Study in Canada: Find out Courses, Student Visa, Cost & Scholarships to Study Abroad in Canada

Why Study in Canada?

Canada is one of the most welcoming countries for international students. Home to some of the world’s best educational institutions, seven of its universities rank among the top 200 in the world, according to Times Higher Education Ranking (2020).

As of 2018, there were more than 572,000 international students in Canada with most of them from India, China, South Korea, and France. The number of Indian students enrolled in Canada’s education system has been increasing for years. Compared to 2017, it jumped by 16% in 2018.

Not only does Canada provide world-class quality education, but the cost of studying and living in is also more affordable compared to the other popular study abroad destinations.

Popular Cities, Courses and Universities for International students

Popular cities to study in Canada

Montreal
Toronto (known to be safest for women)
Vancouver
Ottawa
Quebec

Popular courses to study in Canada

MS & Bachelors in Engineering and MBA are the most popular courses that international students take up in the top universities in Canada for masters. Within MBA, students prefer to do masters in Marketing, Finance, and HR. Other popular courses include:

Bachelors in Information Technology
Bachelors in Business Management
Masters in Marketing
MS (Engineering)
Masters in Finance
Masters in Pharmacy
Masters in Computer Science Engineering
Masters in Petroleum Engineering
Masters in Environmental Engineering
Masters in Biotechnology
Masters in Supply Chain Management
Masters in Life Sciences

Popular universities in Canada

Most Canadian Institutions develop a market-oriented curriculum for you to do well after your studies and are acknowledged all over the world.

University	QS World University Rankings 2020
University of Toronto	29
McGill University	35
University of British Columbia	51
University of Alberta	113
Université de Montréal	137
McMaster University	140
University of Waterloo	173
Western University	211
University of Calgary	233
Queen's University	239

Education System in Canada

Under this section, let us understand the post-secondary education system of Canada. This is the term for education after Grade 12 in Canada. According to the Canadian Bureau of International Education, 75% of international students in Canada were enrolled in post-secondary education in 2017.

CEGEP stands for Collège d'enseignement général et professionnel

There are mainly two types of post-secondary institutions – universities and colleges and these two terms are not used interchangeably in Canada.

Type of institutions	Key Points
Universities	Majorly degree-granting May also provide Postgraduate diplomas and certificates (up to one year) In 2017, India was in the top 2 countries for citizenship of International students at the university level.
Colleges and institutes	Provide training in applied fields of work Known by many other names such as colleges, community colleges, colleges of applied arts or applied technology, institutes of technology or science, collèges d’enseignement général et professionnel in Quebec

While universities majorly offer Bachelor's, Master's and Doctoral degrees, following table briefs about the programs offered by Colleges in Canada.

Programs offered by Colleges	Key points
Associate degree	60 credits course Common subjects: Associate of Arts (Business) and Associate of Arts (Science)
Certificate programs	Equip students with skills and knowledge for an entry-level job
Applied degree	Designed to meet industry demands and inculcate analytical skills Common subjects: Bachelor of Applied Business (Accounting, Financial Services, E-Business, International Business, Automotive Management, and Hospitality) and Bachelor of Applied Information Science among many others.
Diploma	Designed for technical, trades or vocational fields May have a co-op internship or other apprenticeship options Credits or points collected during a diploma may be extended to a bachelor’s degree

Cost of Studying in Canada

Canadian education is relatively affordable compared to many countries. Average masters tuition fees in Canada can be anywhere between CAD 13, 000 to CAD 66, 000. While for under graduation, it can lie between CAD 20,000 to CAD 56,000. Table below gives you an idea for some courses. The figures have been taken from Statistics Canada.

Average Cost of Study in Canada	Cost of Undergraduate Study (CAD)	Cost of Postgraduate Study (CAD)
Architecture	26,457	23,992
Business, management and public administration	28,680	24,693
Engineering	33,703	19,301
Mathematics, computer and information sciences	33,012	16,647
Communications technologies	25,127	14,737
BBA	25,000-45,000	Not Applicable
Executive MBA	Not Applicable	66,665
Regular MBA	Not Applicable	38,950

Living expenses may range from CAD 1250 to CAD 2500 but will vary according to your course, college or university, your location in Canada and your lifestyle.

Intakes and deadlines

Commence the application process at least 8 months before the classes start. This gives you enough time to prepare in terms of arranging documents, knowing fees structure along with acquainting yourself with other requirements.

You can apply to Canadian educational universities and colleges in three admission seasons:

Fall session
Spring session
Summer session

Most of the students opt for Fall intake, followed by Spring. Summer intakes are offered by a selected number of universities.

The deadlines for the intakes are mentioned in the table below.

Intakes	Starts in	Details	Deadlines
Fall Intake	September	Primary Intake. Universities offer all the courses to international students	Deadlines for application for this intake generally fall between December and March. However, it varies from institute to institute.
Winter Intake	January	Secondary Intake. A large number of courses available for students who missed fall intake	Deadline to this intake generally fall between September and November. However, it varies from institute to institute.
Spring Intake	May	Only Few Courses Available, not all universities offer courses in Spring Intake	The final dates to apply for May Intake are generally fall in February. However, the dates may change from institute to institute.

It is important to note that the exact deadlines vary from course to course and hence is recommended to a student to check the university website carefully. However, admission deadlines (in most cases) for the September intake are:

15th of January (for undergraduate programs)
1st of March (for graduate programs)

Admission Requirements for courses in Canada

While the table below briefs the courses and the pre-requisite for admission in Canadian institutions, it is recommended that a student checks for a course’s requirement on the official site of a university or a college.

Institution	Level of Studies	Requirements	Duration
College	Certificate/Diploma	Minimum of Higher second class in intermediate (i.e., above 55%) IELTS (overall 6 with no sections less than 5.5) TOEFL- 80-84	1 year
University/College	Bachelor’s degree	First class in Intermediate IELTS (Overall 6.5 with no sections less than 6.0) TOEFL- 88-100	3-4 years
College	Associate Degree	Minimum of Higher second class in intermediate (i.e., above 55%) IELTS (Overall 6.5 with no less than 6.0 in writing band)	2 years
College	Applied degree	IELTS 6.0 AND Engineering degree or basic science graduation degree OR 2-year diploma	4 years
University/College	Post Graduate certificate/ Diploma	Bachelor’s degree 50-60% academics ( 3 or 4 Years) IELTS (Overall 6.5 with no sections less than 6.0) TOEFL- 88-93	1-2 years
University	Master's Degree (Graduate studies)	1st Class in Bachelor's degree (4 Years) IELTS (Overall 6.5 to 7.5 with no sections less than 6.0 or 6.5) TOEFL- 88-100	2-3 years
University	MBA	2-3 years of work experience GMAT between 550- 730 TOEFL- 88-100 IELTS- 6.5 - 7.5 16 years of education with first class	2 years

Canada Application Process

How to choose a course and university in Canada

You need to filter from a list of top Canadian universities basis a few factors like:

Your choice of subject
What the university or college is known for, scholarship availability
Your chances of getting in basis your academic performance
You may also consider the weather as an aspect.
If cost is a factor, you may also check which cities are the most expensive. Vancouver is known to be the most expensive Canadian city.

Points to note

Save yourself from any scam checking if your desired institution falls under the list of Designated Learning Institutions (DLIs).

What are DLIs and why do you need to know about them?

These are the Canadian educational institutions that are approved by the Provinces and Territories of Canada to admit international students. Whichever post-secondary school you choose, make sure to check that it is a part of a list of DLIs.

How many institutions should you apply for?

You can keep several options for educational institutions but keep following points in mind.

Each institution you choose may require an application fee ranging from $100 to $250. This is the basic amount you need to pay to initiate your application process at any college.
While focussing on a few is good, keeping one or two institutions in back up doesn’t cause any harm. You can keep total 6-8 schools to apply to.

Are you ready for proving your language skills?

Canadian universities may offer courses in either French or English or both. It is better to confirm beforehand.
To prove your language proficiency and later procure Visa, you need to pass any of these tests with a certain range of scores.
It is suggested to go through desired university’s website before choosing to attempt a test. Some common English tests are:
IELTS - This is the most common test accepted by the majority of Canadian Institutions.
TOEFL
Cambridge English: Advanced
If you wish to seek entry through French proficiency tests, some options include TEF, DALF, DELF or TCF.

Documentation for the application process

Since you have already cleared the language proficiency tests, use your language skills to draft a few documents while applying to the universities. Depending on the course, the institutions may require you to submit:

Statement of Purpose (SOP),
Letter of recommendation (LOR)
Resume

Points to note

You must carefully fill the applications.
Avoid any spelling, factual or grammatical errors.
Do remember to not use flowery language and keep a personal touch in these documents.
These are the only way to communicate with the schools of who you are and why should you be selected.
In case you plan to upload translated transcripts, they need to be notarized by a certified translator. You may have to upload the original ones too.

Make no mistakes

The universities encourage quality research. Sources and citations within research papers are of extreme importance in Canadian universities and plagiarism doesn’t go well with them.

Waiting to hear back from universities?

The response from your applied institution may take some time (around 6 to 8 weeks). This may range from a few weeks to a few months from the deadlines of accepting applications from students.

After you receive your acceptance letter from an institution, you may need to pay the tuition fees as mentioned on the university’s website or in your acceptance letter.
After payment of fees, save the receipt of payment that you will require to apply for a visa.

Congratulations on your admit! What’s next?

Check on the university website if your course requires a student permit or a work permit or both. Also, it is important to have a valid passport before applying for a student permit

Steps to apply for Canada Student Visa

Canada student permit is a document issued by IRCC (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada) required by international students to study in Canada. The student permit is issued for the duration of the period a student will need to complete the program.

In the points below, we will provide steps to follow to procure a study permit. Please note that you are advised to read thoroughly every point in the links provided below as these form a part of the official government website of Canada.

Read the instructions carefully and apply for a study permit.
You can also know your application fees. This amounts for CAD 150.
Check if you have the required documents.
Create an account and start your application process online.
In case, you are not comfortable uploading the documents by yourself, you may choose to post those offline with the help of VFS Global. In India, you can apply for a Canadian Visa at VFS Global Services Centres located in Mumbai, Ahmedabad (West India), Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad (South India), New Delhi, Chandigarh, Jalandhar (North India), Kolkata (East India). It provides complete information for Canadian student visa, visa forms, Canadian visa fees, visa processing time, visa status check (visa tracker), and procedure to apply for the visa.
If you have been instructed to contact a visa office in your area, the list of available centres. There is a list of documents you may need to carry to the centre.
Problems may arise while opening your application form but there are solutions to it.
After you have applied, you may need to go to a visa centre to give fingerprints and photographs.
The processing time after submission of your application can be checked online.
You must carry a set of documents that you may need to show after arrival in Canada.

Points to note

You don’t need student permit if your course is of lesser than 6 months duration.
Purchase of GIC (Guaranteed Investment Certificate): This forms a part of documents required to get a student permit as a part of financial proofs. The students must buy a special guaranteed investment certificate (GIC) from any of the participating banks like Nova Scotia Bank, ICICI Bank, SBI Canada Bank, CIBC Bank for the amount of CAD 10,200 for the adjustment of the living expenses of the first year. Approx. $200 will be deducted as the administrative charges of Bank (It depends on Bank to Bank). The student receives $ 2000 immediately after arrival in Canada. Next $8000 will be paid to the students in 12 equal instalments as each month’s living expenses.

For students going for Quebec, refer to additional visa requirements below in the last section of this guide.

Financial aid for International students to study in Canada

International students in Canada may have access to a wide range of financial aid options to assist them with the costs of studying in Canada.

Broadly, these options fall into two categories:

Scholarships

Financial aid granted for academic or extracurricular achievement is known as a scholarship, or sometimes a grant. Students who receive scholarships do not have to pay the money back. Some scholarships are available to all students going to all universities in various fields, while some are region specific (like Ontario).

The Ontario Graduate Scholarship applies for graduate students in Ontario.
International students may also qualify for some of the government scholarships such as the Canadian Commonwealth Scholarship Program, Vanier Canada Scholarships and Trudeau Foundation Doctoral Scholarships.
Quebec Provincial Government Scholarship is available for students above Master's level.
NSRCC scholarships are awarded to extraordinary students in fields of engineering and natural sciences.
Ontario Trillium Scholarships are for selected PhD students in Ontario. 75 in number and worth 40,000 CAD yearly, this is renewable for four years.
Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute are awarded at both graduate and postgraduate levels. Research and training courses can avail these.
Partnership Grants by Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada is for PhD students. These have worth up to 20,000 CAD.

There are many university-specific scholarships available as well. The details of these will be available on their websites. The overall grants could start from $2,000 and range upto being fully-funded as well. Prospective international students are encouraged to refer to institutions directly to find out more about available options.

Loans

International students in Canada have access to student loans on the same terms as Canadian citizens or permanent residents. Consequently, international students in Canada pay the same interest rates and have the same repayment schedule as Canadian citizens or permanent residents.

However, international students may not be eligible for loans from provincial or federal governments and may need to investigate private loans with banks. Several banks offer separate loans, credit lines, and interest rates for students.

Life in Canada, Health and Safety

Canada seems to be more open in welcoming people from all across the world for Immigration reasons. Choosing a location where you may have relatives makes it easier initially. The time difference between Canada from India is almost 9.5 hours. The weather is on the colder side where winters can be gruelling with -30 degrees Celsius at some places. In summers, the weather is pleasant under 30 degrees Celsius.

International students need to have a health cover in Canada providing 24-hours-a-day, 7-days-a-week medical assistance. Health insurance laws, however, are divided according to which provinces (states or geographical areas) you live in. A broad range of cost could be from CAD 275 to CAD 500. The cheapest available insurance designed specifically for international students is at Alberta (CAD 68) and British Columbia (CAD 36). Universities in Canada take mental health seriously.

Off Campus Jobs

As an international student in Canada, once you have completed the first six months of your bachelors or masters, you can get a permit to work part-time, off-campus for up to 20 hours a week. During semester breaks, you are allowed to work full-time. However, if you are in an intensive course, the university will recommend you to not work more than 12 hours a week.

In order to work “off-campus”, a study permit must be authorized by a visa officer. If you are enrolled in a full-time academic, professional or vocational training program at a designated learning institution, you may be eligible to work “off-campus” without a work permit. However, it should be printed on the study permit that you are authorized to work off-campus.

It may not be easy to get hold of your first job. Students use Indeed.com and various other local websites to find jobs but most of the time, it requires in-person visits and taking follow-ups politely. Some common part time jobs not related to your subject that you can do in Canada are listed below.

At a cafe, restaurant, back office, store, malls, supermarkets, gas stations, etc.
Social Media Jobs: Companies pay students to create and manage their social media profiles. If you have the skills to do digital marketing, you can get paid a lot of money here.
Freelance Jobs: You can share any of your useful skills on YouTube or make a course online.
Tutoring: You need to apply for this. If there is a research opportunity, you can work with a professor as their assistant.

The student work laws are more lenient; you can work both on-campus and off-campus. The minimum work wage is CAD 10.25 per hour. After tax, you may earn about CAD 200 per week and CAD 800 per month.. Find out more about working in Canada while studying.

Co-op Programs

You can work outside the campus and this may be a part of your coursework. Some courses require you to work in industries for a semester. This period is called a work term. You can ask your co-op department if you find an organization to work with. There are a few eligibility requirements to work as a co-op student in Canada. These programs enhance your resume as you get some work experience.

Full time Salaries

If you look for the best jobs for in Canada, it depends on your expectations of ‘best’ job such as work-life balance, promotion spans, salary, and peers among many others. There can be multiple fields of work where salaries are high and comparable. However, a few degrees that are probable to land you into a well-paying job include examples such as dentistry, medicine, nursing, law, engineering, computer science, business.

See the table below for some high paying jobs in Canada.

Job title	Average annual salary (CAD)
Dentist	3,90,000
Psychiatrist	2,42,000
Surgeon	1,60,000
Lawyer	1,08,000
IT Manager	97,190
Business Operations Manager	87,500
Pilot	73,000
Marketing Manager	72,500
Sales Manager	70,000
Petroleum Engineer	50,000

Source: https://neuvoo.ca/salary/?

Please note that the figures in the table above are indicative and may vary with level of education and your experience.

After graduation, following fields of work offer high paying jobs:

Architecture and Engineering
Hospitality and Tourism
Information Technology
Marketing

For careers in Computer Science, the average salary ranges from CAD 39,000 to CAD 80,000. Some popular jobs include Information Technology Specialists, programmers, researchers, teachers, game developers, trainers for application support among many others.

Stay back Options

If you have graduated from a list if DLIs then you can apply for Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP). There are two scenarios arising:

If you are a student and waiting for your final marks and have your study permit valid even after getting your final marks, you can apply for PGWP till 180 days.
If your study permit expires before getting your final marks, then either you have to leave Canada and apply from your home country for PGWP or, get your study permit extended and then apply for PGWP.

How long is your PGWP valid?

Make sure your passport is valid through the entire length of your stay in Canada. Check for how long you can stay with a PGWP in Canada in the table below.

Length of program	PGWP Validity
Less than 8 months	Not valid
More than 8 months less than 2 years	Same as length of program
2 years or more	Up to 3 years
More than 1 program	Combined length of program, these should be PGWP eligible, each at least 8 months long, PGWP has to be applied not at the time of first program but second.

Fee structure for PGWP

Status	Fee (CAD)
Only PGWP	255
Restoration of student status and PGWP combined	605

Processing time for PGWP

Mode of application for PGWP	*Time (days)**
On paper	139
Online	89

These timelines depend on how properly you have submitted your information and if there are revisions required.
In case of offline forms, these may vary as the government faces multiple applications and may take time in processing.

However, there are some exceptional cases and special cases to apply for a PGWP.
For more information on how to stay in Canada if you are not eligible for PGWP (but can work with other types of work permits) you can visit the official link of Canadian government.

Permanent Residency

After studying and having some work experience in Canada, you might want to become a permament resident there.
As a permanent citizen, you get most social benefits as a Canadian citizen and work or study anywhere in Canada and can even apply for Canadian citizenship.
There are many ways of immigration in Canada such as Express Entry, Provincial nominees among many others.
To check which one is best for you, you need to answer a few questions listed by the Canadian government.

Québec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ)

To study in Canada in Québec, the international students, depending on their duration of study have to obtain permission to study from the governments of Quebec and Canada by applying to a certificate of acceptance. This has to be done before applying for a study permit. Some steps a student needs to follow to obtain a CAQ.

Complete the online application and pay the prescribed fees using Forex Card or an International Credit Card.
Enclose the required documents applicable to the country or the territory in which you are currently residing or staying - typically includes -

- recent ID photo, passport format (35 mm x 45 mm)
- payment of fees to examine your application
- a legible photocopy of the identity pages of your passport containing your personal information, photo and the passport expiry date
- letter of admission from the registrar (or admissions office) of the educational institution you will attend

Once your application has been accepted, a copy of your CAQ for studies will be mailed to you and a conditional agreement will be dispatched to the Canadian visa office indicated in your application form. This office will validate your financial capacity to continue your studies in Québec.

Send your complete file to the Service aux étudiants étrangersin Montréal by placing an online pickup request on Yocket.

Quebec Foreign Student Service for CAQ

285, Notre-Dame Street West,

4th floor, Montreal, CANADA

Montreal - H2Y1T8

If you meet the prerequisites, a Québec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ) for studies will be issued in your name. The CAQ is generally valid for the duration of your study program up to a maximum of 49months.

You can submit application form offline which has to be sent with your credit card number to Quebec to pay the application fees of CAD 114. However, it is suggested to fill the form and submit all the supporting documents online to avoid any payment issues e.g., in case there are not enough funds in your account associated with credit card you have mentioned, your application will be straight rejected.

FAQs

1. How many hours can someone work on a student visa in Canada?

Students can work up to 20 hours per week during the semester period and full-time during the breaks. There are lots of things to consider when working in Canada. The rules and regulations can be found here

2. How much proof of funds do I need to show while applying for a study visa in Canada?

A single student (without a spouse) needs to show Tuition plus $10,000 for 12 months (or $833 per month). In Quebec, this amount may vary according to the student’s age. More information on Canada Masters cost can be found here

3. Which English language test should I give for Canada study: TOEFL or IELTS?

Canadian Universities accept IELTS, TOEFL and CAE Advanced as a proof of proficiency in English language. Still, it is good to verify in the ‘eligibility criteria’ within your shortlisted university.

4. Under what cases do Canada Visa get rejected?

If you have submitted incomplete applications or documents found are fraudulent, your visa can get rejected. Lack of sufficient funds proof may also get your application denied.

5. What are the requirements for study permit in Canada?

Some documents you primarily need to get a study permit in Canada are valid passport (valid until course completion), your acceptance letter from your university or college, finding proof to support your education, a visa form, visa application fee and biometric fees.

6. Which is the best city to study in Canada?

7 Canadian universities rank among top 200 according to QS WORLD RANKINGS 2020. These are from Toronto, Montreal, British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario.

7. What is the cost of education and living in Canada?

The tuition fee ranges from CAD 10,000 to $ 25,000 per year and the average cost of living including everything should be around CAD 600 to CAD 800 per month.

8. Is Canada Visa easy to get?

Unlike US since there is no face to face interview, the perception is that Canadian visa is easier, most importantly since the country has a very open door policy for internationals and immigration rules are liberal it’s comparatively easier to get the visa, overall documentation and rationale is the same.

9. Under what conditions can I be exempted to apply for a QAC?

If you don’t intend to study in Quebec.
If your program’s length in Quebec is less than 6 months. However, it is recommended to enquire with the university in case you plan to extend your stay.
For further information, you can visit http://www.immigration-quebec.gouv.qc.ca/en/immigrate-settle/students/index.html

10. What is the duration of a Bachelor’s degree in Canada?

For most of the universities, it is 4 years. If students are involved in co-op or other internship programs, it may extend up to 5 years. For students studying in Quebec, the duration is 3 years.

11. What are the chances of getting a postgraduate degree after you have graduated from a Canadian post-secondary educational institution?

Once you have completed a BA degree in a Canadian tertiary institute you are more than welcome to continue your postgraduate studies in this country, having full legal support from the Canadian authorities regarding migration policies.

12. What type of documentation will I need to apply for a student visa in Canada?

Applicants are generally required:

Proof of acceptance and enrolment to an accredited academic institution in Canada;
Possess a valid passport, travel document, and provide proof of financial support;
Ties to their home country and evidence of their intention to leave Canada at the end of their studies.

Additionally, students have to have proof of no criminal history or endangering medical conditions of any sort and willingly undergo medical testing as required.

13. What are the popular fields of studies in Canada?

Some high in demand fields include Life Sciences, Computer Science, Biological Science, Food Technology, and Chemistry. Many Canadian MBA programs are ranked among the top in the World Ranking.

14. Is the education system the same as in the USA?

Yes, it is similar in terms of the 10+2+4 education system.

15. What is the official website for applying for Canada immigration?

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/e-services/index.asp?_ga=1.241471426.1360721711.1412859419

16. Do students seeking a Ph.D. in Canada require any references to apply?

In Canada’s selection process to admit research students, it is important to have a faculty contact, else the process does not proceed. In Masters, too, some courses may require faculty contact.

17. Are there any more tests other than IELTS for admission to Canadian institutions?

Depending on the course, you may need to clear tests other than IELTS such as

GMAT to pursue an MBA in a reputed Canadian university
TOEFL may be required as an English Proficiency test. This should be checked on the university website
GRE- Only a few universties and courses need GRE general test.

18. Why do I need a sponsor to study in Canada?

After receiving an acceptance letter from a school, you shall have to pay Tuition fees for the first year of your education. However, the Canadian government needs to be assured that you have enough funds to be able to complete your course. Hence, a sponsor is required whose documents show that you have enough funds to live while in Canada.

19. Can you give a summary of the types of fees to be paid in the entire process to get admission in Canada?

Apart from fees involved in the shipping of documents, in case you opt for the offline process, the following are major checkpoints to note:

Application fees for a university
Score reporting fees for entrance tests like GRE, TOEFL/IELTS
Tuition fees to pay for the first year of your course as mentioned in the acceptance letter
Purchase of GIC (Guaranteed Investment Certificate) as a proof of funds for your living expenses
Proof of funds with your sponsor to show that you will be able to pay for the complete course of your studies (other than the first year) in Canada
Visa processing fees to acquire a study permit or a work permit or both as required

20. Will I be able to adapt to Canadian institutions?

Well, that entirely depends on your interests. However, since Canada is one of the leading destinations for post-secondary studies, there has to be something right it is doing to attract international students. Most of Canadian institutions ensure comfort for their international students by arranging counselling sessions, encouraging them to join student clubs and orientation programs.

21. How are Postgraduate diplomas and certificates offered by universities helpful during my graduation?

Such diplomas and certificates enhance a student’s resume as their primary aim is to add to a student’s knowledge of a subject. Upon completion of such diplomas, one may choose to transfer into a Master’s program depending on the subject and the university.

22. Do Canadian institutions accept the 10+2+3 education system of India?

Yes, the 10+2+3 system is accepted for postgraduate (PG) diploma programs however, for masters, almost all universities require 10+2+4. However, certain universities may accept 10+2+3 for masters in selected programs on a case-to-case basis.

Unlike India, Canada has two parallel education systems wherein colleges and universities are separate entities. Colleges offer PG diplomas and universities offer masters programs. Some universities may also offer PG diploma programs in selected courses.

23. What are the options available to me if I have only completed 15 years of education and I need 16 for entry into a Masters level program?

Some Universities may accept you with a 3 year Bachelor’s degree e.g., York University. Others may evaluate your academic history and consider you for a direct entry to Masters if you have an excellent academic record, so it is highly recommended you check with the University of CEC. If not, you will have one of the following options:

a) You can complete your Master’s degree here in India, and apply for the same thereafter in Canada, or
b) You may complete your Master’s degree here in India, and apply for your Ph.D. thereafter in Canada, or
c) You may apply for admission into a College/University in Canada, enrolling into a PG Diploma program, or you may enrol in the Graduate Diploma/Pre MBA course in a Canadian University
d) You may try to get your credits transferred to a University there, entering your 3rd or 4th year in a Bachelors program. (For this you would need to contact the Admissions Department of the Institution applied for).

24. Under what conditions am I not allowed to work as a student?

An international student must stop working the day they no longer meet the eligibility requirements. There is an important exemption to this regulation: students enrolled in an English as a Second Language (ESL) or French as a Second Language (FSL) program are not authorized to work with a study permit.

25. What is the Student Direct Stream (SDS)?

It is a process that gets you faster procurement of your study permit in Canada.

26. Is CEGEP useful?

CEGEP (Collège d'enseignement général et professionnel) is an educational college funded publicly in Quebec province. It is a pre-college university program to prepare students for job markets. For international students, it costs around CAD 12,000 to CAD 19,000.

27. Can my family live with me when I am studying in Canada?

Through the Student Direct Stream, you can get your family members while studying with you.

28. What is the minimum age to get a student visa in Canada?

Though there is no age limit to study in Canada, you need to acquire a student permit even if you are minor. The age limit also varies with province and territories.

29. Can I directly start working after my course is completed?

Professions such as law, education and medicine may require an internship or examination before achieving a license to work.

30. Does University of Toronto offer any diploma or certificate?

University of Toronto awards Graduate Diploma in Professional Accounting (GDipPA) to students.

31. How to prepare SOPs and other documents for the application process?

It is quite understandable that this is one of the time consuming part of the entire application process. However, this is one of the most important of them as well. A good SOP can fetch you dream admits and a bad one can force rejections upon you despite having a decent profile. Write a rough draft and make revisions.

Try to get inputs from a lot of seniors/friends and fine-tune them to get the best version of it. Do customize it from one university to another.
Do not have one generic SOP to be sent to universities.
SOPs must not be explaining your CVs. They must be focusing on pieces of stuff that cannot be captured in CVs. More like the characteristics/traits you possess with some real-time examples justifying your claims.
Stick to the number of words that are expected by the admission committee. Typically, an SOP is 700 to 800 words long.

32. As a research student, what should I take care of while contacting a professor?

Select 6 to 8 Professors from different universities working on an area where you are most interested in. Carefully study the most recent and active projects that the Professors are working on. Check if the Professors have an active grant and are willing to hire new grad students. Without a call for prospective students enlisted in the website, it is recommended not to e-mail a Professor.

Try to find a few tutorials online on how to prepare a research summary by listing down the strong and weak/improvement points of a research paper. Sending this will increase your chances and will give some assurance to the Professors that you are interested and willing to commit yourself to take up the stage. If the Professor doesn’t get back to you, wait for a couple of weeks and then send him/her a gentle reminder! A word of caution, “Do not spam their mailbox!”

33. What key points should I remember on university’ website for choosing courses?

Visit the respective department websites
Admission Requirements / Entry Criteria
Check for application/scholarship deadline
Course structure
Faculty page if you are a research student as it shall provide you information about the latest research going under a professor.

34. How do I apply for a work permit if not eligible for a co-op internship?

Work permits can still be applied depending on whether you have got your study permit or not.

35. What is a Co-op internship program? Am I eligible for this?

Your eligibility is subjected to the requirement of the course you choose. Some courses require work experience as a part of their curriculum for which you may require a work permit as well.

36. What is the ideal time to apply to study in Canada?

Generally, the application period ranges from mid-October to late-January. If you are planning on securing an admission, you will have to apply as early as possible. The Professors will be on a Winter break from the last week of December to the first week of January.

Few universities evaluate applications as and when they arrive and throw in rolling-admits. Few universities wait for the deadline to get over & then start evaluating the applications. Each application is handled on a case-by-case basis.

The recommendation to apply early is to ensure that if you have missed some documents, they are going to reach out to you and you can submit that on time as well. If you apply late & miss out on an important document, your application will be treated as ‘incomplete’ and you are welcoming a reject!

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