Let’s get you acquainted with Canadian education system:

Canadian colleges and universities are widely known for their teaching and research and the education system is the most adaptable and versatile for international students. With the focus on technology, research, and innovation, you’ll be engaged with individuals living in a forward-thinking society while learning from some of the brightest minds in the top universities in Canada.

Canada has an internationally acclaimed education system and the Canadian Education System has been globally ranked at #03 in the best countries for higher education by The US News this year.

Post-graduation work permit (PGWP) in Canada is an opportunity for student’s work experience post completion of the education in Canada. The Canadian government offers “Stay Back” opportunity for the international students after graduation allowing them to work for up to 3 years.

 

Study Levels in Canada

Since the education system in Canada is managed by the provincial governments, the study levels and educational stages may lie in different clusters with different names. Here’s a synopsis:

• → Certificates and Diploma (1 to 2 years): Vocational and job oriented programs, mainly technical.
• → Associate degree (2 years): Equivalent to first two years of a 4-year bachelor's degree.
• → Bachelor's degree (3 to 4 years): And undergraduate degree which requires successful completion of secondary school. The duration of your course depends on the province and type of program although most courses last for 4 years. Certain provinces like Quebec have bachelor's degree of 3 years..
• → Bachelor's Honors degree (4 years): This will require getting a specific GPA or credits, a majors or a specialist program.
• → Postgraduate diploma (1 to 2 years): A post bachelor degree qualification.
• → Master's degree by thesis (1 to 2 years): Often referred to as research masters, this requires mandatory submission of thesis for assessment and course completion.
• → Master's degree by non-thesis (1 to 2 years): This is a taught master's degree, not requiring thesis submission.
• → Doctorate or PhD (4 to 7 years): Ph.D. is awarded when students complete dissertation and successfully defend their work before a panel of faculty members.
• → Post-Doctoral Programs (No time limit): Specialised research-oriented programs.

 

Types of Institutions

There are different types of qualifications offered by various institutions of Canada:

• → University: Students can apply for undergraduate degree, postgraduate certificate, diploma and degree, professional degrees and doctorate in universities of Canada.
• → University Colleges: Programs offered by university colleges include diploma and university transfer programs.
• → Community Colleges: Students can get certificate, diploma, associate degree, undergraduate degree and postgraduate diploma in community colleges.
• → Career and Technical Colleges: Certificate and diploma offered for technical education.

A huge number of international students choose Canada each year as their study destination, owing to its welcoming environment.

 

Academic excellence, experienced faculties, globally recognised qualifications, brilliant teaching approach and abundant research opportunities, the education system of Canada will give you an exposure like never before. Learning here comes with an international outlook that prepares students for employment across the globe.

Rest assured, with a great education system in place, you can live, study and experience a culture with plenty of tourist attractions and well-equipped transportation facilities.

Intakes to Study in Canada:

September is the main intake in Canada and witnesses maximum number of student admissions. While most colleges and universities offer the September and January intake, you may also be able to get admissions in the Summer intake that starts around April/May.

Canadian Universities and colleges offer three intakes:

• → Fall intake: Starts in September; fall intake is preferred by Asian students.
• → Winter intake: starts in January.
• → Summer intake: Summer Intake is restricted to certain colleges in Canada and the course, usually start in April and May.

Education system in the Canada is known for its high standards and quality. It’s a well-known fact that studying in Canada is much more affordable when compared to other top study destinations. Your expenditure on tuition fee depends on the type of qualification and university or college you opt for. Courses in medicine and engineering are likely to be more expensive. Additional expenses that include administration fees and health insurance are also not too expensive.

In comparison to the UK, Australia and New Zealand, Canada offers the lowest tuition rates for foreign students. To cover tuition fees, you will need between CAD 7,000 and CAD 29,000 (indicative costs) a year. However, this is a general guide only and cost varies in relation to the institution and program you are applying for, as well as the location and lifestyle.

Usually, undergraduate fees for international students are around CAD 25,000 per year*, depending on what course of study and the university.

Studying more expensive courses such as engineering and medicine can cost on average CAD 29,000 per year* as an undergraduate. Moreover, there are aplenty scholarships in Canada to apply for if you want to minimize your expenditure efficiently

* Please note all fee figures are indicative

The cost may vary based on lifestyle one may wish to maintain. Dining out, shopping, category of accommodation and travelling may impact the expenses.

Students have various accommodation options in Canada. The living cost in the Canada differs from city to city. Choosing on campus accommodation will be affordable for international students.

Universities in Canada provide affordable accommodation than rented housing. Also, students can work part-time along with their studies. The work permit is not compulsory for an international student to work both on-campus and off-campus.

If you want to bring down your educational expenses, it is best to apply to various scholarships available for international students.

There are plenty of options for international students interested in applying for scholarships to study in Canada. Student can choose between governmental or non – governmental as well as University-oriented scholarships offered to students at different levels of education, ranging from graduation to post-graduation and postdoctoral.

Also Canadian universities and colleges offer scholarships and awards to international students who achieve exceptional results. The amount of the reward and its type varies between various institutions and programs. It’s important to know that competition for scholarships is very fierce.

Here’s an overview of the kinds of scholarships you can apply for based on your study level.

• → Merit-based scholarship.
• → Provincial Government scholarship.
• → Need-based grants and bursaries by college.
• → Tuition waiver.
• → Commonwealth scholarship.
• → Research associate-ship.
• → Professional Development award.
• → Fellowship.
• → Teaching assistantship
• → Private/Organisational scholarship.

Since getting a scholarship is competitive, we recommend you to start with the procedure about 8-12 months before the preferred intake begins.

Healthcare is a rather expensive affair in Canada. Without insurance, unfortunately, if you fall sick, you will incur a huge cost on treatment. Unless you are covered by the insurance of your spouse’s employer or a similar arrangement, consider purchasing a good plan based on your health and your activities.

Canada Health Insurance is known for its government-funded healthcare systems, it is beneficial to obtain the Canada Health Insurance for international students. During their time of study in Canada, they are required to obtain and maintain their Health Insurance.

There are certain provinces in Canada that offer provincial health coverage to international students. This could be provided for free or premium. In the cases of those provinces that aren’t offering OSHC, you are expected to purchase private insurance through institutions. If this isn’t available, you can subscribe to mandatory health plans.

Why need Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC):

OSHC is one of the prerequisites to apply for the student visa. It is one of the documents you enclose while applying for the student visa. Apart from the fact it is mandatory, OSHC is very beneficial as it covers a wide range of medical expenses. When you complete your application, you will be asked to provide proof of payment as well as confirmation that your OSHC coverage begins when you arrive in Canada.

We recommend you get registered with a local doctor or a medical centre located in your campus when you arrive in the country. Discuss with your AEES counsellor for details regarding your best health insurance options in Canada.

Canada, over the past few years, has seen an abundance of international students from around the world and has provided various work opportunities to both, students and working professionals. International students can also join co-op programs available within their institutions to gain valuable paid work experience while completing their degrees in Canada.

Post-graduation work permit (PGWP) in Canada is an opportunity for student’s work experience post completion of the education in Canada. The Canadian government offers “Stay back” opportunity for the international students after graduation allowing them to work for up to 3 years.

 

Post Study Work Permit (PSW) in Canada

Post Study work permit is plays a vital role in Canadian Immigration system which allows international students who graduate from Canadian universities and colleges to work for up to 3 years after completion of their studies.

The Eligibility criteria for Post Study work permit states that student must have 180 days in hand after they apply for PSW permit. Post Study Work Permit (PSW) also gives opportunity to graduates to switch to permanent resident status in Canada.

As an international student in Canada, you can work along with your studies, but you need to have a Social Insurance Number (SIN). If you are a full-time student and if you have a verified study permit, you can work up to 20 hours per week during regular academic sessions, and work full-time during scheduled breaks, such as the winter and summer holidays or spring break.