How easy is to Study in Canada for International Students?

Canada is famous for scenic wonders such as glacial peaks, ice fields, green vegetation and mountains. This lures international students to Study in Canada for International Students in the country. However, the beauty of the country is not the only reason why international students eye Canada. The country is also well known for its high rated educations institutions, colleges and Universities. Most popular provinces include Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta and Quebec. The most sought after courses include architecture, engineering, business, management, public administration, mathematics, computers, information sciences, physical and life sciences. And popular Universities include:

University of Toronto — Toronto, Ontario

University of British Columbia — Vancouver, British Columbia

McGill University — Montréal, Québec

Seneca College — Toronto, Ontario

University of Alberta — Edmonton, Alberta

University of Montréal — Montréal, Québec

Algonquin College — Ottawa, Ontario

University of Calgary — Calgary, Alberta

Carleton University — Ottawa, Ontario

Concordia University — Montréal, Québec

Did you notice that the popular universities are located in the most popular destinations? One more fact: Canada has French and English as its two official languages, so spending time Canada means that one can get a chance to learn another language for business besides English! No wonder that the topic, ‘study in Canada for international students’ has assumed widespread vibes.

A question then arises: is it easy to study in Canada for international students? Let us first understand the education system. There are 3 types of institutions:

  • Public Universities that are run by territorial or the federal government.
  • Private Universities that are mostly sustained by donations and research grants.
  • Liberal Arts Colleges that may be either public or private and where the emphasis is on undergraduate courses in liberal arts only.

After one has decided upon a particular University and received an acceptance letter, it is time to apply for a student VISA which may take up to 7 weeks for processing. The initial steps include:

  • Application has to be made on the Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) website before departing for Canada. It is also possible to apply on paper;
  • A valid passport;
  • Passport Size Photographs (image size should be at least 35 mm x 45 mm and the pictures should not be older  than 6 months);
  • Students have to supply proof of sufficient financial resources to show that they will be able to support their stay and studies in Canada;
  • There should be no criminal record;
  • Appropriate VISA fees CAD$ 150 (an equivalent Indian currency is required).The visa fees can be paid through a credit card both in case of online applications and through a demand draft in favor of the High Commission of Canada in case of offline applications.
  • English Language Proficiency Examination Score;
  • A thorough statement of purpose;
  • Clinical records as proof of good health should also be submitted (e.g. chest x-rays and other laboratory tests).

Now, here is the million dollar question: how much does it cost in order to understand if it is viable to study in Canada for international students?

Although a tuition fee varies from institution to institution but on an average, students have to shell out CAD$ 10,000–40,000 per annum. Living expenses work out to be CAD$ 6,000–8,000 per year and health insurance costs approximately CAD$ 600 per annum. There are plenty of scholarships available too. To offset the costs, international students on student visa can work 20 hours per week (by law). Students enrolled in intensive courses can only work for 12 hours in order to avoid academic disappointments. Upon course completion, international students can apply for work permit which gives them permission to remain in the country and work for a three year period.

Permanent Residence

Many international students apply for Permanent Residency (PR) after or even before their work permit expires. This is because people should have stayed in Canada for at least 3 years in order to become eligible for PR. The PR application takes up to 2 years for processing. Once the PR is granted, students can work without any restrictions or they can also apply for another degree. The latter option is lucrative as a domestic rate of academic fee is charged which is 1/4th of the tuition fees that is charged for international students!

Concluding Thoughts

Towards the end of the blog post you might be better informed so as to asses if it is meaningful or easy to study in Canada for international students. To reiterate, studying overseas is an experience of a lifetime. Moreover, spending time at a foreign University adds value to one’s academic and professional profiles. If you are planning to study in Canada, you can be sure that you will be staying in a safe country and honing your personality as the foreign movement means that you will have to get out of your comfort zone. All the best!