It is a multicultural country, which is renowned for its safety standards and cleanliness. Canada has been ranked as one of best places to live on the globe. The country is renowned for its access to education, high life expectancy and low crime rates. It has consistently been voted as the most stable economy on the planet. Degrees from Canadian institutions are internationally recognized, and there is a diverse range of courses offered. However, the fees are more affordable and admissions are based on competition and eligibility. The country spends more on education (as a percentage of GDP) as compared to the OECD (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development) average, and is the second highest among G-8 countries.
- 23 novel prize winner
- Low population density 3.92/km2
- 5/100 top universities in the world
- 2nd largest country in world after Russia
- The easiest to get PR for international Students
- 80% of total population has live in only 300km within US border
Country code: +1
Area: 9,984,670 km2
Density: 3.92/km2 (228th)
Language: English and French
Population: 35,151,728 (2016 estimate)
GDP: $1.798 trillion (10th, estimated 2018)
Per Capita: $48,466 (15th, estimated 2018)
Government: Unitary Parliamentary Constitutional Monarchy
Location: Canada is a country in the northern half of North America.
Climate: The majority of the country has a cold or severely cold winter climate, but southerly areas are warm in summer.
Major Cities: It has ten provinces and three territories. Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Quebec City, Winnipeg and Hamilton
Canadian tuition fees are some of the lowest in English-speaking countries.
Eight consistent years of top rankings by the United Nation as one of the world’s best places to live.
Through its innovative SchoolNet program, Canada was the world’s first country to connect its schools and libraries to the internet.
Canada’s universities maintain high standards of academic excellence and are consistently recognized in top international rankings.
According to report by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) (2017), Canada is one of the most educated countries in the world.
- 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.
Canadian Bureau for International Education (CBIE) show the number of international students in Canada reached a total of 494,525 by the end of 2017. Canada is becoming the country of choice for students from all parts of the world.
The country’s universities boast links to more than 5,000 global collaboration agreements. Combined with Canada’s focus on industry-specific applied research, so that more than 90% of Canadian graduates are employed less than six months after graduation.
Canada is a bilingual country with two official languages, English and French. The vast majorities (75%) of Canada’s French-speaking inhabitants live the eastern part of the country but there are French-speaking communities throughout the country.
- Students in Canada are allowed to work part time on campus during the first 6 months of their program and off campus part time thereafter. The duration permitted is up to 20 hours per week. Several programs may even have a paid co-op term where one gets hands on experience in working in the industry.
Canadians are proud to have developed an open and diverse education standard, welcoming potential students from all the way. Every year thousands of students receive degrees of undergraduate programs, as well as postgraduate degrees such as Masters and PhDs. International students enrolling rate in Canadian universities grows higher. There is mainly tertiary and postgraduate education system.
In Canada, tertiary education includes every type of formal teaching program past secondary schools, be it academic, vocational, technical, or the professional education offered primarily by universities, colleges, and special institutes.
Masters degrees like MA, MSc, MEd, MMus, MBA and Doctorate degree are commonly referred to as postgraduate degrees.
Diploma: This qualification awarded on the basis of one or two years of course study.
Advanced Diploma: This is 3 years program some of which may lead to a Bachelors Degree.
Certificate: This qualification awarded upon successful completion of a program which is usually one year in length.
Bachelor’s Degrees: Are awarded by Universities/ University Colleges/ Community Colleges after four years of full-time study and lead to graduate level studies.
Post Graduate Diploma: It leads to a Master’s 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 are a Bachelors Degree of 3 or 4 years duration.
Master’s Degree: It is an option for Bachelor’s 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 years duration and can be pursued after a 4 years Bachelor’s or a 3 years Bachelor’s & one year Post Graduate Diploma from Canada.
Doctorate or PhD: This degree ranking above the Master’s Degree and generally requires four to seven years to complete.
Types of Post Secondary 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 programs.
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 programs or the more practical-oriented college diplomas and certificates.
Universities: 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.
Diploma: 10,000 – 15, 000 CAD per annum.
PG Diploma: 11, 000 – 18, 000 CAD per annum.
Advanced Diploma: 10,000 – 15,000 CAD per annum
Bachelor’s Degrees (Colleges): 20,000 – 25,000 CAD per annum.
Masters Degrees (Universities): 30,000- 35,000 CAD per annum.
Bachelor’s Degrees (Universities): 25,000 – 30,000 CAD per annum.
Rough estimate on the cost of living for an international student, living and studying in Canada for a whole year is depicted below over some common expenses every student is challenged with. As you will see, type of accommodation plays an essential role on the sum up of a student’s cost of living in Canada.
Food Min. of $3,600
Clothing $1,200 – $2,000
Miscellaneous $1,200 – $2,400
Accommodation $7,300 – $1,4 000
Books, Supplies and Instruments $1,000
Local Transportation $1,272 ($106 per month)
University Health Insurance Plan $684 (as of Sept. 2013)
TOTAL $16,656 – $26,856
Earning: Min C$11.35 per hour
Part Time: 20 hours per week during studies; 40 hours per week during vacations.
Tax: If you are an international student studying in Canada, you have to file a Canadian income tax return. You must determine your residency status to know about your tax in Canada.
Work Type: There are various part-time jobs available in all the sectors across hospitality/catering to call centre to banking and finance and etc. You can find a part-time job related to your course of study.
PSW are available for students after completing the studies depending on their courses duration. For this, you must apply for a work permit under the Post-Graduation Work Permit Program (PGWPP).Skilled Canadian work experience gained through the PGWPP helps graduates qualify for permanent residence in Canada through Express Entry.
A work permit under the PGWPP may be issued for the length of the study program, up to a maximum of three years. A post-graduation work permit cannot be valid for longer than the student’s study program, and the study program must be a minimum of eight months in length. For example, if you graduate from a four-year degree program, you could be eligible for a three-year work permit if you meet the criteria. If you graduate from an eight-month certificate program, you would be eligible for a work permit that is valid for no more than eight months.
How to find a job?
Choice of Province – In case you start looking for a province that is not well populated or where the development is yet to happen in a big way, you can get job faster. Some examples of such places are suburbs areas in Calgary or suburbs of Ontario
Hiring Services of Placement Consultant– Some Professionals are doing good work. Starting from helping you make a good resume that projects you in a good light before employer, to arranging interviews with various employers, these agencies can expedite your job hunt.
Get registered on Various Job Portals – There are some very good portals as Monster, Canada Jobs etc which have latest listing of good job offers. Get listed over there, stay active and respond to various opening.
Networking – Nothing works better than networking. Share your plans with all your friends and other circles there that you are reaching there. Most Jobs get filled up by networking only
Undergraduate: C$ 30,000 – C$ 40, 000 per annum
Postgraduate: C$ 50,000 – C$ 70, 000 per annum
Culture: Canada’s culture draws influences from its broad range of constituent nationalities and policies. Canada has placed emphasis on equality and inclusiveness for its entire people. Multiculturalism is often cited as one of Canada’s significant Canadian identity. In Quebec, cultural identity is strong, and many commentators speak of a culture of Quebec that is distinct from English Canadian culture.
Canada has been influenced by British, French, and indigenous cultures and traditions. Over time, elements of the cultures of Canada’s immigrant populations have become incorporated into mainstream Canadian culture. The culture of Canada is a term that embodies the artistic, culinary, literary, humor, musical, political and social elements that are representative of Canada and Canadians.
Food: The Most Canadian Foods Include Bacon, Poutine And Maple Syrup. The national dish of Canada is a food called poutine, which is a high-calorie creation that consists of fries, cheddar cheese curds and gravy. The Canadian dish was originally seen in the province of Quebec, but can be found all around Canada and has spread to the United Kingdom and United States.
Safety: Canada is a friendly, safe country with a high standard of living. Low crime rates, great student health benefits, and universities focused on student security and health make studying in Canada a good choice for anyone who’s uneasy about personal safety while abroad. The Global Peace Index ranks Canada among its top 10 safest countries in the world to visit.
Welfare: Scholarships and financial aid are available to help students for their education regardless of your nationality. When you’re researching to fund for your education, you will probably get scholarships, bursaries, loans, and awards on offer for students.
Health: Most of the Universities in Canada require a medical health insurance among other documentation in order for the enrollment procedure to be over. The first thing you have to purchase health insurance in Canada. Most of the health insurance policies for international students offer with an affordable cost. Relative to other countries, medical insurance in Canada is inexpensive yet the services that Canadian hospitals provide are among some of the most advanced and accessible in the world.
Transport: Using the general-purpose public transport is the most common means of student transport. Due to Canada’s large size, people often travel between major cities by airplane. All main cities have airports with regularly scheduled flights to and from many places. Rail network runs across the country, from Halifax, Nova Scotia, in the east to Vancouver and Prince Rupert, British Columbia, in the west. Trains in Canada are safe and comfortable. It is often cheaper to buy train tickets in advance. Bus can be the cheapest way of travelling between cities. It is often the only way of getting to smaller towns if you are not driving a car. Remember that bus travel can be very long due to the great distances involved. In coastal areas of Canada such as British Columbia and the Atlantic region, ferry boats are a common way to travel. Many ferries transport both passengers and vehicles. Canada has a large network of highways, making long distance travel by car possible between most destinations.