Study in Canada
With its range of landscapes, glacial peaks, ice fields, green vegetation and massive mountains, Canada can be every students’ dream destination for world-class education. There is a long list of Canadian scenic wonders for students to explore while studying in the country. Most visited tourist spots at a quick glance are the Niagara Falls, the 135 km long Okanagan Lake with its Ogopogo lake monster, Glacier National Park, Banff National Park and the Canadian Rockies, to name a few.
Why study in Canada?
From natural peaks to skyscrapers, Canada has it all! Montreal and Toronto are two large cities that offer just about everything that students could possibly ask for.
Toronto, an ethnically diverse city is also a major centre of higher learning and research with many well-known institutions such as the University of Toronto.
The City of Saints, Montréal, is one that defies all expectations with its lush mix of North American & European swagger and cutting-edge culture. The United Nations consistently ranks Canada as one of the best places in the world to live, given its low crime rate. There are also walksafe programmes, where volunteers assist people in getting to public transportation or their homes during late hours at night.
Quick facts
- Among the Safest Countries Globally
- Hands-on learning
- Paid Internships Available
- Post Study Work Visa up to 3 Years
- Excellent Immigration Opportunities
Education system in Canada:
The higher education system in Canada is not very different from the American education system, with a little influence from Britain.
There are mainly three types of institutions:
- Public Universities: Public universities in Canada are run by the provincial, territorial or federal government funding besides receiving the tuition fees from students.
- Private Universities: Private universities in Canada are mostly funded by donations and research grants. These universities do not receive funding from government bodies.
- Liberal Arts Colleges: Liberal arts colleges in Canada are pretty similar to that in the USA. These are either public or private colleges, with a primary emphasis on undergraduate courses in liberal arts.
Pre-Arrival Cost
- Language Proficiency and Subject Tests
No matter which university or college you pick to pursue higher education in Canada, you will have to take an English Language Proficiency Test, or a Standardised Subject Test based on the requirement of your university and program. The estimate of taking a standardised test will be as follow:
| TEST | Registration Fee |
|---|---|
|
IELTS |
₹ 15,500 |
|
TOEFL |
$ 190 |
|
PTE |
₹ 14,700 |
|
GRE General |
$ 213 |
|
GRE Subject |
$ 150 |
|
GMAT |
$ 250 |
- Cost Involved in Application process
You will have to submit your scorecard to each university or college you apply to, so that the application process can begin. Each institute asks for an application fee which depends on the program you apply for. This application process fee can range from INR 2900 to INR 11000.
- Application Fees and Document Charges
International students need to obtain permission from the governments of Quebec and Canada based on their duration of study. For this, they need to apply for a certificate of acceptance. Here you will have to pay the application fee which will cost approx. INR 7000.
- Cost of Study Permit
When flying to an international destination for the purpose of education you need to apply for a study permit. The cost of applying for a study permit to Canada will be INR 9000 and getting the biometrics done will cost an additional INR 4500.
- Cost of Medical Test
You also need to take a medical test before leaving the country to study abroad. However. you cannot get the tests done at a clinic of your choice. You can only choose from one of the empanelled doctors as selected by the Canadian Immigration authorities for which the medical expenses for any tests and treatments done will be added.
- Flight Tickets
Once all the pre arrival steps are completed, it’s time for you to fly high to your dream destination. You need to book the flight tickets wherein the cost can vary anywhere between INR 90,000 to INR 2,00,000.
Post-Arrival Cost
Once you arrive at your study destination in Canada you will be required to take care of certain expenses to ensure a smooth student life experience.
- Cost of Tuition
This is the major expense that you will have to bear for any study program. Following are the list of programs offered in Canada in different institutions along with the cost of tuition as per the 2021-2022 statistics Canada. Keep in mind that you need to pay a part of the tuition fee during the time of admission and the rest can be paid while you are in Canada pursuing your education. This cost however, can be reduced if you get a scholarship in Canada. Therefore, we advise you to check for scholarships and your eligibility so that you save on some of the tuition fee.
| Programs | Cost of Tuition |
|---|---|
|
2 Years Master’s Degree |
₹ 12-15 Lakhs per year |
|
4 Years Bachelor’s Degree |
₹ 15-18 Lakhs per year |
|
1-2 Years PG Diploma |
₹ 8-10 Lakhs per year |
|
2 Years UG Diploma |
₹ 8-12 Lakhs per year |
Cost of Living & other Expenses
| Expense | Cost (CAD) |
|---|---|
|
Rent (1 bedroom apartment in city center) |
$ 1,500 - $ 2,500 |
|
Rent (1 bedroom apartment outside city center) |
$ 1,200 - $ 2,000 |
|
Utilities (electricity, heating, water, garbage) |
$ 100 - $ 150 |
|
Internet (unlimited data, cable/DSL) |
$ 60 - $ 100 |
|
Groceries (per person, per month) |
$ 250 - $ 400 |
|
Eating out (per meal) |
$ 15 - $ 25 |
|
Public transportation (monthly pass) |
$ 100 - $ 150 |
|
Total |
$ 100 - $ 150 |
Again, keep in mind that these are approximate costs and can vary depending on various factors such as location, lifestyle, and personal preferences.
Study Options
There are three academic intakes at the institutions in Canada: fall, winter and summer. Fall lasts from September to December, winter lasts from January to April and summer lasts from May to August. Though fall is the primary intake season in most colleges, some colleges do offer a winter intake.
International students are advised to apply at the earliest, as scholarships and admissions get more and more competitive, closer to the deadline. A typical application deadline would be 6 to 9 months before your session starts, and it can vary depending on the respective departments and the subject of your choice. Though deadlines are not flexible (except for diploma programmes), some institutions might accept students later, given the availablility of seats.
Students can choose from a number of study programmes –
Certificate or diploma (One or two years)
Advanced diploma (Two or three years)
Undergraduate (three or four years)
Postgraduate (two years)
Ph.D (four or five years with dissertation)
Some popular courses at the UG level are engineering and administrative studies while management, finance, MBA/MIM, MS and LLB degrees are sought-after at the PG level.
Earn while you learn
International students can work part-time for 20 hours per week on-campus (generally the first six months), and off-campus later. Some universities with more intensive courses allow their students to work only for nearly 12 hours, since working for more hours can affect their academic performance. International students can apply for work permit post their studies, which gives them the opportunity to work in the country for a period of three-years.
Scholarships for international students
Both government and non-government scholarships are available for international students in Canada. These include –
Government scholarships
Canada graduate scholarships
NSERC postgraduate scholarships
Non-government scholarships
Canadian Rhodes Scholars Foundation scholarship
Trudeau scholarships and fellowships
In addition to this, there are some institution-specific scholarships for international students, such as scholarships of The University of Guelph, Queens University and Centennial College.
Benefits of studying in Canada
You will have several options to choose from: big or small universities and small-town or city universities.
Students can enjoy an active and varied lifestyle in this beautiful country, along with great health-care benefits, and the thing that Canada is most known for – politeness of the locals.
Students will have incredible opportunities to meet like-minded people and gain valuable international student experience through student clubs and organisations.