Why is Study in Canada an attractive study abroad option? A whopping 642,000 international students were recorded to have moved to Canada for their studies between 2019 – 2020. Many international students say that the country exhibits marvelous education standards and quality.
Canada has a high acceptance of multicultural diversity as well. The country offers work while studying. Hence, students prefer to study in Canada after schooling or graduation. And even after completing graduation in Canada, students can find good jobs with high-paying packages.
Most importantly, Canada has a much lower cost of living compared to other countries like the US, Australia, or the UK. Let’s take a look at 8 things to consider before planning to study in Canada.
Study In Canada: 8 Things You Must Check Before Planning
Studying in Canada can be both exciting and challenging. The knowledge of a few things about the country can help you thrive through your stay and make it fruitful. So, here are 8 things you should know before you plan to study in Canada.
1. Study In Canada: Affordability
Affordability is one of the reasons to study in Canada. The valuation of a CAD is lower than that of a Euro, an USD, etc. In Canada, annual tuition fees for undergraduate courses for international students range from CAD 15,000 to CAD 25,000. These figures vary as per the location, for instance, universities in Newfoundland are said to be cheaper than those in Ontario province.
On average, the monthly cost of living in Canada is usually between CAD 600 to CAD 800, excluding accommodation expenses. This cost tends to be lower for a short-term stay of 6 months or so, and higher for a long-term stay. This is why students tend to study in Canada.
Hostels are found at very reasonable prices throughout the country. For a full-term course, students can accommodate shared rentals or homestays or avail of on-campus residential facilities. The average monthly living cost has been calculated to be around CAD 1235.
| Items | Costs (in CAD) |
| Accommodation (rented apartment) | 750 |
| Food expenses | 60 |
| Transportation costs | 85 |
| Basic utilities | 190 |
| Lifestyle needs | 150 |
| Total cost | 1235 |
2. Study In Canada: Official Languages
Interestingly Canada has two official languages – English and French. All official works are carried out bilingually. French is widely spoken in Quebec province whereas, in Manitoba, English is the official language.
New Brunswick is the only province where both languages are considered as the official language to the same extent. Foreign students who do not know French can easily communicate in English. They can take the English language proficiency tests (which is a must) to enroll themselves in Canadian universities.
However, many universities also ask for French proficiency test scores. So this must be checked thoroughly before applying to any Canadian university.
3. Scholarships
The government, different institutions, and other organizations have many scholarship schemes to support international students financially. These schemes can reduce the financial burden on the students to a great extent. Hence, one should check for scholarships before applying to study in Canada.
Foreign students should definitely look up for schemes that might be applicable to them and can be availed at their choice of university in Canada.
| Scholarship schemes | Organization | Applicable to | Financial Coverage |
| Lester B. Pearson Scholarship | University of Toronto | Undergraduate | Tuition fees covered |
| University of Waterloo International Funding | University of Waterloo | Postgraduate | CAD 2045 per term for 2 years |
| Doctoral degree | CAD 4090 per term for 3 years | ||
| Calgary International Entrance Scholarships | University of Calgary | Undergraduate | CAD 60000 over 4 years |
| University of Manitoba Graduate Fellowships | University of Manitoba | Postgraduate | CAD 14000 for a year |
| Doctoral degree | CAD 18000 for a year | ||
| Winnipeg President’s Scholarship for World Leaders | University of Winnipeg | Undergraduate | CAD3500 – CAD 5000 |
| Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation Doctoral Scholarships | Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation | Doctoral program | CAD 60000 for 3 years |
4. Study In Canada: Climatic Conditions
Canada experiences four seasons distinctly but winters are predominant in the country. Temperatures in summers might rise up to 35℃ or even higher. It is hot and dry in some parts, humid in some, and milder in others. This is one of the things students must take note of before planning to study in Canada.
Springtime is very pleasant and the fall season is cool, sometimes chilly. Winters are cold with occasional snowfall. Temperatures might go down to -25℃.
Most time of the year, Canadians are found all covered in sweaters, jackets, scarves, and gloves. So, you should pack and prepare accordingly.
5. Course And University
International students often choose to study in Canada to pursue a degree course in disciplines ranging from MBA to Computer Science and IT, Earth Sciences to Medical Sciences, Media and Journalism to Actuarial Sciences and Analytics.
Universities in Canada have courses in popular domains as well as the off-beat ones. One must be very attentive and focused when choosing one field of study.
After finalizing your branch of interest, you can move on to choosing the right university which will help you grow and build a career in that field. As for that matter, you should research well about the universities, their academic excellence, location, fees and financial assistance, entry requirements, and obviously placements.
Most importantly, you should look up the initiatives taken for international students. No doubt, Canada is the home to some of the best universities in the world. As per Times Higher Education World University Ranking 2021, 8 universities in Canada have been ranked among the top 200 universities across the globe.
| University | THE Ranking 2021 | Location |
| University of Toronto | 18 | Ontario |
| University of British Columbia | 34 | British Columbia |
| McGill University | 40 | Quebec |
| McMaster University | 69 | Ontario |
| University of Montreal | 73 | Quebec |
| University of Alberta | 131 | Alberta |
| University of Ottawa | 145 | Ontario |
| University of Calgary | 200 | Alberta |
6. Canada Study Visa
Application for a study visa in Canada must be made at the earliest after you have made up your mind to study in Canada. However, there are some points that must be known about the Canadian Study visa.
- International students are mostly granted a study permit and not a visa. This implies that the applicant will get a visitor visa, which is a temporary resident visa or an electronic travel authorization (eTA), allowing entrance to and exit from Canada.
- To make the application process faster, students can apply through the Student Direct Stream, which takes about 20 calendar days for the full processing of documents. Indian citizens are included in the SDS application. CAD 150 is charged for the process.
- For students who want to continue studying or are willing to stay in Canada longer without studying, have to apply to extend their study permit or apply for a work permit.
Elaborate information can be found on the website www.canada.ca
7. Study In Canada: Working While Studying
Foreign students studying in Canada can work part-time or full-time to support themselves while they are studying. Their study permit should state that they can work on- or off-campus. They can be employed by the school, faculty member, student organization, private business, or contractor providing services to the school.
They can also run their own business within the campus. For off-campus work, they can work for up to 20 hours per week. They can also work as a co-op student or an intern. After completion of studies in Canada, one can work and continue living in the country provided a work permit has been issued to him/her.
8. Studying In Canada: Acceptance Rate
It is pretty easy to get into a university in Canada. They have much relaxed requirements for admission compared to other competitive countries like the USA. Most Canadian universities might just need a minimum high school graduation certificate.
Given below is a list of universities that have a high acceptance rate of application from international students.
| University | Acceptance Rate | University | Acceptance Rate |
| University of British Columbia | 52% | Memorial University of Newfoundland | 66% |
| University of Waterloo | 53% | University of Saskatchewan | 72% |
| McGill University | 53% | University of New Brunswick | 74% |
| Simon Fraser University | 56% | University of Montreal | 76% |
| McMaster University | 58% | Lakehead University | 83% |
| University of Alberta | 63% | University of Lethbridge | 93% |
Now, when you are familiar with Canada and its adjunct aspects, you are ready to proceed with the next step, which is application. You can now apply to the university, for the study permit and make other arrangements to study in Canada. We hope you have a great time in Canada. All the best!!
Read Also: 4 Reasons Why Studying Abroad Can Be More Fun and Fulfilling
