Visa of the Month

All about Canada

Did you know that Canada is the second-largest country in the world at 10 million square kilometres? It is only surpassed by Russia in terms of land size. Canada’s border with the USA is the world’s longest land border; with hundreds of thousands of crossings (both ways) each day.Canada touches three oceans – the Pacific Ocean to the west, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Arctic Ocean to the north.  

It contains ten provinces and three territories – the Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut.Although physically large, there are only about 33 million of us here – that’s about 4 million less than the population of California. So they have lots of space and relatively few people. If you like to get away from it all, it’s tough to beat Canada.

Province in Canada

There are ten provinces and three territories in Canada.

Why study in Canada

Canada is known to offer high quality education at affordable tuition fee with degrees that are globally recognised, hosting nearly half a million international students. Adding to that, it offers an excellent quality of life, immense post-study work and immigration opportunities - Canada stands out as a popular country to study among Indian students. Universities and colleges of Canada and are world-renowned for their high standards, safe campuses, and educational excellence. They provide high quality education.When a student receives a degree from a Canadian university, it acts as a mark of trust and excellence. 26 of Canada's universities rank in the QS World University Rankings 2019 and 27 of them in the World University Ranking 2019.

One of the biggest reasons why Canadian education stands unique is because of its strong focus on research and development. If you’re a research scholar, there can be no country better than Canada. The government of Canada offers great support to research in the disciplines of medicine, telecommunication, agriculture, environmental science and technology. And if you are a sports person, sports in Canadian Universities and colleges are popular and competitive. They have outstanding facilities of libraries and sports. Apart from that you will also get to see fine museums, art galleries, theatres and concert halls.

Tuition fee in Canada, when compared to universities in the US and UK is fairly cheaper. You can also apply to a range of scholarships to cut down on your educational expenses. In Canada, you’ll find extremely warm and welcoming people who come from varied ethnic groups with different cultures and lifestyle. The multicultural environment in Canada promotes friendliness and peaceful living like no other country. Canada has also been consistently ranked as one of the safest nations in the world. In 2018, the Global Peace Index listed Canada as the sixth peaceful country across the globe. As international student, you’ll enjoy the same rights as any other Canadian.

Adding to all of that, earn while you learn: Thanks to its special regulations, Canada provides all its international students with an opportunity to work for up to 20 hours every week during their semesters and full-time during the summer and winter breaks. To work on-campus or as an intern in any company, you would not require any additional work permit as your study permit is enough to help you find a part time job.

PNP – Provincial Nominee Program

• Provincial Nomination is an important fast-track option for Canadian Permanent Residency.
• For e.g. if a student studies a course from any institution from Saskatchewan, then he can apply for PR after completion of the course under Provincial Nominee Program if the province is participating at that point of time.
• Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Saskatchewan and Yukon are the provinces which periodically participate in the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP).
• Facility of Super Visa is offered to parents.
• Super Visa (Super Visa) is a temporary resident permit that allows parents and grandparents of permanent residents or citizens of Canada to stay for up to 2 years in Canada per visit. It is valid for up to 10 years. A regular multiple-entry visa is also valid for up to 10years.

Education system in Canada

The Canadian education system offers three degrees: bachelors, masters, and doctorate degrees. As an international student, you are welcome to complete all or part of your education in Canada. Like other countries, there are both public and private universities. There are about 98 Universities and 150 Community college across Canada. Community colleges offer UG diploma, Bachelors degree, Pg.Diploma, certificate programs & University transfer program. The duration of UG diploma is 2-3 years, Bachelors- 4 years, Pg.Diploma -1-2 years, Maters- 2years, Ph.D-2 to 5 years. Tuition fees for public universities average between 7,500 and 22,500 CAD per year, while tuition for private universities tend to be much higher. With few exceptions, degrees earned in Canada are internationally recognized.

A vast majority of degree programs in Canada are taught in English. Therefore, students from countries where English is not the native language will have to prove their English proficiency through either the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or IELTS (The International English Language Testing System). That being said, studying abroad in Canada is also a great way to improve your English language skills. Practice speaking with locals to perfect your skills while also making new, international friends. Plus, if you plan on staying in Canada after your studies, proficiency in English will definitely be a requirement.

Intakes

Major intakes are September, January & May and limited intake in July and October as well.

Here are some of the popular courses offered by Canadian Universities for International Student;

I. Courses Available for International Students

• Accounting
• Accounting and Finance
• Business Studies
• Business Administration
• Chemical Engineering
• Civil Engineering
• Computer programming
• Computer networking and technical support
• Culinary Arts
• Electronics Engineering Computers
• Fashion Merchandising
• Food Technology
• Graphic Design
• International Management
• Hospitality (Hotel) Management
• Human Recourses Management
• Marketing
• Marketing Administration
• Mechanical Engineering
• Nursing
• Small Business Management
• Travel & Tourism

II. Admission Requirements

• Minimum Year 12 (or recognised equivalent)
• Minimum requirement of IELTS is 6.0 Band or above

III. Course Duration

• 1 to 4 years
• Commencing January, May and September (Winter, Summer & Fall)

IV. Course fee

• $CDN 9000.00 p.a. to 16500.00 p.a

Living in Canada

I. Economy is booming

Canada has the 10th largest economy in the world, and it’s a country known for its economic freedom. Starting a business in Canada is a straight forward process, and with such a strong, healthy economy, there’s a lot of opportunity for your new business to succeed.

II. Health care

Canada’s free universal healthcare system is considered an example for much of the world. Of course, free doesn’t entirely mean free — it’s funded by tax dollars that come out to around C$4,000 a year for a single person. Still, paying those taxes means you can see a doctor, get your eyes checked, and go to the emergency room and more without paying a direct fee.

III. Crime is low

Since 1991, Canada’s general crime rate has been steadily declining. Violent crime is rare in Canada, which makes it one of the safest countries in the world.

IV. Climate

Canada is often associated with cold weather and snow, but in reality, its climate is as diverse. Canadians enjoy four very distinct seasons. Daytime summer temperatures can rise to 35°C and higher, while lows of -25°C are not uncommon in winter.

Summers can be hot and dry on the prairies, humid in central Canada, and milder on the coasts. Spring is generally pleasant across the country. Autumns are often crisp and cool, but brightened by rich orange and red leaves on trees.

Winters are generally cold with periods of snow, although southern Alberta enjoys the occasional "Chinook", a warm dry wind from the Rocky Mountains that gust through and melts the snow. Winters are mild and wet on the west coast, in cities such as Vancouver and Victoria.

When the temperature does drop, Canadians stay warm thanks to an infrastructure of heated houses, cars and public transportation systems. Some cities have also installed walkways to and from buildings in schools.

Living Expenses

Canada has very affordable education fees in comparison to other developed countries. That is one of the reasons why college students are searching more for Canada instead of USA. And for an international student, the cost of studying in Canada and living expenses vary between $20,000 and $30,000, in Canadian dollars, per year.

SCHOLARSHIP

Scholarships in Canada are quite competitive as they are very limited in number as compared to scholarships offered by other countries like USA, UK or Australia. The eligibility for scholarships is judged on the basis of outstanding academic grades and exceptional English Proficiency scores. Scholarships are mostly offered by the universities without any separate application, based on the eligibility benchmarks but at some institutions the students need to apply specifically for the same. Scholarships are majorly offered at the entry level but for some scholarships the students are supposed to prove their excellence in academics in the subsequent years of education as well.

Popular Scholarships

PEO International Peace Scholarships for Women

• Scholarship Amount: CAD $12,500
• Scholarship Type: Merit Based
• Applicability: Accredited Universities and Colleges in USA or Canada

Ontario Graduate Scholarships (For a Mastersprogram)

• Scholarship Amount: CAD $5,000 per semester (For 2 to 3 consecutive semesters only)
• Scholarship Type: Merit Based
• Applicability: University of Toronto

Dalhousie University Scholarships

(For current undergraduate students except Faculty of Agriculture students )

• Scholarship amount: CAD $500 to CAD $2000 per year
• Scholarship type: Merit Based
• Applicability: Dalhousie University

University of Saskatchewan International Student Awards

• Scholarship Amount: CAD $ 500 to CAD $ 3000 ( At the time of admission )
• Scholarship Type: Merit Based
• Applicability: University of Saskatchewan

York University International StudentScholarships

(For undergraduate programs)

• Global Leader of Tomorrow Award: CAD $80,000 ($20,000 x 4 years)
• International Entrance Scholarships: CAD $140,000 ($35,000 x 4years)
• Scholarship Type: MeritBased
• Applicability: York University

Lakehead University – Undergraduate Entrance Scholarship

• Scholarship Amount: CAD $4,000 to upto CAD $30,000
• Scholarship Type: Merit Based
• Applicability: Lakehead University

Work Permit & Part Time Job

Students are eligible to work part time on or off campus from day one

Study permits will automatically authorize the holder to work on/off-campus for up to 20 hours per week during the academic session and full-time (i.e. 40 hours per week) during scheduled breaks without the need to apply for a separate work permit. The study permit holder should be pursuing an academic, vocational or professional training of six months or more that leads to a degree, diploma or certificate at a Designated Learning Institution.

Co-op & Internship Programmes : Many of the programs have inbuilt internships of one or two semesters which provide an opportunity for the student to get first hand exposure and experience in Industry relating to his or her area of study.

• Co-ops are for a semester or more and are mostlypaid.
• Internships are for lesser time period i.e. 15 days to 30 days and may or may not be paid.

Post Study Work VISA

All international students who have graduated from a Canadian post-secondary institution are eligible for a Post Study Work Visa to gain valuable Canadian work experience.

To be eligible for a Post Study Work Visa, international students

• Should have studied full-time for at least eight months preceding the completion of their program and have graduated from a Designated LearningInstitution.
• Must have completed and passed the program of study and received written notification that they are eligible to obtain their degree, diploma, orcertificate.
• Must apply for a post study work permit within 180 days of receiving written confirmation by way of final marksheets from their academicinstitution.
• The Post Study Work Visa provides no restrictions on the type of employment and requirement of a job offer.
• lf the program duration is less than 8 months - Students are not eligible for a Post Study WorkVisa.
• If the program duration is more than 8 months but less than 2 years- Post Study Work Visa will be issued for the same length as the study program. (For example, if student completed a 9-month program, a work permit may be issued for up to 9 months).
• If the program duration is 2 years or more- Post Study Work Visa will be issued for 3 years.
• If a student has completed more than one program, they may be able to get a PSW that combines the length of both the programs. For this, each of the programsthey have completed must be - Post Study Work Visa eligible and at least 8 months in length.

Visa

You can apply for a Canada Study visa if you fulfil the following criteria

• You have been accepted by a designated learning institute (DLI)
• You need to prove that you have adequate funds to pay your tuition fee and living expenses
• You need to prove that you have a clean background and no criminal record. The aspirants need to produce a police certificate to prove this
• You need to do a health check-up and produce a medical certificate that certifies that you are in good health
• You need to score 6.0 in all bands in IELTS
• GIC CAD 10,000

Also at the time of visa interview, you need to convince the visa officer that you will leave Canada once you complete your studies.

Which Documents are required for Canadian Visa?

• Valid Passport
• Proof of Acceptance by a Designated Learning Institution
• Proof of Funds
• Passport size photographs
• Immigration Medical Examination (IME)
• English Language Proficiency Exam Score
• Statement of Purpose
• Credit Card

Before you leave; you’re final Checklist

• All your applications submitted and all the paper work is done
• Passport and students visa
• An arranged housing to live
• Have enough money to get you settled down
• Photocopy all important Documents (visa, passport, birth certificate, insurance coverage, travellers cheques, prescription medication, permanent ID/driver’s license, etc.) leaving a second copy at home or make a scanned copy of the above information that you can access through your email.
• Pack your suitcase and don’t forget that the climate will be different from your home country (so pack accordingly)
• If you are planning to do part-time work, better start the process at home and before landing there.
• Check the city and nearby areas (of course through internet)
• SAY YOUR GOODBYES