Study options in Canada

Study options in Canada

Canada is the world’s second largest country. Canada is ranked first in the world for delivering a high quality of life. It is the 10th largest economy in the world and the market-oriented economic system of Canada is very similar to that of the United States. It's a great place to work and reside. It serves a warm and friendly environment for the international students and is a place that has one of the topmost universities and best educators in the world. The University of Toronto, University of British Columbia, McGill University, and McMaster University are counted as some of the top universities in the world. MBA, Computer Science & IT, Business & Finance, Core Engineering & Engineering Management, etc. are some of the top courses that are offered in Canada. The curriculum in Canada is such which offers a successful future and a high-earning and rewarding career. Education is affordable for international students and the cost of living is also reasonable. The country has a good climate and a diverse culture offering the students a great experience. 

Popular destinations within the country

Montreal, Vancouver, Toronto, Ottawa, and Quebec City are the top cities for students in Canada. They are home to one of the top educational institutes in the world. These places are very popular among students. Also, these cities are culturally diverse. The employment opportunity in these cities is high as it is home to many industries. 

• Montreal: Montreal is Canada's second-largest city. If you want to study or live in Quebec, knowing French is essential. Food, housing, education, clothing, and medical care are all significantly less expensive in Montreal than in other big cities.

• Vancouver: it is the eighth-largest city in Canada. throughout the year, the climate is moderate. Living in Vancouver is quite expensive.

• Toronto: Toronto is the cultural hub. It is known for its food festivals, art, and historical monuments. It is one of the top cities in Canada for Indian students to study and a significant place to live.

• Ottawa: it is known for winter sports (skating and skiing). The city is lively and student-friendly. It takes center stage in employment opportunities. The cost of living is affordable and it is the best place for work purposes.

• Quebec City: Quebec, a French-speaking province, is noted for its European architecture and grandeur. Quebec hosts a variety of events, the largest of which is the Winter Carnival. The city itself organizes a variety of winter sports. It is not just Canada's cheapest city for international students, but it is also well-known for its educational amenities.

Popular Courses & Colleges in the Canada

Canada is regarded as one of the best places in the world to pursue higher education, and it spends the second most on education among the G-8 countries. The number of international students in Canada is large, with over 130,000 students visiting the country each year for higher education.

Popular Undergraduate courses in Canada:

• Engineering

• Information technology

• Business management

• Pharmacy technician

• Hospitality management

Popular Master courses in Canada:

• Master in Business Administration: Full-time, part-time, and executive MBA programs are all available at Canadian universities. These programs are specifically designed to emphasize obtaining industrial experience and developing skills to deal with difficult real-world issues. Entrepreneurship, finance, international business, health care, and other disciplines are available at Canadian institutions. These programs aid in the development of skills and information relevant to the specialism by emphasizing leadership, strategic decision-making, and analytical thinking capacities.

• Masters in Engineering: A master's degree in engineering is one of Canada's most popular post-graduate programs. The framework of the course is intended to provide knowledge of engineering principles and application skills. Civil, mechanical, marine, naval, aeronautics, chemical, electrical, and other engineering disciplines are available at Canadian universities. These intense courses prepare students for careers in applied sciences that need creativity and research.

• Information Technology: In the last few decades, the software sector has experienced remarkable expansion, and this trend is projected to continue. Because IT and computer science specialists are in high demand by organizations globally, they can get attractive employment offers after completing their courses. Big Data, Data Science, Mobile Application Development, System Security, Wireless Networking, Network Architecture, and Database Management Systems are just a few of the specialties available to students.

• Finance: Students with finance degrees can find high-paying positions in a range of businesses. These courses are designed to teach students how to distribute organizational assets optimally for the best return on investment (ROI). Internationally, degrees from prestigious Canadian universities are highly valued and can lead to lucrative employment opportunities. The course begins with basic business and finance principles, with specializations in areas such as investment, international trade, risk management, and financial planning available.

Popular Colleges in Canada

The following are some of the top Canadian colleges that offer these courses with a high likelihood of employment:

• University of Toronto

• McGill University

• University of British Columbia

• University of Waterloo

• Concordia University

• University of Alberta

The most popular course in Canada is Business and Finance. Top Business and Finance programs in Canada for international students are:

• BBA in Finance

• B. Com (Hons.) in Finance

• Masters’ in Accounting

• Masters’ in Financial Risk Management

• MBA in Finance

Entry essentials 

Firstly, a student needs to choose a program that aligns with his/her interest. Then a student must apply to the university or universities which are offering that course. Mostly, the universities have their own online portal through which students can easily apply. Different institutes can have different entry requirements. Students can apply accordingly.

Documents needed to enter Canada for a student:

• Admission approval letter from college/university/institute

• Valid Passport

• Evidence that you have the money to pay for your study.

• Students’ visa

• Certificate of any of the English language proficiency tests like TOEFL/IELTS etc.

• Receipt of Payment of Tuition fee

• Academic Documents

• GRE/GMAT scorecard 

• Medical certificate (covid-19 vaccination certificate)

Students’ visa requirements:

• Valid Passport

• Mark sheets of 10th, 12th, and Degree certificates

• Academic references

• Employer references 

• SOP (Statement of Purpose)

• Certificates of extracurricular achievements

• An acceptance letter from your educational institution

• Receipt of payment

• Proof of financial funds

• Passport size pictures

• Study Permit and visa

English Language  Proficiency: To be eligible for a study visa in Canada, students must achieve at least 5.5 in each of the four IELTS bands, with an aggregate minimum score of 6.0 or higher for undergraduate and diploma programs.

Note: If there are any additional criteria, your university will notify you before you submit your application.

Exams required to enter Canada:

Language Proficiency Exams:

• IELTS Requirement for Canada: The IELTS is a worldwide recognized and internationally owned direct evaluation of the highest quality and integrity of the English Language. IELTS test results are required as part of the admissions process at universities in Canada. For Canada, an IELTS score of 7.0 is usually sufficient (score). The minimum IELTS score required for one course in Canada varies from 5.0 to 7.5, depending on your courses and institutes.

• Canada TOEFL Requirement: The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is one of the most important entrance exams for Canadian universities (TOEFL). It evaluates a person's ability to communicate in English in all four languages (listening, reading, writing, and speaking) if they wish to study, study, or work in an environment where English is the primary language of communication. Most Canadian institutions require a TOEFL minimum score of 580 on the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language).

• PTE Requirement for Canada: PTE Academic is accepted by the majority of Canadian universities and colleges. This is the most effective method for obtaining an Acceptance Letter from a recognized Canadian educational institution. The PTE exam does not yield a result. In the total range of 10-90, a PTE score of 50-63 is considered appropriate. For higher and regular university selections, it is expected to score in the 65-75 range or higher.

Academic Exams required to pursue a course in Canadian Universities:

• Graduate Management Aptitude Test (GMAT) Canada: This exam evaluates the abilities of future MBA students who wish to pursue a career in management or business in Canada. This test is designed to evaluate your ability to communicate in English, perform math, and reason. Several well-known Canadian business schools, including Ivey Business School, Schulich School of Business, DeGroote Business School, and Rotman School of Management, do not require GMATs (the University of Toronto). In Canada, the average Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) score required by MBA schools is 550, with scores ranging from 500 to over 600. MBA students, on the other hand, have an average GMAT score of 606. The purported position of a school on the business education hierarchy and its average GMAT score appears to have a proportional relationship. As a result, schools at the top of the hierarchy have higher test scores.

• Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) Canada: You must take this exam if you want to pursue an MA or MS degree. While many business schools have begun to evaluate GRE scores before enrolling students in MBA programs, there are still a few institutes that do not require GRE scores. Check with your university to see if you need to submit your GRE scores in advance. Different universities have varying cut-offs in this situation. If you want to attend a good university, you should aim for a GRE score of 305 to 315 out of 340. It's worth noting that some programs, such as Master's in Fine Arts, Executive programs, an Online Master's, don't require GRE scores.

• Law School Admission Test (LSAT) Canada: It's a standard exam that you'll have to take if you want to apply to a Canadian law school. It is necessary to conduct a standardized test. This attests to your reading and speaking abilities. To get into top colleges one has to score a minimum of 155 on the LSAT.

• Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) Exams for Canada: This assesses your writing, analytical, and reading talents in order to better understand your behavior in specific scenarios. Diplomats in high school desire to continue their education and enroll in a university or college in Canada. Scores of less than 500 on either of the SAT Reasoning or Subject Tests are ineligible. Despite the fact that many of our programs require higher scores, students typically have SAT scores of at least 1,150. Admission to most engineering programs requires a minimum GPA of 1,300.

• Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) Canada: The MCAT is a computerized test that assesses your critical and analytical abilities, as well as your understanding of physical and biological sciences and your ability to reason verbally. Although an MCAT score is required by most medical colleges in Canada, select applicants with three or more years of experience may be exempt. Ensure that you are a tenured faculty member at your university. Anyone who passes the MCAT obtains a score between 472 and 528.

Intakes in Canada:

 Fall, winter, and summer admissions are the three main intakes in Canada.

• Fall intake (Duration: September, October, November, December): Fall intake for Canada begins in September. From August to October 2021, you can apply for September intake in Canada. In primary Intake, Universities offer all the courses to international students. This intake's application deadlines normally fall between December and March. It does, however, differ from one institute to another.

• Winter intake (Duration: January, February, March, April): Canada's Winter Intake, also known as the Secondary Intake, begins in January. That means that most universities offer all of their courses in the Fall/September Intake, which is the main intake, and the Winter/January Intake is for students who missed out in the Fall. This intake might be seen as a continuation of the fall intake. In comparison to the fall intake, fewer institutes offer courses in the winter. The majority of students who did not receive admission in the fall intake want to enroll in the winter intake. They will be given the opportunity to continue their studies without having to wait a year. The deadline for this application is usually between September and November. It does, however, differ from one institute to the next.

• Summer/Spring intake (Duration: May, June, July, August): Summer Intake in Canada would begin in May, and the courses available are few and far between. One should start applying to colleges in the months from October 2021 to December 2021. The deadline to apply for May Intake is usually February. The dates, however, may differ from one institute to another.

For Indian students, the approximate cost of studying in Canada ranges from INR 3,50,000 to INR 19,00,000 per year. The amount varies according to the type of course you choose.

To cover the expenses there are many scholarships for international students pursuing a course in Canada. The most important ones are:

• Anne Vallee Ecological Fund

• Trudeau Scholarships and Fellowships

• Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute

• Canadian Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan

• Ontario Graduate Scholarship Program

• National Research Council of Canada (NRCC)

• Quebec Provincial Government Scholarship

• Ontario Trillium Scholarship

• Partnership Grants by Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada

Although you must have at least CA$10,000 (US$7,570) in addition to your tuition charges (or CA$11,000/US$8,300 if studying in Quebec), you will almost probably want much more for living expenses. Living costs vary widely depending on your location and lifestyle, with major cities generally being more expensive. According to the 2019 Mercer Cost of Living Survey, Toronto was the most expensive city to live in Canada, closely followed by Vancouver, with rents in both cities being significantly high. The costs of the three most common types of student housing (homestay, university housing, and private lodging) differ greatly.

Part-Time Jobs

Part-time employment is defined as working up to 20 hours per week and full-time employment is defined as working up to 40 hours per week.

Part-time work options are both off-campus and on-campus.

Following are the top ten part-time work options in Canada:

• Teacher's Assistant (CAD$15.65/hour)

• Server or Bartender (CAD$11.00/hour + tips)

• Uber or Lyft Driver (CAD$14.00–CAD$25.58/hour)

• Tutor (CAD$15.00–CAD$20.00/hour)

• Freelancer (CAD$25.60/hour)

• Nanny (CAD$14.67/hour)

• Barista (CAD$11.41/hour)

• Dog Walker (CAD$14.16/hour)

• Translator (CAD$21.16/hour)

• Salesperson (CAD$12.42–CAD$50.00 and higher)

Post-study Visa

Graduates can work after graduation, just like they can with any other open work permit. Graduates can work full-time, part-time, or as sole proprietors. International students can stay and work in Canada for 8 months up to 2 years after graduation, owing to the post-graduate work permit. 

If you are under 30 years old, have a master's degree or higher credential education, at least 3 years or more of recognized work experience, decent English skills, and a substantial quantity of money in your savings account, it is quite easy to obtain Canadian residency.

There are many career opportunities in Canada:

Top job options in Canada:

• Web Developer

• Human Resources (HR) Managers

• Electrical Engineer

• Veterinarians (Vets)

• Human Resources and Recruitment Officers

• Financial Advisor Developer

• Pharmacist etc.

In Canada, the average annual wage for overseas students is $58,380, or $29.94 per hour. Starting salaries for entry-level employment start at $47,698, with most experienced individuals earning up to $72,500 per year.

With the help of part-time work, scholarships, post-study work, and earning potential of the student the cost of education, and living can be fully recovered within a small span of time.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What are the frequently asked questions (FAQs) related to foreign education based in Canada?

Moving abroad for studies is more of a challenge rather than an opportunity. The study abroad programs come with their share of advantages and insecurities. Hey! Nothing to get worried about, herein, we have covered all the important queries related to study abroad programs based in Canada.