- Canada, a country that features consistently as one of the happiest countries on the planet, has always been popular for its beautiful landscapes and high standard of living.
- With world-class cities like Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver, Ottawa, and Quebec, the country is also renowned among international students to pursue higher studies. Canadian degrees and credentials are given importance equivalent to the degrees of U.S. and other European countries.
- Every year more than 200,000 international students choose to study in Canada as the inflation rate of the country is low compared to the other countries. The universities of Canada charge low fees than their counterparts whilst maintain excellent education quality.
- When other countries settled for less or no technological innovations, the educational institutions of Canada never failed to remain at the forefront of technology trends. The country has a reputation for excellence in different sectors including computer and information technologies, transportation, telecommunications, and engineering.
- The country is also cherished for promoting multicultural diversity and creating a welcoming environment. It makes sure the people’s customs and traditions are well-maintained and their dignities are respected.
- Canada is renowned for life outside campus too. Whether the interest lies in exploring nature or wildlife, spending alone time or outdoors, one doesn’t have to cover long distance looking for these activities. From the big skies of prairies to the rugged hills and mesmerizing coastline of the Atlantic Provinces to the magnificent Rocky Mountains of Alberta and Niagara Falls, Canada has a plethora of natural beauty to offer.
International students who want to pursue education in Canada need to get admission before applying for a student visa. Following is the process to get admission:
- Decide the course and institution
- Fill & submit the application form to the chosen institution or college online
- Get a letter of acceptance from the education provider
- Receive Electronic Confirmation of Enrolment (eCOE)
- Apply for the Student Visa
- Documents Required For the Offer Letter
- Birth and Leaving Certificate
- Passport size photographs
- Passport
- 10th & 12th Marksheet, Credit & Trial Certificates
- Diploma’s Mark sheet, Degree Certificate/Provisional Certificate
- ITI’s Mark sheet, Degree Certificate
- Bachelor’s Mark sheet, Degree Certificate/Provisional Certificate (Transcript if required)
- Master’s Mark sheet, Degree Certificate/Provisional Certificate (Transcript if required)
- Work Experience Letter if required
- IELTS/PTE certificate
Visa Process
All International students are required to obtain a Student Authorization and a Visa before going to Canada for studies and meet the requirements of the Canadian Immigration Regulations. The candidate applying for the visa must give the authority a period of 2 months for the Visa to be processed.
Documents Required For Visa Application
- Academic Certificates
- Proof of Funds
- Official letter of acceptance from a Canadian university, college, or Technical Institute
- College/University Fees Payment Receipt
- G.I.C Payment Receipt or Education Loan Acceptance Letter
- Statement of Purpose
- Other relevant certificates
English Language Requirements
| Programs | English Test Score |
|---|---|
| Diploma programs | IELTS – overall band score of 6.0 with no band less than 5.5 PTE – Overall 60; no less than 52 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | IELTS – overall band score of 6.0, no less than 5.5 PTE – Overall 60; no less than 52 |
| Graduate Diploma | IELTS – overall band score of 6.5 no less than 6.0 PTE – Overall 6.5; no less than 50 |
| Master Programs | IELTS – overall band score of 6.5 or 7.0; no less than 6.0 PTE – Overall 58-64; no less than 50 |
Funding
- A student planning to apply under Student Partners Program (SPP) process needs to purchase a Guaranteed Investment Certificate (G.I.C.) account and deposit CAD$ 10,200 as proof of their living expense for one year in their account.
- After receiving the Letter of Acceptance from the college, the student needs to process for the G.I.C., which takes around 10 to 15 working days.
- Initially, the student needs to create a new email id with Scotia Bank. This process takes 4 to 5 days. After that, the student needs to make a payment from his/her account through a wire transfer and pay CAD$ 10,200 and from that CAD$ 10,000 would be deposited in their G.I.C. and CAD$ 200 is deducted as Administration charge by Scotia Bank.
- After the payment is done, it may take up to 3 or 4 days for the money to get credited to the G.I.C. account.
- The student needs to take a print of the receipt of payment in G.I.C. and the receipt should be self-attested in the file while during the application of the Visa process.
- Once the student lands in Canada, they need to open a Savings account in Scotia Bank where they will get CAD$ 2000 right away for their living expense and the remaining balance gets transferred in their account every alternate month in equal installments for their living expenses in the entire year.
Study Expenses
The cost of education in Canada is low compared to other countries like UK Australia and New Zealand. The country offers a great opportunity to international students to save a considerable amount of money on education courses without compromising on the quality.
However, the tuition fees vary across different provinces and programs. The table given below can help you get an idea of the average cost for international students in different provinces of Canada for different fields.
| Provinces | Cost of Undergraduate Studies in Canada | Cost of Graduate Studies in Canada |
|---|---|---|
| Quebec | $9,168 – 10,518 | $8,268 – 20,000 |
| Alberta | $6,293 – 11,078 | $5,298 – $19,200 |
| Ontario | $6,900 – 16,204 | $5,432 – 29,000 |
| British Columbia $ | $4,462 – 15,870 | $2,272 – $17,499 |
| Newfoundland | $7,260 | $1,896 – 3,549 |
| Manitoba | $4,940 – 6,900 | $3,795 – 9,685 |
| New Brunswick | $7,063 – 10,720 | $5,610 – 8,465 |
| Prince Edward Island |
$7,510 | $6,100 |
| Saskatchewan | $7,779 – 10,890 | $5,313 |
Living Expenses
The minimum amount required by the Department of Home Affairs to issue a Canadian student visa is $10,000 for 12 months (excluding the cost of a spouse or any other dependent family member.
Accommodation Expenses
| Type | Expenses |
|---|---|
| Off-Campus Lodging | $250 – $ 750 per month |
| School/University Provided Home-stays | $400 – $800 per month |
| School/University Provided Residence/Dormitory | $3000 – $7500 per year |
Other Costs
| Bus Fare One Way | $2.00 – $3.00 |
| Groceries | $150 – $200 per month |
| Utilities & Miscellaneous | $300 per month |
| Average Restaurant Meal | $10.00 – 25.00 per person |
| Movie | $11.50 – $13 Approx |
| Air ticket | $500 to $2000 |
| Health/Medical Insurance | $300 to $500 |
Work Opportunities on Canadian Student Visa
International students, while studying in Canada, can work up to 20 hours per week to meet their living costs. The country offers many part-time employment opportunities in different sectors including hospitality, travel, tourism, Food Service, etc. However, an international student needs to get aware of the requirements and obligations of their visa.
While the international graduates are also allowed to work for 2 years. They can also apply for permanent residency after completing 1 year of working in the Canadian workforce.
Industries Offering Part-time Work in Canada
- Hospitality (Restaurants and cafes)
- Retail (Supermarkets, clothing stores, libraries)
- Tourism (Hotels and Motels)
- Sales and Telemarketing
Canada is popular among international students for many other reasons. This includes:
- Top-notch universities
- Great scholarships
- Internationally recognized degrees
- Opportunity to work after graduation
- Safe Environment
- High Employment rate
- A plethora of leisure options