Canada, second largest country in the world, land of vast diversity, urban sophistication and rich nature and wildlife, has been ranked, by the United Nations among the top 10 countries in the world in Quality of Life Index since 2004. It is one of the world’s wealthiest and most industrialized countries. Northern Canada is known for gas and oil exploration while Eastern Canada is known for agriculture, forestry and fisheries. It is one of the world’s most computer-literate and technologically sophisticated markets. The provinces of Ontario and Quebec are known for industries. Canada is the world leader in Aerospace, Pharmaceuticals, Telecommunication and Biotechnology. It is a member of the G7, the G20, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the United Nations (UN), the World Trade Organization (WTO) and many other international bodies. The Canadian Dollar is one of the most stable currencies in the world.
Canada is a multicultural and diverse country. In the 2016 Census, 40% of Canadians reported having one or more of 200 ethnic origins and over 19% of Canadians classified themselves as a visible minority. Over the past 150 years, Canada has welcomed 17 million immigrants from all around the world thanks to national policies supporting immigration and multiculturalism. Canada has two official languages: English and French. English is the native language for 56% of the population and French is the native language for 20% (2016 Census, Statistics Canada). Chinese dialects are the third most common native language in Canada, followed by Punjabi, Arabic, and Tagalog.
Canada is also known to be a modern, progressive nation with open-minded citizens who are proud of diverse origins and ethnic diversity. Canada produces athletes, artists, and engineers, doctors and architects, writers and scientists. There is a place for every type of talent in Canada, and the mix of people and specializations creates a vibrant, exciting society that’s secure but also dynamic and open to change. Some sports played are hockey, lacrosse, baseball, basketball, and soccer (often known as football in Europe). Skiing, both downhill and cross country, is another national passion. Canada is home to every cuisine in the world: diners can choose anything from Indian, Thai, or Chinese to Ethiopian, Mexican, or French.
Canada placed seventh in the United Nations’ 2018 World Happiness Report, after Finland, Norway, Denmark, Iceland, Switzerland, and the Netherlands. The Economist Intelligence Unit’s 2018 liveability report ranks three of Canada’s largest cities in the top ten ideal destinations in the world to live due to widespread availability of goods and services, low personal risk, and an effective infrastructure. According to the Global Peace Index (2018) Canada is ranked in the top 10 most peaceful countries in the world, keeping company with the likes of Iceland, Denmark, and New Zealand. Canada regularly ranks in the top 10 on the United Nations’ Human Development Index, a comparative measure of life expectancy, literacy, education, standards of living, and quality of life.
Occupying the northern half of the North American continent, Canada’s landmass is 9,093,507 square kilometres, making it the second-largest country in the world after Russia. There are more than two million lakes in Canada covering about 7.6 per cent of the country. There are ten provinces and three territories in Canada spanning a few geographic regions.
Canada’s population is now just over 36 million and the area is 99 lakh square kilometres. 80% of the population is concentrated within 160 kilometres of the southern (US) border. According to the last census in 2016, the largest Canadian cities are Toronto (5.9 million), Montreal (4.0 million), Vancouver (2.4 million), and Ottawa-Gatineau (1.3 million) and Edmonton (1.3 million). Calgary, Vancouver, and Toronto are ranked fourth, sixth and seventh, respectively, in the 2018 Economist Intelligence Unit ranking of the world’s most liveable cities because of overall stability, multiculturalism, clean environments, and world-class healthcare, and education systems
About four-fifths of Canadians live within 160 kilometres of the country’s southern border, where there are warm springs, hot summers, and pleasantly crisp autumns. Winter usually runs from November to March, but the exact dates and lowest temperatures will vary across the country. Foreign students should know that all buildings in which they will study are well heated in winter months. Many university and college campuses have underground tunnels or covered bridges through which students can move from building to building in the wintertime so as not to get cold. In short, winter is beautiful in Canada, and it is very easy to stay warm simply by dressing properly when going outdoors. students studying in Canada during winter months to invest in winter clothing, including a warm coat, a hat, mittens or gloves, a scarf, and boots.
With its range of landscapes, glacial peaks, ice fields, green vegetation and massive mountains, there is a long list of Canadian scenic wonders for students to sight see while studying in the country. Most visited tourist spots at a quick glance are the Niagara Falls, the 135 km long Okanagan Lake with its Ogopogo lake monster, the Glacier National Park, the Banff National Park and the Canadian Rockies, to name a few. From natural peaks to skyscrapers, Canada has it all! Montreal and Toronto are two large cities that offer just about everything students could possibly ask for. Toronto, an ethnically diverse city is also a major centre of higher learning and research with many well-known institutions such as the University of Toronto. The City of Saints, Montréal, is one that defies all expectation with its lush mix of North American & European swagger and cutting-edge culture.
The Education system in Canada
The higher education system in Canada is quite similar to the American education system, with a little influence from Britain.
There are mainly three types of institutions:
Public Universities: Public universities in Canada are run by the provincial, territorial or federal government funding besides receiving the tuition fees from students.
Private Universities: Private universities in Canada are mostly funded by donations and research grants. These universities do not receive funding from government bodies.
Liberal Arts Colleges: Liberal arts colleges in Canada are pretty similar to that in the USA. These are either public or private colleges, with a primary emphasis on undergraduate courses in liberal arts.
Top reasons to study in Canada
Canada consistently ranks as one of the best countries in the world. With excellent world-class educational institutions, an innovative economy, cutting-edge technology, inspiring cultural icons, a vibrant society open to everyone, tolerant and safe culture, and extraordinary beauty, Canada is an ideal destination for international students and has abundant opportunities to those who live, work and study there. It’s a land of endless possibilities. Every ear, nearly 500,000 international students choose Canada as their study destination.
When choosing a place to study, students often factor in culture and lifestyle as well as educational merits. For this reason as well as the quality of education, Canada continues to rise as a destination for high-calibre students. Across Canada are examples of excellence, innovation, and beauty, all of which—along with top-notch educational institutions—make Canada one of the leading study abroad destinations in the world.
What are the benefits for international students studying in Canada? Many! Whether you choose to study in one of the large cities or settle on a small campus your experience will be one that will shape your life. It may lead to a career and a future in Canada, or better career prospects back home.
You’ll learn with the best and brightest
Canada is recognized worldwide for its outstanding quality of education. The educators are highly trained and bring diverse perspectives to the classroom. At the university level, 2 out of every 5 academics hold at least one international degree. And 11 of the top 250 universities worldwide are in Canada.
Canadian Education Is World Class: Canada is ranked #1 by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) for higher education achievement—more than half of its citizens between the ages of 25 and 64 have a post-secondary education. The Times 2018–2019 World University Rankings placed nine Canadian universities in the top 200 (and four of these in the top 100). As well, Shanghai Jiao Tong University’s 2018 Academic Ranking of World Universities placed four Canadian institutions in its top 100, and 18 in the top 500.
Canada welcome International Students with open arms
Canada is a welcoming country with Canadian culture that embraces diversity. Canada is considered one of the safest countries in the world for international students. As an international student in Canada, one enjoys the same freedoms which protect Canadians – respect for human rights, equality and a stable, peaceful society. One feels safe, secure and welcome in Canada. Canada is multicultural. Canada is officially bilingual (English and French), and across the country, more than 200 languages are spoken. The biggest cities, Vancouver, Toronto, and Montreal, are home to many immigrant communities and one finds all sorts of ethnicities across the country. A tolerant culture is among the top Canadian values—informally, on the streets and public venues, and formally, in Canada’s laws and government. Of particular note is the Charter of Rights and Freedoms that enshrines equality for all.
Quality of life ranks highest in the world
Canada enjoys a high standard of living. It’s a great place to live and work. It ranks number one in the world when it comes to the quality of life. According to the World University Rankings, Canada has 5 of the top 100 best student cities in the world.
Will set you on the path to a promising future
Canadian college and university students graduate with a strong earning potential. In the last decade alone, Canada created 1.6 million new jobs for graduates. When you study in Canada, you invest in your future. A Canadian education opens the door to employment and business opportunities, and life in Canada after your studies. Canada’s university degrees and college diplomas are recognized worldwide.
Canada Is Innovative: Canada’s educational institutions have been incubators for innovation. The BlackBerry, flat-screen technology, SMART boards, voice compression applications for cell phones and computers, and IMAX film are among the many revolutionary technologies invented and developed by men and women who studied in Canada.
Canada Produces Leaders: Environmentalist David Suzuki; the famous architect Frank Gehry (Bilbao Guggenheim Museum, Walt Disney Concert Hall, etc.); the economist John Kenneth Galbraith (who served in the administrations of US presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt, Harry S. Truman, John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson); the cinematographer James Cameron (Titanic, Avatar); the author Margaret Atwood; musicians Justin Bieber, Sarah McLachlan, and Shawn Mendes; and actors Rachel McAdams, Jim Carrey, Kiefer Sutherland, and Ryan Gosling.
The cost to study and live is affordable
Canada is known for having some of the lowest university tuition fees among English-speaking countries. Whatever your budget maybe, you’ll find something just right for you.
Canada Is a Highly Competitive Economy: Canada has one of the world’s most stable economies. Canada also boasts one of the fastest economic growth rates among the G8 countries, and the International Monetary Fund predicts this trend to continue. The OECD has recently predicted that Canada will lead to G-7 growth in the next 50 years. Canada ranks:
Start here to plan your study abroad experience in Canada.
There are three academic intakes at the institutions in Canada: fall, winter and summer. Fall lasts from September to December, winter lasts from January to April and summer lasts from May to August. Though fall is the primary intake in most colleges, some colleges do offer a winter intake.
International students are advised to apply at the earliest, as scholarships and admissions get more and more competitive closer to the deadline. A typical application deadline would be 6 to 9 months before your session starts, and it can vary depending on each department and the subject of choice. Though deadlines are not flexible, except for diploma programmes, some institutions might accept students if seats are available.
Students can choose from a number of study programmes –
Some popular courses at the undergraduate level are engineering and administrative studies and at the postgraduate level are management, finance, MBA/MIM, MS and LLB degrees.
The price tag for higher studies in Canada is roughly half compared with other leading study destinations. Tuition fees vary from institution to institution. On average, its CAD 10,000–40,000 per year.
Annual living expenses will depend on the living location you prefer and the type of accommodation that suits you, i.e., private, homestay or on-campus accommodation. On average, students pay CAD 6,000–8,000 per year for their accommodation. Transport and other expenses are also to be considered. And health insurance costs CAD 600 (approx.) per year.
International students can work part-time for 20 hours per week – generally the first six months on campus and off-campus post this period. Some universities with more intensive courses allow their students to work for nearly 12 hours since working for more hours can affect their students’ performance.
Both government and non-government scholarships are available for international students in Canada. These include – Government scholarships
Non-government scholarships
In addition to this, there are some institution-specific scholarships for international students, such as scholarships of the University of Guelph, Queens University and Centennial College.
What is your reason to study in Canada? Is it the anticipation to visit the country? Or is it the dream to study in that country? We are here to guide you with your applications to study at Canadian universities. Do let us know what assistance you are looking for, and we’ll be on the way to answer your queries. Start here to plan your study abroad experience in Canada!