Canada plays host to more than 175,000 International students in any given year. Increasingly, Canada is becoming the country of choice for students from all parts of the world.

QUALITY EDUCATION :

PERMANENT RESIDENCY AND CANADIAN IMMIGRATION :

International students can apply for their Permanent Residency which takes up to 15 to 18 months from within Canada. However they need to meet the minimum eligibility criteria of 67 Points.

RANKED AS THE NUMBER ONE COUNTRY :

For the past 9 consecutive  years, a United Nation survey has found Canada to be the best place in the world to live. The survey conducted every year, evaluates quality of life in 174 countries, using over 200 performance indicators. Canada earns particularly high marks for its access to education, high life expectancy, and low crime rates.

A SAFE PLACE TO STUDY :

Every step is taken to ensure the safety of students on Canada's campuses. Most universities / colleges have their own campus security 24 hours a day. There are also " Walk Safe" programmes to assist people in getting to public transportation during late hours.

A BILINGUAL NATION :

Canada is a bilingual country with two official language, English and French. The vast majority (75%) of Canada's French speaking inhabitants live in the province of Quebec, which is located in the eastern part of the country but there are French-speaking communities throughout the country. English is the main language of communication in all provinces other than Quebec.

Canadian Education System

INSTITUTIONS :

The degrees & diplomas from Canadian Institutions are among the most widely recognized in the world. The education system in Canada encompasses of both public funded & private institutions. Students have a diverse choice of 92 Universities & 175 Community Colleges offering a wide array of programmes. While pursuing their studies, the students, are allowed to work for the first 6 months on-campus and thereafter off-campus.

Post Secondary education is offered by four types of educational institutions:

Technical / Career Colleges :
These are privately owned and operated with the main objective of preparing students for the job market after a short period of instruction. The emphasis at career colleges is on practical skills over a broad range of programmes.

Community Colleges & Technical Institutes :
They typically have more career oriented, practical / technical related curricula, with small classes, off-campus course offerings, a greater ratio of laboratory space to class room space, and an interactive teaching style.

University Colleges :
As a component of the Canadian University system, University Colleges offer students a choice of either academic oriented university degree programmes or the more practical-oriented college diplomas and certificates.

University  :
Canadian Universities are largely public funded and as a result, offer consistently high quality education at lower tuition rates for International students than their counterparts in competing countries. They offer a broad range of courses and degrees from Undergraduate to Doctorate and also certificate and professional degrees. Class sizes in universities are generally large.

TYPES OF CERTIFICATION :

Certificate: is a qualification awarded upon successful completion of a programme which is usually one year in length.

Diploma: is a qualification awarded on the basis of one or two year's of successful study.

Advanced Diploma: Is a 3 years program some of which may lead to a Bachelors Degree.

Bachelors Degrees:  Are awarded by Universities/ University Colleges/ Community Colleges after four years of full-time study and lead to graduate level studies.

Post Graduate Diplomas/Certificates: It lead to a Masters Degree. These programs have work terms which provide full-time opportunities to gain practical experience along with theoretical studies. A typical co-op term lasts 12 to 17 weeks. The prerequisites to participate in these programs is a Bachelors Degree of 3 or 4 years duration.

Master Degree: Is an option for Bachelors Degree. Graduates who have an interest in further learning and research, and for those who want to broaden their career possibilities. It is for 2 yrs duration and can be pursued after a 4 yrs Bachelors or a 3 yrs Bachelors & a 1 year Post Graduate Diploma from Canada.

Doctorate or PhD: Is a degree ranking above the Masters Degree and generally requires four to seven years to complete.

INTAKE :

International students are expected to start planning for their studies in Canada 1 year in advance. The major intake for Canada primarily is 'Fall' i.e. September. The other intake is in the month of 'Winter' i.e. January, but it depends on the students program and the institution that he/she is applying to. Very few institutes might have the May intake as well.

ELIGIBILITY :

ENGLISH LANGUAGE REQUIREMENT :

GRADE POINT AVERAGE (GPA) :

The average grade achieved by a student during the course of an educational program, is calculated on various scales depending on the Institution. (eg: Generally the student may be evaluated an a 4-point scale or a 9 point scale).

CO-OPERATIVE WORK PERMIT :

Co-op is a work term provided as part and parcel of the course curriculum. It provides an excellent opportunity to students to gain first hand practical experience related to the field of specialization. Students can gain on-the-job experience while continuing to study. Co-op provides full time opportunities that last for 12 to 17 weeks.

Co-Operative work programmes, combine courses in many subjects with relevant work, giving students on invaluable head start with their careers. This assists International students in connecting with the Canadian job market and developing a network with the Canadian companies.

WORK DURING STUDIES :

International students are allowed to work up to 20 hours per week on campus for the first 6 months and thereafter can work off-campus up to 20 hours per week. They can earn approximately C$ 6 - C$ 10 per hour. Students can work full - time off campus during co-op terms, amounting between C$ 400 to C$ 1,000 per month.

There are limited scholarships available in Canada but they rarely cover the full cost of a study program and they are not always easy to find. Scholarships are available to International students with exceptional results at some Canadian institutions. The amount awarded varies from one institution to another and usually covers only part of a student's education and living expenses. Obtaining a scholarship is very competitive and applications must be made directly to each university along with the application for admission. Community and Career Colleges do not usually award scholarships nor do school boards or most private schools.

All overseas students are required to obtain a Student Authorization and Visa before going to Canada for studies. Students must also meet the requirements of the Canadian Immigration Act and Regulations. Under normal circumstances, allow at least 4-6 weeks for your visa to be processed. Students are not allowed to obtain an authorization after their arrival in Canada. The application should be submitted well in advance of the planned date of departure to ensure that the processing of the application can be completed on time.
Submit the completed application kit to the immigration section of the Canadian High commission. Kindly note that all documents submitted, must be photocopies.

VISA PROCESS :

• Visa Application Form
• Student Questionnaire
• Study Plan
• Official letter of acceptance from a Canadian University, College or Technical Institute.
• Financial documents (bank statements, IT returns etc...).
• Application can be made by visiting the Canadian High Commission (New Delhi) in person or by submitting the application at any of the VFS (Visa Facilitating Service) offices in India at your nearest city.

VISA INTERVIEW :

An interview with a Canadian Visa Officer may be required. If this is the case, you will be advised in writing of the time and place of the interview.

MEDICAL EXAMINATION :

The Canadian high commission will issue medical instructions. Students and accompanying dependants must pass a medical examination.

If the student and accompanying dependants are found to be in good health and there are no other concerns with the application, the Visa and Student Authorization will be issued.

IMMIGRATION :

Canada welcomes over 2 lakh immigrants per year & has a policy for skilled professionals as well as Business Immigrants. Canada has maintained a strong stable economic growth because of its active immigration policy. Two thirds of the 5.4% pa increase in population is due to immigration.

Canadian Immigration is one of the simplest immigration system in comparison with other countries. It allows a person to live and work anywhere in Canada, and confers upon that person a permanent Resident status. It comes with certain responsibilities and may be revoked if the holder does not meet Canadian Residency obligations, or is found guilty of serious criminal activity. A person who is a Canadian Permanent Resident may apply for Canadian Citizenship after 3 years.

If you are eligible to apply for immigration as a skilled worker, you will be assessed on six selection factors and a points system which is as follows:

EMPLOYMENT : International students graduating from a program of 2 years or more in length would be eligible for a 2 year work permit after graduation. However, this is applicable if the student has studied in cities other than Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal and is also employed outside this area. In these 3 cities, students are eligible for a 1 year work permit after graduation. The experience gained would provide them an opportunity to work in an international setting and at the same time allow them to earn the money invested.

INDUSTRIES : Canada is an international leader in computers, networking, wireless communications and has a reputation of excellence in sectors such as telecommunications transportation, engineering, micro electronics, hydroelectric power, biotechnology, food & beverage processing, geometrics, ocean & environmental industries, aerospace etc. Some top Canadian companies, recognized worldwide are Black Berry, IMAX, BATA, Corel etc. The Gourmand Report ranked 18 of North America's top 40 Electrical Engineering Faculties in Canada. The Global Competitiveness Report 2000 ranked Canada 1st in Knowledge workers.

WORK PERMIT : A work Permit allows an eligible visitor to reside and work in Canada for a limited period of time, and restrictions are usually placed on the type of employment which can be pursued. One can apply for a work permit form outside Canada only if one has a job offer from a Canadian employer though tit will not, by itself, lead to a Canadian Permanent Resident status. Work permit is not an immigration document as it does not permit to live in Canada permanently. In order to live permanently in Canada you must qualify under an immigration category such as a Skilled worker.

RESIDENCE / DORMITORY :

Many institutions have accommodation conveniently located on or near their campuses. Many residences have a shared kitchen, toilets and other facilities. There is usually an option of having either a shared or private room. Dormitories are usually separated by Gender. In some cases, the meal plan can be included in the cost of the room.

OFF CAMPUS RENTAL HOUSING :

Renting is another option open to students. Many students share accommodation to keep costs down and usually find places that meet their needs & preferences. Many institutes offer an off campus housing service which can provide a list of affordable accommodation near the campus.

HOMESTAY :

Many Canadian families welcome international students Homestays also offer a more stable & secure environment for younger people coming to study in Canada. Typically, a homestay consists of a Canadian family hosting a student in their home while the student attends classes in Canada. Meals are provided in homestay but are not compulsory. Homestays are arranged by schools & students are matches with families who share similar interests.

LIVING EXPENSES :

IELTS test results from within last 24 months with overall band not less than 6.5, score less than this is also accepted for addmission but the candidate has to take a special ESL (English as Second Language) course for about 6 months where he is suppossed to spend about 500$ CAD apart from the tuition fee. If TOEFL is taken then the IBT (Internet Based Test) has to be 90, ESL applicable if the score is less than prescribed. And for Master's degree some universities make GRE mandatory, in general I can say GRE is required for all the Universities but not mandatory except for 4 or 5 Universities where it is made mandatory. For MBA GMAT is mandatory with a minimum score of 550 and above.

Tuition fee ranges from each college and university, there is not much difference in all the colleges, like for a normal Post Graduate Diploma the fee structure ranges between 4-6 lacs per annum, and for all Masters it ranges between 5-7lacs per annum depending on the course and for MBA it ranges between 8-10lacs per annum.

Masters and MBA studies are offered by Universities only where the academic credential should not be less than 70% and for the PG Diploma a nominal B grade or rather a pass mark will do for the admission which is offered by all the community colleges and some Universities. Hope this information is sufficient in regards to your queries. Please contact me for any further clarifications.