Study In Canada.
Canada Is One Of The Best Country In The World For International Education. We Will Guide You Why You Should Choose Canada As Your Study Abroad Destination.
Guide For Study Abroad In Canada
Whether you want to know about the Education System of the Canada Or want to know what Canada is Like. We will cover all the necessary topics to give you an overall understanding of the Canada.
Why Study In Canada?
Canada
is one of the premier destinations for international students, drawing hundreds of thousands of new international students annually. In 2019, Canada hosted over 642,000 study permit holders from around the globe.
Academic Excellence
Canadian degrees and diplomas are widely recognized as comparable to those from the United States, Australia, and the United Kingdom. Canada also attracts top international faculty because of its investment in cutting-edge research in areas such as medical science, pharmaceuticals, information technology, and artificial intelligence.
Affordibillity
A Canadian education is one of the most cost-effective. The tuition fees and overall costs of living are generally lower in Canada than in the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia. The average undergraduate tuition for Canadian universities is approximately $34,000 CAD per year.
Safety
Safety is an important factor for both students and parents who are considering international education destinations. Canada is among one of the safest countries in the world, with approximately 78% of Canadian residents feeling safe walking at night. The 2021 Global Peace Index from the Institute for Economics and Peace also ranks Canada as one of the ten most peaceful countries globally.
Culture
Canada is a welcoming country that embraces diversity and celebrates multiculturalism. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has said that “Diversity is Canada’s strength,” and Canadians’ “different backgrounds… and different stories are all part of what makes our communities and our country strong.”
Work While Study
The option to work while studying is one of the criteria for prospective international students deciding which country is the best fit for them. International students enrolled in a full-time post-secondary program at a Designated Learning Institute (DLI) can work up to 20 hours per week during school terms and full-time, or 30+ hours per week, during scheduled breaks, such as the summer holidays.
Life In Canada
Canada has ranked #1 in the Best Countries Ranking for Quality of Life for six years in a row (as of 2021). It is also among the top 15 countries on the UN’s 2018 Human Development Index, which assesses three basic dimensions of human development: a long and healthy life, access to education, and a satisfactory standard of living.
Immigration
Canada has programs designed to help international students gain Canadian work experience after graduation, and if they wish, transition to permanent residency and eventually citizenship. A Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) lets students who have graduated from a 2+ year PGWP-eligible program stay and work in Canada for up to three years. Students can use this work experience to qualify for permanent residency in Canada.
Post Secondary Education System
Canada
is an increasingly popular choice for international post-secondary study. International students accounted for 23.8% of new university enrolments, and 16.3% of new college enrolments during the Canadian 2017/18 academic year.
Canada is home to some of the world’s best and most affordable post-secondary institutions. How can students decide which educational pathway is right for them when there are so many different post-secondary study options available for domestic and international students alike?
In this section, we’ll break down Canada’s post-secondary study options.
Bachelor's Degree
(Undergraduate)
Bachelor’s degrees are awarded after four years of full-time study. There are some three-year Bachelor’s and two-year Associate Bachelor’s offered at Canadian schools, but they are uncommon in Canada. Bachelor’s degrees are typically the first designation that a university student pursues.
Master's Degree
(Postgraduate)
Master’s degrees are available after a Bachelor degree for further specialization in a student’s chosen field of study and they are typically 1-2 years in duration. Master’s degrees can be course-based, such as an MBA, or research/thesis-based, depending on the specific program.
One of the best advantages of studying in Canada is the flexibility of its post-secondary education system.
Multiple different pathways open to post-secondary education after students receive their high school diploma. Students can combine their education experience with various degree, diploma, and certificate programs at different Canadian post-secondary institutions to suit their interests, career goals, and learning preferences. This gives them a customized education supporting their success.
Pathway Programs
Pathway programs bridge the gap between the qualifications a student has earned in their home country and the qualifications required to enter into a Canadian post-secondary institution.
There are both language and academic pathway programs available for international students.
English Language Courses
English language programs are the most common type of pathway programs pursued by students wanting to study in Canada. Language programs are designed to improve the student’s language skills in order to satisfy the language requirements for admission into their desired school program. These programs also have a social component, with events and activities that can help students become accustomed to Canadian culture and transition into life in Canada.
Academic Pathways
Academic pathway programs focus on academic subjects, offering students foundational courses in math, the sciences, business, arts, and more. These programs improve a student’s subject knowledge so they can meet the prerequisite course requirements for admission into undergraduate and graduate programs.
A pathway course is designed to give a student’s current qualifications a boost, allowing them to enroll in a university or college program and be fully prepared for the subject-specific studies.
Financial Cost & Work Options
When weighing
When weighing the financial costs of studying in Canada, tuition fees should be the first expense a student considers. Statistics Canada reports that the average international student’s tuition for an undergraduate degree in 2021/22 was $33,623 CAD and $20,120 CAD for a graduate degree. Tuition fees depend on the student’s program, level of study, and location.
Keep in mind that schools frequently adjust international tuition rates. Always check school and program pages for current tuition rates.
Cost Of Living
It’s important that students understand how much money they’ll need to live in Canada and plan accordingly. Living costs include housing, food, utilities, internet, clothing, study materials such as books, entertainment, transportation, laundry, insurance, and other miscellaneous items essential to daily comfortable living.
Costs will vary depending on where the student decides to live. Costs are higher in bigger cities like Vancouver or Toronto and lower in smaller cities like Regina or Fredericton.
It’s important to create a student budget before moving to Canada. Budgeting doesn’t have to be complicated. Students should first figure out how much money is needed for tuition and books. Then, they can decide whether they’d like to live on or off-campus, and prioritize certain costs based on this choice. For example, food may cost less off-campus, but internet costs will have to be factored into the budget. Personal preferences should also be factored into a student budget to ensure comfort and enjoyment during the academic year.
For example, suppose a student loves a certain food from their home country that can only be found in specialty grocery stores in Canada. In that case, students may want to allocate more money to their monthly grocery bill and take a closer look at other expenses to determine what costs could be cut down.
Working While Study
One of the greatest benefits of studying in Canada as an international student is the opportunity to work while studying. This opportunity allows students to gain valuable work experience while completing their education, sometimes resulting in full-time employment after graduation.
Students who work while studying when they’re not eligible risk losing their permit and may have to leave Canada. Similarly, students who are eligible for work but do not adhere to the conditions also risk losing their permit and may have to leave.
Eligibility criteria is subject to change over time, so international students should always check the Government of Canada website for the most recent information on working while studying.
On Campus Employment
Working on-campus as an international student is an excellent opportunity to become more familiar with your school’s student community.
Specific employment opportunities depend on the institution, but most schools offer on-campus employment with the library, the book store, administration, print services, food services, in the writing centre, or even as a student tutor.
Many graduate students are offered employment as a Teaching or Research Assistant as part of their program. If their work is related to a research grant, the student may be able to work on-campus or off-campus in a library, hospital, or research centre that’s part of the institution.
Off Campus
Employment
Working off-campus gives students the opportunity to become more familiar with the city or town they live in and gain employment experience that may translate into full-time employment after graduation.
An international student could work off-campus as an intern, as part of a co-op program, or as a part or full-time employee with a private business or government department.
Students can only work more than 20 hours per week during allocated study breaks. Some employers may not be familiar with this rule, so students should have a conversation with their employer about this and any other conditions on their study permit to ensure that they comply and are able to work off-campus worry-free.
Postgraduate Work Permit
The Post Graduation Work Permit allows students who have graduated from eligible programs at DLIs to gain professional work experience in their field.
The experience and income international students gain from employment with a PGWP allows them to repay student loans and make valuable returns on their education investment. This work experience can even help students qualify for permanent residency in Canada.
Students graduating from a 2+ year PGWP-eligible academic program can work up to three years following their period of study.
Students in an 8 month to 2 year PGWP-eligible academic program can obtain a PGWP allowing them to work for up to the same length of time as their study program.
Students in a program lasting shorter than 8 months are not eligible for a PGWP. Students must be in a full time program for a minimum of 8 months to be eligible.
Students have to apply within 180 days of receiving their final marks to be eligible for a PGWP. The student’s study permit must have been valid at some point in these 180 days. If the student’s study permit will expire before they receive their marks, they can apply for a visitor record to stay in Canada longer or leave Canada and apply for a PGWP.
Paths To Settlement
Students can use their Canadian education combined with their work experience in Canada to qualify for permanent residency. In fact, the number of international students who have made the transition to permanent residency has averaged around 25% in the last twenty years. Studies show that Canadian-educated immigrants earn higher wages on average than foreign-educated immigrants.
Canada recognizes the potential value that international students bring to Canadian culture and economy, so the Canadian Government has designed unique pathway programs to help students on their way to permanent residence. Canada’s federal pathway programs are accessed through the Express Entry online system, engineered to simplify the application process for skilled workers who want to become permanent residents.