Why Study in Canada?
Canada offers a plethora of opportunities for international students who plan to pursue their higher education in the country. It is fast emerging as one of the most favored destinations for students from around the world and is home to some of the top 100 universities in the world. Students who study in Canada can enjoy not just top notch academics, expert faculty and the best research facilities but also a significantly greater employability after graduation when compared to other countries. Moreover the Canadian education system is well recognized for its quality as well as the variety of academic programs they offer.
Benefits of study in Canada
Many students are opting to Education in Canada on account of the attractive benefits
Canada is an attractive world hub for education – Canada is one of the most popular destinations for students from all over the world. By studying in Canada, a student automatically becomes a part of a global alumni network that he can tap into at any stage of his career in the future
Canadian Universities are globally recognized – Canada has globally recognized universities which are recognized and respected world-wide for the quality of their output. Students who study in Canada can leverage the benefit of studying in globally recognized educational institutions when they are looking for job opportunities
Cost of education is low when compared to other countries – The cost of tuition fees as well as the overall cost of living expenses accrued while pursuing a course at a university in Canada is cheaper when compared to some of the other hot destinations for abroad education such as UK and USA
Job opportunities after study are greater – Canada is a booming economy which is currently facing a demographic gap in the number of people of employable age. A huge number of job opportunities are available for graduates and preference is first given to students who graduate from Canadian universities. Moreover students can also earn money while studying by working part-time
Fast track to citizenship process – Students who study in Canada can get additional points under the Express Entry system and thereby increase the chances of getting an ITA for Canadian PR.
Eligibility for pursuing education in USA
- CAD $10,000 pa (as per Canadian High Comission)
- CAD $10,000 to 14,000 pa- Community colleges
- CAD $ 10,000 to 22,000 pa for universities
- January
- September
- May / June – few institutions with limited courses
A variety of options are available for students who plan to study in Canada but are unable to afford the fees one of them being studying on a scholarship. The scholarships typically cover either the entire or part of the costs of tuition in Canada. Some of the most coveted scholarships for studying in Canada are
- The Lester B Pearson international scholarship for students studying at the University of Toronto offers scholarships to undergraduate students. The scholarship is based on merit and covers full cost of tuitions, books and accommodation for four years
- The Donald A Wehrung International Student Award for students studying abroad at the University of British Columbia. The scholarship is offered to international students who come from a politically unstable or war-torn region and show exceptional academic ability. Top five Canadian Universities
- The Vanier Canada graduate scholarships is sponsored by the Canadian government and is offered to international students who are pursuing doctoral research in the country. The scholarship covers of cost of studies in Canada up to 50,000 CAD every year for three years
- Pierre Elliot Trudeau foundation scholarship is awarded to foreign students who are pursuing their doctoral research in the country. The scholarship provides an amount of 40,000 CAD every year for three years initially and can also be extended for a fourth year for support in writing and dissemination.
Best Universities in Canada
The University of Toronto – The University of Toronto was established in the year 1827 and is located at three different campuses around the city of Toronto. The university offers its students a wide variety of subjects to pursue including, applied science, management, engineering, information technology and public health. It provides nearly 700 programs for under graduation as well as more than 200 programs for masters and doctoral levels. The university is well recognized for its research in the field of Medicine and was the place where insulin which is important in the treatment of diabetics was discovered.
The University of British Columbia – The University of British Columbia was founded in the early 19th century. It is located in the province of British Columbia and has two main campuses Vancouver and Kelowna. International students who study at the university can improve their English skills through the university’s vantage one program that helps students to improve their English. Are on their first year can take advantage of the university’s Vantage one program. UBC also boasts of a number of research facilities such as, the Institute for Healthy Living and Chronic Disease Prevention, the national subatomic physics laboratory for Canada – TRIUMF and the Centre for Sustainable Food Systems.
McGill University – McGill University which was founded in 1821, is housed across two different campuses – Montreal and MacDonald. The university is home to ten different faculties and teaches a diverse range of subjects which include, dentistry, arts, engineering, music, agricultural and environmental sciences, education, management, medicine, law, and science The University has a medical school which is the oldest in Canada and is affiliated with many teaching hospitals across the province
McMaster University – McMaster University is situated in Hamilton, Ontario. It offers academic courses across six distinct academic divisions, which are broadly – engineering, humanities, science, health sciences, social sciences and DeGroote School of Business. The University also offers students a unique joint arts and science program that allows them to explore an interdisciplinary subject at the undergraduate level.
University of Montreal – The University of Montreal is situated in the Canadian province of Quebec. It has ties with both HEC Montréal, which is a business school and the Polytechnique Montréal, which is an engineering school. The university is known for its academic excellence as well as quality of research. It is home to a number of research centers which include, The Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer, the Cyber justice Laboratory, and the International Centre for Comparative Criminology.
Processing time for visa is about 1-2 weeks . To get a student visa, you will have to prove that you have enough finances to pay for living expenses, education costs and travel for your course. Under the new SPP visa rules students have to pay 1st Semester fee in advance to the Canadian college. For living expenses the candidate has to show living expenses through GIC (Guaranteed Investment Certificate) from Scotia Bank in advance into a specially designated bank account in your name which will periodically release funds for you when you are in Canada. Under the SPP route visa success rate is very high with little documentation. For a detailed list of documents contact any of our offices. Usually there is no visa interview.
In case a student does not opt for SPP program then the usual visa process will apply. In this complete documentation and financial proof for remaining fee and one year living expenses is required.
After completing 1 year of open work permit, candidates are eligible to apply for permanent residency for Canada under various immigration programs.
International Students studying in Canada can work for 20 hrs per week and full time during Public holidays or Vacations. Dependants (spouse / partner) of student can work full time. Some Canadian universities and colleges provide Co-op program in which a student can work as part of the course in their related field and also earn credits for it.
Students are eligible for a Post Study work permit for a period of 3 years if the study program is for a minimum period of 2 years. Otherwise the work permit is for a period same as the duration of the course. International students who have graduated from a course in Canada would gain points under the Skilled Migrant Category and may lead the path for applying for PR.