PROCESS TO STUDY IN CANADA FOR INTERNATIONAL (INDIAN) STUDENTS

ABOUT CANADA

Canada, second largest country in the world in area (after Russia), occupying roughly the northern two-fifths of the continent of North America. Despite Canada’s great size, it is one of the world’s most sparsely populated countries.

Canada is officially bilingual in English and French, reflecting the country’s history as a ground once contested by two of Europe’s great powers.

The national capital is Ottawa, Canada’s fourth largest city. It lies some 250 miles (400 km) northeast of Toronto and 125 miles (200 km) west of Montreal, respectively Canada’s first and second cities in terms of population and economic, cultural, and educational importance. The third largest city is Vancouver, a centre for trade with the Pacific Rim countries and the principal western gateway to Canada’s developing interior. Other major metropolitan areas include Calgary and Edmonton, Alberta; Quebec city, Quebec; and Winnipeg, Manitoba.

EDUCATION IN CANADA

Canada has some 75 degree-granting institutions and more than 200 community colleges, ranging from institutions with a single faculty and enrollments of a few hundred to institutions with many faculties and research institutes and more than 50,000 students. Among the largest universities are the multi campus Université du Québec (founded 1968) and the University of Toronto (1827). One of Canada’s most prestigious universities is McGill University (1821), a private state-supported English-language university in Montreal.

Canada’s education is famous for its world class standard and studying in Canada is definitely a dream come true. Getting Canadian PR is becoming increasingly difficult. So, immigrating to Canada after getting a study permit is probably the easiest way to settle down in Canada.

STEP BY STEP PROCESS TO STUDY IN CANADA

INTAKE IN STUDY PROGRAMS IN CANADA FOR INTERNATIONAL (INDIAN) STUDENTS

• September Intake / Fall Intake
• January Intake / Winter Intake
• May Intake / Summer Intake

Before we begin towards the various steps involved in the complete process, it is important to understand the different Intakes in Canada. Basically, there are three different Intakes in Canada. The first one is the September intake or the fall Intake. This includes the most number of Institutions offering the largest number of seats available in all the courses, can say September intake is the main Intake. Second intake starts a few months after September i.e. in January and it’s called the January or the Winter Intake. This intake can be considered as a continuation of the fall intake. A few Institutes offer courses in winter intake compared to the fall intake. Mostly the Indian students who have missed the admission in fall intake would opt for the winter intake.

The last one is the spring intake or the Summer Intake, is also known as the May Intake. This is the least preferred intake of all the intake taken in Canada. Not many colleges offer courses in this spring session and the ones that offer are very few. So, the main intake is the September intake but there are other intakes as well.

INDIAN STUDENTS SHOULD START THE PROCESS WITH RESEARCH

Now, let’s begin with the different steps involved in the complete process. The first one is doing your own research. It is very important that you do your research. You should know that the entire process takes a lot of time. Starting from the first step to moving to Canada, it takes around one year of time. Because it is one of the biggest decisions of your career, you should start one year before when you want to start your studies in Canada.

Points should you consider while doing your research:

• Which course?

Number one which course, you should be pretty sure about the course that you want to pursue in Canada. Your studies will be required to finalize a specific major course when applying to study in Canada. The Canadian Academic setup is quite flexible towards switching causes although it is best to compare your options beforehand and choose a measure that you truly are interested in pursuing and while doing that you should definitely make a point of its scope in Canada.

• Scope in Canada?

When you’re thinking of studying in Canada most people, if not all want to stay here, want to settle down in Canada. So, any research, you should think of the scope of your studies is a good scope of getting a job for the kind of package you can get after completing your studies. All those points should be kept in mind.

• Which University/College?

After scope it comes to selecting your University or colleges. we’ll suggest you to pen down a few Universities and colleges where you want to get admission. A list of top Universities / Colleges in Canada is given below.

• What are the requirements?

Now for those colleges and Universities that you selected you should know what are the exact requirements and then only you will be able to prepare according to that. Now even IELTS requirements are different for different colleges. Even the same college for different courses IELTS requirements are different. So you should know that well in hand.

• What is the cost?

You should also be aware of the cost. What would be the fee? How much money do you actually need in hand if you want to go ahead implementing a plan of studying in Canada?

• What are the funding sources?

You should plan funding sources. If you are getting that money from the parents, let them know well in advance that you need that amount of money so that they are also prepared. And talking about the funding sources you can also search for scholarship programs. There are various scholarship program funding being offered by Universities and colleges. Definitely check out those as well. Some of them are also mentioned below.

• How is the location and campus?

And last but not the least you should definitely think about the location and the campus. So if you want to live in a bigger City, let’s say Toronto, in that case you should look for Universities that are in the GTA region. If you want to live in a more of a quiet City you can look for Universities and colleges in the Waterloo region.

TOP COURSES OFFERED IN CANADIAN UNIVERSITIES / COLLEGES

• Artificial Intelligence
• Data Analysis
• Computer Science
• Pharmacy
• Business
• Nursing and Midwifery
• Human Resource Management
• Architecture
• Dental Studies

TOP UNIVERSITIES / COLLEGES IN CANADA

• University of Toronto
  • 315 Bloor Street W Toronto, Ontario M5S 2J7 Canada
  • Tuition fees – $39967.0
  • Acceptance rate – 4.0%
• University of British Columbia
  • 1200-1874 E. Mall Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z4 Canada
  • Tuition fees – $17458.0
  • Acceptance rate – 13.8%
• McGill University
  • 845 Sherbrooke Street W Montréal, Québec H3A 0G4 Canada
  • Tuition fees – $172982.0
  • Acceptance rate – 49.0%
• McMaster University
  • 1280 Main Street West Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4L8 Canada
  • Tuition fees – $12683.0
  • Acceptance rate – 58.0%
• University of Montreal
  • 2900 Boulevard Édouard-Montpetit Montréal, Québec H3T 1J4 Canada
  • Tuition fees – $12000.0
  • Acceptance rate – 57.16%
• University of Alberta
  • 114 Street, 89 Avenue Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2R3 Canada
  • Tuition fees – $38980.0
  • Acceptance rate – 51.0%
• University of Calgary
  • 2500 University Drive NW Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4 Canada
  • Tuition fees – $12695.0
  • Acceptance rate – 38.0%
• University of Ottawa
  • 550 Cumberland Street Ottawa, Ontario K1N 6N5 Canada
  • Tuition fees – $25554.0
  • Acceptance rate – 54.0%
• University of Waterloo
  • University Avenue W Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1 Canada
  • Tuition fees – $40900.0
  • Acceptance rate – 53.0%
• University of Victoria
  • PO Box 1700 STN CSC Victoria, British Columbia V8P 5C2 Canada
  • Tuition fees – $18816.0
  • Acceptance rate – 63.0%
• Western University
  • 1151 Richmond Street London, Ontario N6A 3K7 Canada
  • Tuition fees – $38611.0
  • Acceptance rate – 58.0%
• Simon Fraser University
  • 8888 University Drive Burnaby, British Columbia V5A 1S6 Canada
  • Tuition fees – $23000.0
  • Acceptance rate – 67.0%
• Laval University
  • 2325 rue de l’Université Québec City, Québec G1V 0A6 Canada
  • Tuition fees – $18200.0
  • Acceptance rate – 59.0%
• Dalhousie University
  • 6299 South Street Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 4R2 Canada
  • Tuition fees – $14300.0
  • Acceptance rate – 65.0%
• Queen’s University
  • 99 University Avenue Kingston, Ontario K7L 3N6 Canada
  • Tuition fees – $16098.0
  • Acceptance rate – 20.0%
• University of Manitoba
  • 66 Chancellors Cir Winnipeg, Manitoba R3T 2N2 Canada
  • Tuition fees – $14700.0
  • Acceptance rate – 52.0%
• York University
  • 4700 Keele Street Toronto, Ontario M3J 1P3 Canada
  • Tuition fees – $14118.0
  • Acceptance rate – 80.0%
• University of Guelph
  • 50 Stone Road E Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1 Canada
  • Tuition fees – $14000.0
  • Acceptance rate – 80.0%
• Carleton University
  • 1125 Colonel By Drive Ottawa, ON, K1S 5B6 Canada
  • Tuition fees – $17841.0
  • Acceptance rate – 80.0%
• University of Quebec – Montreal
  • 405 Rue Sainte-Catherine Est Montréal, Québec H2X 2C4 Canada
  • Tuition fees – $15000.0
  • Acceptance rate – 40.0%
• University of Saskatchewan
  • 105 Administration Place Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5A2 Canada
  • Tuition fees – $23901.0
  • Acceptance rate – 72.3%
• Concordia University
  • Montréal, Québec Canada
  • Tuition fees – $13163.0
  • Acceptance rate – 58.4%
• Memorial University of Newfoundland
  • St. John’s, NL, A1C 5S7 Canada
  • Tuition fees – $20282.0
  • Acceptance rate – 67.0%
• University of Sherbrooke
  • 2500 boul. de l’Université Sherbrooke, Québec J1K 2R1 Canada
  • Tuition fees – $13065.0
  • Acceptance rate – 55.0%
• Ryerson University
  • 350 Victoria Street Toronto, Ontario M5B 2K3 Canada
  • Tuition fees – $19234.0
  • Acceptance rate – 80.0%
• University of New Brunswick
  • 3 Bailey Dr Fredericton, NB E3B 5A3 Canada
  • Tuition fees – $21350.0
  • Acceptance rate – 75.0%
• University of Ontario Institute Technology
  • 2000 Simcoe St N Oshawa, ON L1H 7K4 Canada
  • Tuition fees – $14092.0
  • Acceptance rate – 70.0%
• University of Regina
  • 3737 Wascana Parkway Regina, SK, S4S 0A2 Canada
  • Tuition fees – $14172.0
  • Acceptance rate – 64.0%
• University of Windsor
  • 401 Sunset Ave Windsor, ON N9B 3P4 Canada
  • Tuition fees – $17246.0
  • Acceptance rate – 70.0%
• Brock University
  • 1812 Sir Isaac Brock Way St. Catharines, ON L2S 3A1 Canada
  • Tuition fees – $11752.0
  • Acceptance rate – 73.0%
• Lakehead University
  • 955 Oliver Rd Thunder Bay, P7B 5E1 Canada
  • Tuition fees – $17080.0
  • Acceptance rate – 83.0%
• Trent University
  • 1600 West Bank Drive Peterborough, Ontario K9L 0G2 Canada
  • Tuition fees – $16038.0
  • Acceptance rate – 33.0%
• Wilfrid Laurier University
  • 75 University Avenue West Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3C5 Canada
  • Tuition fees – $31930.0
  • Acceptance rate – 89.3%
• University of Lethbridge
  • 4401 University Dr Lethbridge, AB T1K 3M4 Canada
  • Tuition fees – $5262.36
  • Acceptance rate – 83.0%

STUDY COST IN CANADA FOR INTERNATIONAL (INDIAN) STUDENTS

SCHOLARSHIPS TO STUDY IN CANADA

LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY TEST FOR ADMISSION IN UNIVERSITY/COLLEGE OF CANADA

After finalizing all the above points, the next step is your language proficiency test. You must have heard of the IELTS test, not just IELTS test but there are other tests as well. Now while during the research in the first step, you are clear about the exact requirements of the university, of the colleges and of the courses. It does differ from one college to the other and from one course in that same college to the other courses. So, language tests can be taken in English or French.

For English, we do have options, the first option is the most popular one, is the IELTS test. You have to go for the IELTS Academic not for the IELTS General. Remember as IELTS Academics is for studying, IELTS General is for immigration purposes. If you want to get PR then you are required to go for IELTS General. Other tests are TOEFL and Cambridge English Advanced Test. Out of these three tests, IELTS is the most common and popular.

Apart from English, one can also go for French Test like TEF, TCF, DALF, or DELF.

Now talking about the criteria, you would see most of the colleges and universities actually ask for a minimum of 6 bands of IELTS with no bands less than 5.5 or TOEFL score of around 80. General criteria is 6.5 in IELTS and with no band less than 6.0. Similarly 88 score in TOEFL.

There are four different bands: Listening, Reading, Speaking And Writing. So, for the general criteria in all those four you should not get less than 6 but as I told you, it does differ from one university to the other, one college to another. So, you should definitely look for the exact requirement. So that you have a goal clear in your mind that this is your requirement and this is what you have to get. If we could not achieve your goal in the first, then we can go for the other test.

There is no number limit and the fees for IELTS academics is around 13000 – 14000 ₹ in India.

If you want to go for IELTS. You can either go through IDP India or the British Council. However, if you are living in any other country, you can definitely check the organizations, fees and exam dates accordingly.

ACCEPTANCE LETTER FROM UNIVERSITY OR COLLEGE OF CANADA

Moving on to the next step, which is getting your Acceptance Letter. It is the mandatory document for your Study Permit. Without an acceptance letter from any university or college, you cannot get a study permit. So, this is the most important document. An acceptance letter should be from a DLI college. So, while you are researching, the colleges or universities are Designated Learning Institutions. DLI stands for Designated Learning Institution. If the college or university is a designated learning institution, it should be mentioned very clearly on the website. An acceptance letter must state the program of study including the start and the end dates.

How many colleges should you choose and how should you actually aim for those colleges or universities?

So, you should not only think of one college and just think that you will get the acceptance letter from that college. Don’t assume things. To be on the safer side, select a few colleges or universities. The first type should be from those dream colleges or Universities where you actually dream to study but getting admission in all the colleges and Universities is not easy. So, the second list or plan B should be those colleges and you know that the institution is really good, you also get admission with your academic scores in that college very easily. So, make plan A and plan B and while doing your research in step one, you will see that there are specific requirements for each college.

STUDENT VISA AND DOCUMENT REQUIREMENTS FOR CANADA

The Canadian Government provides an opportunity to Indian students to study in the country but as a prerequisite, you’ll have to obtain a Study Permit and a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV).

STUDY PERMIT

This is not a visa, it’s a permit or a document issued by the Citizen and Immigration (CIC) which allows you to study in Canada. If you hold a study permit, you must remain enrolled and make reasonable and timely progress towards completing your course.

Your study permit is always accompanied along with a visitor visa or Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA).

Please note that a study permit is a document that allows you to study in Canada while a visitor visa or ETA allows you to enter Canada.

DOCUMENTS

Documents required for your study permit

To apply for your study permit, you will need:

• An acceptance letter from your education institution, and
• A valid passport or travel document
• Proof that you can support yourself or any family members who might accompany you, while you’re in Canada (minimum required funds)

You must also:

• Prove that you have enough money to pay for your:
  • tuition fees
  • living expenses for yourself and any family members who come with you to Canada, and
  • return transportation for yourself and any family members who come with you to Canada
• Be a law-abiding citizen with no criminal record and not be a risk to the security of Canada (you may have to provide a police certificate)
• Be in good health (you may need to complete a medical exam)
• You will also be required to appear for a personal interview at the Canadian embassy or consulate.
• To prove you can financially support yourself and any accompanying family members, you may be asked to provide:
• Documentation of a Canadian bank account in your name, if money has been transferred to Canada
• Documentation of a student/education loan from a financial institution
• Bank statements
• A bank draft in convertible currency
• Proof of payment of tuition and accommodation fees
• A letter for the person or institution providing your funding
• Proof of funding paid from within Canada if you have a scholarship or are enrolled in a Canadian-funded educational program

STUDY VISA APPLICATION

Last step is to apply for a study visa. You can apply online or you can apply through the VFS office in your city.

Documents which are required for study visa application are – acceptance letter, passport, affidavit of financial support, police clearance certificate and medical test report. Maybe a couple of other documents as well are required but you will get you know as and when you apply for that study permit. Visa fee is 150 dollars. However, the processing time differs a lot from one country to the other. The processing time can differ from 3 weeks to 12 weeks.

Benefits of online visa application

• Instant application as courier and mail delivery time is eliminated
• The application process is expedited
• You will know if it’s incomplete as an incomplete request is not accepted online
• You can speedily submit your rest of the documents, as and when required
• You will be updated through emails on the status of your application

VISA APPROVAL

When your visa application is approved, you will receive a Port of Entry (PoE), Letter of Introduction, Temporary Resident Visa, and some international (Indian) students will also receive an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA). Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) will allow you to study in Canada after you submit all these documents. Additionally, the Study Permit expires 90 days after you receive the notification of your programme completion.

Last but not the least, PLAN TO TRAVEL!

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