Top Reasons Canada is your Study Destination

Canada is home to some of the most beautiful national parks, wildlife, and views of hilltops and coastlines. However, it’s not just about natural beauty as the cities in the country are worth exploring. It is no surprise that Canada has an enormous reputation among international students as the United Nations have named Canada as one of the best countries to live in consistently for 20 years.

Canada has been one of the most desired destinations for students who aspire to study abroad and build their careers. Studying abroad can be an expensive affair, but Canada is one country which provides quality education with comparatively low tuition fees. Hence, it is not surprising that when you are in Canada, you will find a throng of international students in every city.

International students will have to meet the costs of studies and living in Canada. The universities in Canada set their fees, and it may vary according to the program you choose as well. To obtain citizenship or immigration in Canada you might have to provide proof showing that you sufficient funds to apply for the program.

Most of the colleges provide a cost of living estimate, and if your college doesn’t offer it, you will be required to show evidence of 10,000 CAD for 12 months living expenses for a student.

• The average tuition fees for international students for an undergraduate program is around 27,159 CAD.
• If you want to study at postgraduate level, the tuition fees are comparatively lower, but again it depends on the program. The average tuition fees for a postgraduate program is around 16,497 CAD.
• The cost of studying MBA is 30,570 CAD.

Some of the other expenses that you have to consider are -

• Housing
• Public Transportation
• Food Expenses
• Books and studying-related supplies

Canada is recognised worldwide for its high academic standards and has climbed into the top tier of international rankings. Canada tops the list as the most educated country in the world and education is a top priority of the government.

• The undergraduate degrees in Canada can take 3-4 years for completion depending upon the university.
• However, the postgraduate programs will only take 1-2 years for completion.

Degrees from Canadian universities continue to be highly valued around the world as the Canadian government spends more money on education than any other country.

The high standard of education offered by Canada is recognized around the world by employers on the same level as degrees from the US, UK, and other top study destinations.

The University of Toronto, University of British Columbia, McGill University and McMaster University has made to the top 100 universities of the Times Higher Education World University Rankings.

Canada is a nation of immigrants, welcoming over 15 million in the last century and a half. Canada was the first country in the world to introduce a policy of multiculturalism in the 70s which highlights the value of different races and ethnicities.

Some of the largest groups of ethnicities you can expect to encounter in Canada include Scottish, Irish, German, Italian and Chinese. However, being one of the most immigrant-friendly countries, you can expect to meet people from all around the globe as well.

If you dream of studying in Canada, here are some of the things you should know about the application process -

• Make sure you do some research about the universities you are planning to apply.
• Check their admission requirements including:
• Admission time
• Language requirements
• Credit scores to the degree you are applying.
• Application letter to the university.
• Submit all the necessary documents like:
• Diploma or degree certificates or certified copies of the same.
• A complete application form for your course.
• An updated CV
• Letter of intent, SOP and LOR
• IELTS or TOEFL results that are no more than one year old.
• Proof of funds
• If you are applying for a Ph.D. or masters program, you need two letters of Academic reference.
• If you did not study in Canada, you would need to asses your education with an ECA (Educational Credential Assessment)
• Apply for your student permit and prove that you have the following documents -

1. Proof of funds
2. Medical Certificate
3. Police clearance

Canada has plenty of programs which provide financial support to students during their studies.

Here are some of the benefits for international students -

• Scholarships provided by Canadian universities.
• Scholarships available to non-Canadian academic institutions to facilitate collaboration with the local community.
• Scholarships are available to the international students for study/research.

You can also support yourself financially by working while studying in Canada.

• The Canadian student visa allows you to work for 20 hours a week.
• The rate of pay is around 10 CAD per hour which will come in handy for your everyday expenses.
• You can find out about the part-time opportunities from the university bulletin boards where on-campus job openings are advertised.

The study permit for Canada costs around 150 CAD and the applications processes are available both online and offline.

There are certain documents required for applying for a Canadian student visa -

• Valid passport
• Proof of acceptance by the institution
• Proof of funds
• Passport size photographs
• Immigration Medical Examination
• English Language Proficiency Score
• Statement of Purpose
• Credit Card

Spouses can also accompany full-time students on a dependent visa. You only need to show that you have adequate funds to support them. Another benefit is that the spouses can also work full-time if his/her stay is for a year or more.

In some cases, you might have to apply for an open work permit if you will be accompanying your spouse to Canada.

As we have discussed earlier, you do not need a separate work permit to work while studying in Canada; however, there are some eligibility criteria to get a post-study work permit -

• You should have pursued a full-time course in Canada, and the length of the course should be more than eight months.
• You must have graduated from either a public post-study institution or a private post-secondary institution. Or else, you must apply for a work permit within three months.
• You can get the work permit only if you have a student visa.
• You cannot get a work permit for more than your course duration.

All international students in Canada must have medical insurance. However, the medical coverage for international students varies from province to province. In regions where international students are not covered under provincial healthcare plans, they must arrange for private health insurance coverage.

Canada is considered to be one of the safest countries for international students. Canadian universities pay extreme attention to the safety of their students on campus. The rate of violent crimes is low, and 24-hour security is provided at most campuses. In case of an emergency, call 911 which is the central number of police, fire, and ambulance throughout Canada.

The job market in Canada is similar to that of any other developed countries. Most of the jobs are available in the service sector while the remaining jobs are in manufacturing and natural resources. Based on Statistics Canada reports, agriculture has seen the most substantial year-on-year growth.

As a graduate from Canada, you have the opportunity to sharpen your skills which most of the well-reputed employers seek in candidates, including confidence and language skills. Some of the other industries which have the highest number of jobs are banking, tourism, and transport.

However, the industries where Canada is really strong are petroleum sector, software engineering, animation, service sector, and information technology.