016, and analyzed data from more than 117,000 members of mba.com, the official website of the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT), between October 2008 and September 2016.

Among respondents, more than half (53 percent) of candidates looking to study abroad stated they intend to return home to work after graduation, while roughly a third (34 percent) intend to continue working in the country where they study.

However, this statistic is notably different for Canada — more than half (52 percent) of prospective international students pursuing a business program in Canada intend to stay and work in Canada after graduation. Increasing numbers of prospective international students are noticing that the country has one of the most flexible and accessible post-graduation work programs of any country with a comparable education system. The GMAC report’s findings corroborate this — the report also explored future students’ reasons for choosing an international study destination, finding that ‘Canada is noted more often for ease of obtaining work permits and student visas, and safety and physical security.’

Business programs in Canada

Canadian universities and colleges offer a wide range of business programs at every level, from one-year college diplomas to MBA, Master, and Ph.D. degrees.

Explore top business programs in Canada.

Business programs in Canada are generally tailored to prepare graduates for employment in a wide range of sectors, from finance to technology, real estate, the health sector, and more. Canada’s startup environment is fertile and booming. In particular, technology companies take advantage of a pool of talented skilled workers, and the proximity to the United States, to establish outposts of major international companies as well as new innovative businesses. Career opportunities after graduation continue to grow in Canada across many sectors and a diploma or degree in business could open doors to lucrative careers in a variety of key fields.

۲)Study in Canada

Canada: Land of Migrants

A United Nations survey suggests that Canada as one of the safest and best countries in the world to live in. It topped the list of the Best Nations to live in till the beginning of the millennium and still is one of the best countries in the world to live in. Canada still provides the best quality of lifestyle, high-quality education accessible to all, health care scheme for all their inhabitants and has the lowest crime rate in the whole world, accessibility to education and low crime rate compared to any other country. Canada is also a multicultural country with large European essence with English and French being the most spoken languages. Immigrants play a pivotal role in the development of the country.

Permanent Residency for Immigrants

Canada is a land of immigrants and welcomes more than 200000 immigrants every year. On completion of the programs, students can apply for Federal Skilled Permit Scheme (PR) by fulfilling 67 points to satisfy the eligibility criteria. The process may take around 15-17 months and citizenship can be awarded on completion of 3 years in Canada.

Immigration Hub

Canadian immigration norms are one of the most simple and easiest for people seeking immigrations. Canada reportedly had 265000 immigrants in the year 2013 and the numbers have been steady since then. Canadian immigration accesses the selection on the basis of six selection criteria and fulfillment of the point’s required to be eligible.

Affordable & Best Infrastructure

Canadian education is one of the best in the world and is also very competitive and affordable. High-quality infrastructure is one of the cornerstones of the Canadian system and there is a great demand for Canadian graduates all over the world as the Universities are very highly regarded for the quality of education.

Flexible Education System

Canada offers free education to all the students till secondary level (10+2) and higher education system comprises of Technical/Career colleges, Community colleges, University colleges, and Universities. Canadian institutions offer diplomas, degrees, PG Diplomas and Post Graduate degrees of international repute through an extensive system of 175 Community colleges and 92 universities. Canadian education to a very large extent is modeled on the basis of the US education system. Universities are few but they are of the highest repute worldwide and most of the Canadian Universities feature in the top 200 global list of Universities.

Scholarships & Grants

Canada offers a large number of Scholarships for students with good academics. Indian and Canadian governments offer the benefits to meritorious students in the form of grants and scholarships. These opportunities make the education investment lesser taxing on the student.

Technology & Research

Canada stands for technology and its stature as one of the highest industrialized nations in the whole world speaks volumes of the achievement. Universities have a great degree of research happening in various fields of science and intend to invent technologies for the future.

Flexibility

Canadian education system can be termed a miniature model of the US. Courses and topics are flexible and students are allowed to transfer among Canadian & American Universities based on their merit. Canada is one of the countries which encourage various exchange programs with other countries and more than 15 Canadian Universities feature in the top 200 Universities list and the admission criteria can be moderate to high depending upon the cutoff of the University.

University curriculum enables students for a cooperative work term which facilitates the student to have an opportunity to work for the tenure of 12-17 weeks in the Canadian company.

Affordable

Canada offers a very high quality of life style and the expenses are minimal in comparison to many first world countries. Standard of living is very high and the cost of living to meet the standards is very less. Students are also allowed to work part time during their education. Off campus, work is allowed after the completion of one semester. This helps the students to earn their living during the course of their studies, hence reducing their financial burden. They can also opt to work full time during vacations.

Intakes

Canadian Universities generally have 4 intakes: Spring: January/February

  • Fall: August/September
  • Summer: April/May
  • Winter: December

The Admission cycles are similar to the US.

English Requirements

IELTS is mandatory for admission into any Canadian University. TOEFL is also accepted in some institutions. Ideal scores for IELTS:

For Post Graduate > 6.5 (Minimum 6 in all components)

For Undergraduate > 6.0 (Minimum 6 in all components)

“Also there are the possibilities to get the acceptance letter without language test as a conditional”

 

Eligibility for Admissions:

Bachelors: 10+2 or equivalent.

  • Masters: ۱۶ years education (10+2+4), some institutions may consider 15 years with WES Evaluation.
  • Students with good academics and no backlogs are preferred.
  • Letters of Recommendation from the last studied institution`s professors.
  • Statement of Purpose/Personal Mission Statement, Essays & Resumes depicting their strong aptitude for higher education.
  • Strong financial background & proper source of funds. High test scores with excellent academics can fetch good scholarships.

Documents

  • Passport · Covering Letter
  • Application Fees
  • Application Form
  • Statement of Purpose, Resume
  • 2 Letters of recommendation
  • All marks cards & official transcripts
  • Bank Statement/ Bank balance certificate
  • Affidavit of Support
  • Test Score Cards

Living expenses in Canada

/0 Comments/in /by

As an international student in Canada, it’s a good idea to establish a budget to plan for the cost of living and studying abroad. You’ll need to consider the study costs for international students in Canada from elementary to university, including tuition fees at your school of choice.

Our Search colleges and universities tool will lead you to information about college and university programs. You can search for programs at institutions across Canada and compare the cost of tuition. The tool provides cost of living estimates to guide you.

Living expenses in Canada

After you figure out the cost of going to school, it’s important to plan for the other expenses associated with living in Canada.

Your student budget

There’s more to your study costs than tuition. Don’t forget to set aside money for:

  • Books
  • Computer
  • Housing
  • Food
  • Fun
  • Clothing
  • Travel
  • Transportation
  • Health insurance
  • Travel insurance

Housing and accommodations

What type of housing will you live in as a student in Canada? Living in a residence on campus is something you can do at most Canadian universities. It’s a great way to make friends quickly, and it’s an appealing option when you are a first-year student. Many Canadian students also choose to live in residence their first year. One of them could be your roommate.

Other great reasons to live in residence:

  • Residence offers a safe way to settle into post-secondary studies in Canada.
  • It can be affordable since the cost of residence also includes food from the cafeteria.

Your university’s website will outline the cost of living in residence.

If you are attending a college or language school, it’s less likely there will be a residence on campus. In that case, you’ll have to search for off-campus housing. Living off campus might involve getting your own apartment or sharing one with friends.

How much should you plan to spend on your accommodations? It depends on the city and your living arrangements. We generally recommend setting aside 25% of your study in Canada budget for housing.

Food and groceries

When it comes to food, Canada offers variety. As a multicultural nation, Canada offers all the foods you love, so you can easily feel at home. Our large cities are home to people from all around the world. They offer everything from small specialty food stores to grocery stores with huge selections of international foods.

If you live on campus at your college or university, you can register for the meal plan, which gives you access to your college or university cafeteria for all your meals. If you live off campus, you will likely do your own cooking or share cooking duties with friends.

Build the cost of food and groceries into your study budget. You can easily investigate the costs online by looking at Canada’s major national grocery store chains. Shop around for the best prices. You can even download apps that will allow you to compare costs from store to store or find the best deals on food.

If you like to treat yourself to restaurant meals from time to time, plan to build those into your study budget.

Health insurance

Canada has no national healthcare plan. Instead, each province and territory provides universal health care to its citizens. This coverage is free and applies to all Canadian citizens. It includes the cost of doctors and hospitals, but not the cost for dentists, physiotherapists and other health providers.

As an international student, you need to determine whether your province or territory extends health insurance to you. In provinces where there is no coverage for international students, your school will have medical insurance plans for purchase.

Travel health insurance

Travel health insurance is different from basic health insurance. It will be useful if your time in Canada is short (less than one year) and you expect to live in different parts of Canada. This may apply to students planning to attend:

  • High school for only 9 or ۱۰ months
  • Language school for 12 or ۲۰ weeks
  • A summer camp language school
  • A co-op program or internship

Travel agents and the school where you are enrolled can provide details on travel health insurance.

Entertainment

It’s important to take time to relax. Be sure to include your “fun time” expenses in your budget. You may enjoy going to clubs to dance or seeing the latest movies at the cinema. Who knows? You may quickly become a hockey fan and want to attend games. Or your favourite entertainment may involve buying an X-box or PlayStation, so you can play video games.

How much money do you think you’ll spend on entertainment each month? You might want to include things like yoga classes or restaurant meals with friends when you plan your budget.

Clothing

Set aside some money to cover your clothing budget in Canada. There are countless shopping options—from factory outlets where you can find great deals to shopping centres, boutiques, big box stores and more. Thrift stores and second-hand clothing stores are also very popular. They sell used clothing and shoes including winter coats and boots that will keep you warm without costing a lot of money.

Your clothing budget will depend on how much you like to shop and how much you feel you’ll need to buy for your time in Canada.

Transportation

When you come to Canada, you will want to get around to see and experience life in your new country. Plan for your transportation costs by estimating how much money you’ll need for:

  • Public transit, like buses and subways
  • Bus or train tickets if you want to explore other cities in Canada
  • Plane tickets home to visit your family

You may want to get a local bus or subway pass to see and experience your new city or town. If you are a college or university student, check with your school to see if the cost of a transit pass is included in your tuition fees. You’ll find that many cities with public transit also offer special student rates.

Some international students choose to buy a car when they come to Canada. If this is something you want to do, plan for the cost of your car, automobile insurance, gasoline and parking in your budget. 

Canadian cities and towns often feature beautiful bike paths in recreational areas and bike lanes on busy streets. This makes owning a bike a great and economical option to experience the city around you.

For elementary and high school students, school boards generally provide school buses to take elementary school students to and from school each day. In some cities, high school students use public transit to get to school.

Travel

When you make friends who are Canadian students, they may invite you to spend Thanksgiving or other holidays with their family. This could involve travel by bus or train.

The most important travel you will do while studying in Canada may be to your home country. How much does that cost? Make sure to include this in your yearly budget.

Discounts for international students in Canada

Do you love a great deal or a discount? As an international student in Canada, you’ll find them all around. Stores, restaurants, public transit, airlines, trains and others offer reduced prices for students. To access these student discounts, you will need a valid student identification card. We also recommend getting the International Student Identification Card for additional benefits. Why not make the most of your study in Canada adventure?

IELTS no longer a hindrance

/0 Comments/in /by

IELTS no longer a hindrance for admission to certain Canadian university courses

A bane about studying in international universities is the requirement for a slew of examinations like the TOEFL, IELTS, GRE, GMAT and the like. This often makes it a cumbersome task for students who tend to appear for these tests repeatedly to earn better scores and gain admission into top universities. To make it easier for students to gain admission easily, several universities in Canada have started waving off the requirement of scores of some of these examinations. One popular waiver is that of the IELTS.

Why the move?

Canadian universities have found that students who have completed their degrees from a recognized educational institution and have received their instructions in English often show a good degree of English knowledge – be it reading, writing or speaking skills. Hence, they felt it made sense to do away with the requirement of an English language proficiency test like the IELTS that has a minimum score requirement of 6.0, to make it easy for students to apply for higher education in Canada.

Students claim to English language proficiency

Students who apply to universities in Canada that do not demand the submission of IELTS scores, however, need to submit certain documents to support their claim of English language proficiency. These may include requisite certificates, documents stating that the medium of instruction in the first or last obtained a degree was English, transcripts and the like.

Top universities that do not require IELTS scores

Some of the general rules governing the non-requirement of IELTS scores are that students are either native English speakers; or, students hailing from non-English countries have received formal degree education of three or more consecutive years in English. Besides, students who have completed either an O-Level or A-level examination also earn an IELTS exemption. 
Individual universities have their set of exemptions and requirements to prove applicant’s English language proficiency. The following is a list of universities in Canada that offer this exemption:

  • University of Saskatchewan
  • Brock University
  • Carleton University
  • University of Winnipeg
  • University of Regina
  • Memorial University
  • Concordia University

Will there be visa hindrances if IELTS scores are not provided?

Canada has introduced new student visa regulations that not only helps ensure that international students genuinely study in the country’s universities, but also gives them certain levels of freedom to work. For instance, while earlier prospective students only needed to show intent to study in Canada, now they need to prove their enrollment in a college that accepts international students to be eligible for a visa. Hence, students applying for visas without providing IELTS scores need to ensure their enrollment in the university of their choice that does not require the IELTS papers. While the college of their choice does provide them with a letter of admission, students may provide supporting documents to prove their English language proficiency when applying for a student visa. What’s more, students can now no longer stay on a study permit beyond 90 days of completing their course. This is to ensure that students do not switch to short-term programs after enrolling in a long-term degree course.

Such moves with stringent regulations are set to help Canadian authorities curb the inflow of study permit holders unwilling to pursue studies, and instead ensure that genuine students are issued student visas. This move is expected to help Canada weed out educational institutions of poor quality and offer high-standard education to international students seeking quality degrees. 

Universities in Canada

/0 Comments/in /by

Top universities in Canada 2018

Canada Rank 2018 World University Rank 2018 University Province City
۱ =۲۲ University of Toronto Ontario Toronto
۲ =۳۴ University of British Columbia British Columbia Vancouver
۳ ۴۲ McGill University Quebec Montreal
۴ ۷۸ McMaster University Ontario Hamilton
۵ ۱۰۸ University of Montreal Quebec Montreal
۶ =۱۱۹ University of Alberta Alberta Edmonton
=۷ ۲۰۱–۲۵۰ University of Calgary Alberta Calgary
=۷ ۲۰۱–۲۵۰ University of Ottawa Ontario Ottawa
=۷ ۲۰۱–۲۵۰ University of Waterloo Ontario Waterloo
=۷ ۲۰۱–۲۵۰ Western University Ontario London
=۱۱ ۲۵۱–۳۰۰ Dalhousie University Nova Scotia Halifax
=۱۱ ۲۵۱–۳۰۰ Laval University Quebec Quebec City
=۱۱ ۲۵۱–۳۰۰ Queen’s University Ontario Kingston
=۱۱ ۲۵۱–۳۰۰ Simon Fraser University British Columbia Burnaby
=۱۵ ۳۰۱–۳۵۰ University of Victoria British Columbia Victoria
۱۶ ۳۵۱–۴۰۰ York University Ontario Toronto
=۱۷ ۴۰۱–۵۰۰ University of Manitoba Manitoba Winnipeg
=۱۷ ۴۰۱–۵۰۰ University of Saskatchewan Saskatchewan Saskatoon
=۱۹ ۵۰۱–۶۰۰ Carleton University Ontario Ottawa
=۱۹ ۵۰۱–۶۰۰ Concordia University Quebec Montreal
=۱۹ ۵۰۱–۶۰۰ Memorial University of Newfoundland Newfoundland and Lbrador St John’s
=۱۹ ۵۰۱–۶۰۰ University of Québec Quebec Quebec City
=۱۹ ۵۰۱–۶۰۰ Université de Sherbrooke Quebec Sherbrooke

Scholarships to study in Canada

/0 Comments/in /by

Find scholarships for Canada to finance your studies. 

Canadian universities and colleges provide a wide range of scholarships to meritorious international students to help them fund their studies. Apart from this, many scholarships, grants and bursaries are also offered by the Canadian government, public and private establishments. Before you apply to any of these scholarships, do check the eligibility and criteria, along with the closing date.

What is the criteria for applying to scholarships?

The primary criterion for most scholarships is a good academic score, however it also depends on factors such as your chosen destination, subject and level. In some scholarships, factors like extracurricular activities, and volunteering can also be used to advantage.

What amount of money is available through scholarships?

The amount of money available and type of award varies between various institutions. Getting a scholarship is competitive and so, it is important that you apply well ahead in time. We recommend you to start with the procedure about 8-12 months before the preferred intake begins.

Here’s an overview of some of the popular scholarships you can apply to as an Indian student.

S. No. Name of the scholarship Description
۱ Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute Offers various fellowships at different levels from graduate to post-doctorate and from research to training fellowships  
۲ Canadian Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan This scheme identifies students with high intellect from Commonwealth countries applying to programs of advanced study and research at the Master and PhD level The award comprises travel, living allowance and the compulsory tuition fees  
۳ Ontario Graduate Scholarship Program For graduate students in a wide variety of disciplines As a pre-requisite to applying, students must accept an offer from a university in Ontario and obtain a valid study permit  
۴ National Research Council of Canada (NRCC) Research associateship is offered to master degree holders in engineering and PhD holders in natural science or engineering disciplines
۵ Quebec Provincial Government Scholarship For students studying in QuebecFinancial assistance to students at master’s level or above Each application is assessed on its own merit  
۶ Ontario Trillium Scholarship First announced in November 2010 for  doctoral students from around the world to study in OntarioEach scholarship is worth $40,000 annually, renewable for a maximum of four years75 scholarships are awarded each year Ontario universities are responsible for selecting and awarding scholarship to international PhD students based on merit and program criteria  
۷ Partnership Grants by Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada For PhD candidatesSupports new or existing research initiatives in social sciences and humanitiesWorth up to CAD 20,000 Duration: 4 to 7 years

Cost of Study in Canada

/0 Comments/in /by

Ease your financial expenses with our budget guide.

Studying abroad can be an expensive affair, but thankfully, Canada is one country where quality education is available at tuition rates lower than many other countries. But before you depart from India, ensure that you consider expenses like accommodation, food, health coverage and travel along with your tuition fee when calculating the estimated cost of studying in Canada. This will help you plan your budget more effectively.

۱٫ Tuition fee is your prime expenditure

Your expenditure on tuition fee depends on the type of qualification and institution you opt for. To cover this, you will need approximately between CAD 7,000 and CAD 29,000 a year.

Most commonly, courses in humanities, education and arts are a little cheaper, while subjects such as medicine and engineering are likely to be more expensive. If you wish to study at a postgraduate level, the tuition fee is typically higher and the costs vary depending on the program. As with most other countries, MBA programs are often the most expensive. The average cost for these programs is around CAD 42,000.

S.no. Study program Average annual fee (in CAD*)
۱ Undergraduate program $۱۲,۰۰۰ to $25,000 per year
۲ Postgraduate master’s degree $۱۴,۰۰۰ to $35,000 per year
۳ Doctoral degree $۷,۰۰۰ to $10,000 per year

You can apply to various scholarships as well to bring down your educational expenses.

۲٫ Calculate accommodation costs

Most universities in Canada offer on-campus residence facilities to international students. You can also opt for an off-campus accommodation wherein you can share apartments with other students from India. Cost for on-campus accommodation may range anywhere from CAD 8,000 to CAD ۱۰,۰۰۰ (annually) whereas living in a shared apartment can cost you around CAD ۴۰۰ to CAD 700 per month depending upon your location and time of the year. Remember, the rentals vary from city to city.

Explore accommodation options.

۳٫ Cost of your student visa and permit

In order to study in Canada, the first step is to secure a valid study permit and that comes with its own costs (approx. CAD 150). Find out about visa application process.

۴٫ Living expenses

You need to keep a little money aside for your grocery shopping, social activities and emergency situations. When living in a foreign country as a student, it is better to keep a track of your expenditures so that you do not over spend. Considering various expenses and living costs, a single student budget in Canada comes out to be approx. CAD 15,000 (indicative). You should also consider these common expenses when creating your budget:

  • Communication expenses: As a student from India, you’d be frequently calling your friends and family back home. Therefore, always keep a section of your budget for phone bills and data expenses. Look for cost-effective calling plans and student discounts in order to stay connected with your loved ones within your monthly budget.
  • Books and supplies: Purchasing textbooks can get a little expensive. For instance, books for engineering courses can cost you approx. CAD ۲۵۰ to CAD 350. For courses like law, medicine and pharmacy, the value can go even higher. You can manage this in your budget by opting for second hand books, buying digital versions or even securing a library membership.
  • Personal expenses and incidentals: Your daily expenses will include laundry, toiletries, clothing, dining out, etc. This depends entirely on the kind of lifestyle you choose for yourself.

۵٫ Consider health support and insurance

It is mandatory for all students travelling to Canada to get a medical insurance before the commencement of their program. The average annual cost for medical insurance ranges between CAD 300- CAD 800 a year (indicative). Know more about health and support services in Canada

۶٫ Transportation. Know how much it will cost to move around

Unless your institution provides with a shuttle service to-and-fro from your lodging, you’ll have to rely on the available public transport.

  • For short distances
    You can make use of regional trains, buses, and subways. Metropolitan cities like Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal offer buses and subways. Smaller cities may or may not have subways, but you can always avail buses, commuter trains or local taxi service. You can check the schedule on the web or in your phone book’s yellow pages or white pages with city government listings. This can range anywhere between CAD 80 and CAD 110 for a month (indicative). It is a good idea to get monthly passes for commuting to college as they come in fairly cheap.
  • Park and Ride service
    If you live far from the bus stop, some cities give you the option to drive down to a special parking area where you can park your car and then take a train or bus. You can also rent a car by getting an international driver’s license. Your commute expense will vary accordingly.
  • For long distances
    For travelling between different cities, you can avail long-distance buses, railways, and flights.

۷٫ Don’t ignore your taxes

Indian students studying in Canada having a Social Insurance Number (SIN) are allowed to work 20 hours per week during academic sessions and full-time during vacations. If you choose to work along with your studies, your Canadian earned income will be taxable. Along with this, if you have a scholarship or assistantship from your institution, the federal and state governments may tax these wards.

Remember, the exchange rate variations may also affect your budgeting. We suggest you also look for a part time job while you are studying in Canada or seek scholarship in the universities you apply to. This can help lower your cost of studying abroad to a great extent.

Study levels in Canada

/0 Comments/in /by

Since the education system in Canada is managed by the provincial governments, the study levels and educational stages may lie in different clusters with different names. Here’s a synopsis:

Qualification Duration Description
Certificates and Diploma ۱ to 2 years Vocational and job oriented programs, mainly technical
Associate degree ۲ years Equivalent to first two years of a 4-year bachelor’s degree
Bachelor’s degree ۳ to 4 years And undergraduate degree which requires successful completion of secondary school. The duration of your course depends on the province and type of program although most courses last for 4 years. Certain provinces like Quebec have bachelor’s degree of 3 years.
Bachelor’s Honors degree ۴ years This will require getting a specific GPA or credits, a majors or a specialist program
Postgraduate diploma ۱ to 2 years A post bachelor degree qualification
Master’s degree (by thesis) ۱ to 2 years Often referred to as research masters, this requires mandatory submission of thesis for assessment and course completion
Master’s degree (by non-thesis) ۱ to 2 years This is a taught master’s degree, not requiring thesis submission
Doctorate or PhD ۴ to 7 years Ph.D. is awarded when students complete dissertation and successfully defend their work before a panel of faculty members
Post-Doctoral Programs No time limit Specialised research-oriented programs

Types of institutions

There are different types of qualifications offered by various institutions of Canada.

University: Students can apply for undergraduate degree, postgraduate certificate, diploma and degree, professional degrees and doctorate in universities of Canada.

University colleges: Programs offered by university colleges include diploma and university transfer programs.

Community colleges: Students can get certificate, diploma, associate degree, undergraduate degree and postgraduate diploma in community colleges.

Career and technical colleges: Certificate and diploma offered for technical education.

Co-operative education

This unique platform brings together classroom-based education and practical work experience making for more structured and pragmatic learning. This is an exceptionally wonderful avenue for international students who do not wish to consume themselves in a completely lecture-based education. Note that 50% of the program will include work experience therefore you must have a work permit.

Academic year

September is the main intake in Canada and witnesses maximum number of student admissions. While most colleges and universities offer the September and January intake, you may also be able to get admissions in the Summer intake that starts around April/May.

Pedagogy in Canadian classrooms

Active participation, research and analysis via presentation, assignments and lab tests are the basis of Canadian learning. Classes are usually a mix of lectures, tutorials and lab sessions having a student strength of about 30 to 200. While lectures may have a higher number of students, tutorials are generally held within small groups for better and in-depth understanding of the concept. Canadian universities focus on providing a holistic experience wherein students get opportunities that improve their learning, career and life.

Here’s an overview of the kinds of scholarships you can apply for based on your study level.

For undergraduates (UG)

Merit-based scholarship

Provincial Government scholarship

Need-based grants and bursaries by college

Tuition waiver

Commonwealth scholarship

Private/Organizational scholarship

For Postgraduates (PG)

Merit-based scholarship

Provincial Government scholarship

Research associate-ship

Professional Development award

Fellowship

Teaching assistantship

Commonwealth scholarship

Private/Organizational scholarship

Health in Canada

/0 Comments/in /by

What are the health and support services available in Canada?

Here’s a lowdown on the support services available for you!

It can be a little challenging to cope with the changes in your environment when you move to Canada for the first time. With a new set of customs and norms, acclimatizing into the culture takes some time, and you may need some assistance to absorb it all smoothly. But if you struggle to adjust, or feel alienated or unhealthy, there are a range of support services available to help you out.

In case you get hassled at any point, you can reach out to:

Campus support services Dedicated to support international students via various orientations and programs. These may include supportive and educational workshops, cultural celebrations and academic support. Sometimes, they also help with student accommodation and employment/internship opportunities.
Student associations on campus Most institutions have their own student associations, which help international students manage their various activities along with academics. Some universities also have a dedicated international student associations to offer unbiased support to students from another country. For instance, the University of Calgary has a Newcomers & International Students’ Committee that ensures all inter-cultural students have a voice in front of both the Graduate Students Association and the university’s administration.
Student associations off campus There are various student associations outside of campus that work for the welfare of national and international students. For instance, the Canadian Federation of Students and Canadian Alliance of Student Associations are two great resources to reach out to in case of any assistance.
Support for students with disabilities Most universities and institutions offer special support to international students with disabilities, but it is best to communicate the same at the time of application to discuss if any special arrangements need to be made for you. If you are studying in Ontario, you can also make use of communability, a social networking website for post-secondary students with disabilities across the province.

Make sure you have a health insurance

Remember, most universities and colleges also provide with health insurance facilities to international students. Discuss with your IDP counsellor for the details regarding your health insurance options in Canada.
We recommend you to get registered with a local doctor or a medical centre located in your campus on arrival.

In an emergency

If you happen to face any emergency, call the toll free number 911. This is a common number that can be used for fire, police or ambulance. In Canada, interpreters are available in case you are not able to explain in English.

A great way to come prepared to face various challenges of settling into a new country is by attending one of our pre-departure sessions, which are help free of cost of our students. Just walk into any of your nearest IDP office to know more about the same. 

Study in Canada

/0 Comments/in /by

Eligibility, application requirements checklist, fees, the processing time

Eligibility criteria

You need to apply for a Canadian study permit before entering the country. To be able to apply for this permit, you should have been accepted by a designated learning institute (DLI). You can check your institute’s name in the designated learning institutions list offered by the Canadian Government here.

The list only includes schools at the post-secondary level. On your application form, you will have to write the DLI number which you will get from the above link. There are some institutes that may not have a DLI number, but if you can find their name on this list, then it means they are eligible to take international students.

Remember, you can only start your application process for the study permit as soon as you get the letter of acceptance from your university. That’s number one in the Canadian student visa eligibility requirements list.

Next in line in the eligibility criteria, is the money/assets you have. You need to prove that you will be able to pay for your tuition fees, bear the living expenses of yourself and any accompanying members in the country, as well as return transportation costs from Canada.

As an aspiring foreign student in Canada, you will have to make the immigration officer understand that you will not stay back in the country after you finish your studies.

Apart from this, you will, of course, have to prove that you are healthy and are not headed to their country with some disease. They may want you to undergo a medical examination if need be.

Last, but not the least, don’t have a criminal record of any kind so as to make them think you may be a threat to their land.

However, in case you are going to Canada to pursue a short term course or program which is of less than six months’ duration, you don’t need a study permit. It is also not required if you are a member of any foreign armed force, or you happen to be related to a foreign representative to Canada. People of Indian origin who have registered Indian status in Canada, are also exempt from the same.

Students who come from visa-exempt nations are required to carry electronic travel authorization (eTA) which they can get by punching in some details on a form on the CIC website. This is only applicable for students traveling by air, and not by land or the sea. American citizens and valid Canadian visa holders need not have an eTA.
 

Documents Required for Canadian Student Visa Application

Here’s a checklist of the documents you’d need to apply for a Canadian study permit:

  • Letter of acceptance from a Canadian educational institute with a valid DLI number. You will be required to attach the original letter.
  • Valid proof of identity for every single person accompanying the family, including recent passport size photos, their name and date of birth.
  • Proof of financial support according to which you must prove that you can support yourself and all your family members while in Canada. This would include your bank account details with a Canadian bank, bank account details for the past four months, proof of loan details secured from a financial institution as a student, among others.
  • Letter of explanation, with details about why you are applying for a study permit, even though you may not need one. Having a study permit also gives you the freedom to work part time on campus as a full-time student. At the same time, if you wish to continue studying in Canada, you can apply to renew the permit while living in Canada. You don’t have to leave the country to get it renewed.

The above list may not be final. The visa office may require additional information like your medical examination and security information in the form of police certificates.
 

Fees for Canada Student Visa

As proof of financial support, you will need to prove that you have sufficient funds to support yourself and your family in Canada.

Applying for a study permit in Canada is stated to cost $CAN ۱۵۰٫ Beyond this, the minimum amount you would need to study in Canada is $۱۰,۰۰۰ plus tuition fees for a 12-month period outside Quebec, and $11,000 plus tuition for the same period in Quebec, for a single student. This amount will increase with the addition of each additional family member.
 

Processing time for student visas

Processing time is the time taken by the CIC to take a decision about the application you filed. It will be counted from the day CIC receives an application to the final decision day.

There is no specific day or time mentioned when you check the processing time. The visa offices update processing time tool weekly on the whole, and only show the time which it took to process 80% of the applications.

All online applications can be viewed on your MyCIC account, which is where you also have to deposit your fee.

As for paper applications, you are again required to have a MyCIC account where you can receive in-depth and real-time information about your application status.

You will also receive online messages regarding your application. But there is no standard time to process an application. It just gives a general idea of how long a process takes.
 

Education in Canada

/by

Here’s an overview of the Canadian education for you.

One of the major reasons behind Canada’s popularity among students is its affordable quality education. The Canadian government spends generously on higher education and is among the top three countries to spend per capital on post-secondary education. Let’s find out more about the Canadian education system.