Studying in Canada,While you obsessively stare at pictures of Justin Trudeau (don’t deny it!), you may as well see whether Canada is actually a place you can study abroad in. The Great White North and the super friendly upstairs neighbors to the U.S., Canada is known for its maple syrup, the Niagara Falls, and their excellent ice hockey teams.
Studying in Canada has become an appealing option for international students. Not only is it one of the safest places to go to in the world; Canada (and particularly major cities like Toronto and Vancouver) also has a wealth of cultural diversity that is truly inviting to foreign students from everywhere in the world.
Why Study in Canada?
1. Canada takes education seriously
Did you know that Canada is the world’s most educated country? In fact, over half of its residents have university degrees. It must be pretty interesting to be a student there, eh?
2. Canadian universities are among the best education institutions
Some of the top international universities and colleges are located in Canada, and students from all over the world have come to join the biggest names in their field.
Experts in Journalism, Politics, Medicine, and Technology got their start at universities like the University of Toronto and McGill University; and you’ll have the chance to work alongside some of the sharpest minds in the world.
3. Flexibility through education variety
Canada offers an interesting variety of higher education institutions: universities, colleges, polytechnics, and cégeps (vocational schools). Depending on the goals you have, or what you’re looking for, you may want to select the institutional model that fits your needs.
4. Highly regarded diplomas
Canadian college and university graduates are highly-valued on the job market, and people who study there have been able to find great jobs in any field they’re interested in.
5. Canadian culture embraces diversity
No matter who you are, where you come from, or what you want to study, Canadians are ready to welcome you warmly. The North American country invests a lot of effort to ensure international students are safe, treated fairly, and happy to take part in the Canadian education and lifestyle.
Which universities and colleges to attend in Canada?
If you were to see all of the top university rankings lists, you’d see a strong presence of Canadian universities in all of the top 100 lists. Below we’ll run through some of our favorite highlights:
- University of Toronto
- York University
- University of Winnipeg
- Thompson Rivers University
- Humber College
What is it like to study in Canada?
Canadian higher education is known for being quite casual, and students at the university level are given quite a level of flexibility with regard to attendance, course requirements, and assignments.
However, students still have to abide by the classroom rules set by their individual instructors, and understand what the expectations are for each course.
Generally, degree courses are discussion-based, seminar-style classes, where it’s a smaller group of students debating or questioning different topics. You’ll also find the normal lecture-style classes, especially for topics that have a lot of students (Computer Science, Medicine, Business, etc.). The way courses are structured really depends upon the content or the subject being taught.
What to study in Canada?
In Canada, you’ll enter a giant buffet of subjects to select from. Universities in every major city in all of the provinces offer degrees in a wide range of Master’s and Bachelor’s degree subjects – from Art History to Neuroscience, to Accounting and Software Engineering. To narrow down this panoply, here are some that you can consider:
- Economics degrees in Canada
- History degrees in Canada
- Finance degrees in Canada
- Pharmacy degrees in Canada
- Engineering degrees in Canada
Where to study in Canada?
Although Canada is a huge country, geographically speaking, most of its inhabitants live toward the southernmost region of the country. Some of the biggest cities in the country are also home to major universities and institutions:
- Study in Montréal
- Study in Québec City
- Study in Toronto
- Study in Vancouver
How to apply
Each university in Canada has its own system on their website that allows future students to apply for and enrol in their degree programmes. So, once you select the university of your choice, you can go through their application and submit your materials there.
Here are some of the basic requirements you’ll need for every application:
- A scan of your diploma (high school or Bachelor’s degree)
- A transcript/record of your previous courses
- A scan of your passport
- Your CV
- Testing scores
- Evidence of scholarship or funding
- Letters of recommendation (between 2-3)
- Portfolio and/or writing samples
How to qualify for a Canadian university?
Take Preparation Courses
These kinds of courses enable degree-seeking students to get an extra educational boost just before they start their Master’s degree or other post-graduate degree programmes. Try a pre-M.B.A., pre-Law, or pre-Medicine programme, as well as any other foundation or preparation courses that will allow you to study in the degree programme of your choice.
Improve your English through an English-language prep course
If you’re attending a Bachelor’s, Master’s degree or Ph.D. in Canada, you will need to prove that your language skills are good enough to participate in the classes and understand the lectures. These courses will also prepare you for any of the English-language tests that universities require.
English-language tests
To apply to study in Canada, you’ll need to provide proof you have a diploma for your English proficiency.
The certificates generally accepted by the universities in Canada are:
- PTE Academic
- TOEFL
- IELTS
- C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency
Still, you should always check on your university’s website, just to be sure what the exact requirements are.
Living in Canada
Let’s take a closer look at the average tuition and living expenses in Canada:
Average university tuition fees in Canada
In Canada, the fees vary based on your level, university, discipline, and country of origin. Private universities are more expensive than public ones, but overall, tuition fees for international students range between:
- 1,000–30,000 CAD/year for Bachelor’s degrees
- 1,000–65,000 CAD/year for Master’s degrees
Cost of Living in Canada
Compared to the rest of the world, Canada can be rather pricey. Especially in major cities, you may find that transportation and food have higher price stickers than most other countries.
You should prepare at least 800–1,500 CAD per month for most cities. In Vancouver or Calgary, living costs can reach 2,000 CAD per month.
Here’s a breakdown of some of the average costs for various things in Canada:
- Rent (private apartment): 650–1,200 CAD/month
- Utilities: 230–270 CAD/month
- Pair of jeans: 64 CAD
- Monthly transportation card/ticket: 97 CAD
- Bottle of wine: 15 CAD
- Loaf of bread: 2.90 CAD
- Milk: 2.50 CAD
- Ticket to the cinema: 14 CAD
About Canada
- After Russia, Canada is the second largest country in the world in terms of land mass.
- Canada has more lakes than the rest of the world’s lakes combined. Plenty of opportunities to go for a swim!
- The Blackberry Smartphone is developed in Waterloo, Ontario.
- Canada is home to approximately 55,000 different insect species.
- Canada has a prison for polar bears who break into people’s homes.