Canada

Canada provides academic qualifications respected around the world. Students can experience a unique multicultural environment in a safe and beautiful country. More than 200,000 top international students and researchers choose to study in Canada each year.Canada’s universities are among the best in the world. In 2012, 4 Canadian universities ranked in the Top 100 of the ARWU Shanghai Ranking and 22 in the Top 500; 3 ranked in the Top 50 of the QS University Ranking and 20 in the Top 500; and 5 ranked in the Top 100 of the Times Higher Education World University Rankings and 8 in the Top 200. Canadian universities also have global links to more than 5,000 active international collaboration agreements with counterparts around the world.

Academic organization

In Canada, higher education is the responsibility of provincial and territorial governments, and in each province and territory there are laws, policies and procedures that govern the operation of post-secondary institutions. The basic structures of provincial and territorial education systems across Canada are similar.

Canada’s colleges, polytechnics and vocational collages offer industry-aligned, career-focused programs with growing levels of applied research directed at solving industry problems. Over 90% of Canada’s college graduates find a job in their field of study within six months after graduation and 93% of employers are satisfied with graduates’ qualifications.

Qualifications

Canada’s high academic standards and rigorous quality controls mean that you’ll be earning a high-quality education that will open doors for your future and benefit your career over the long term. A Canadian degree, diploma or certificate is globally recognized as being equivalent to those obtained from the United States or Commonwealth countries.

Research Opportunities

Research is one of the key components of a Canadian post-secondary education. In Canada, government and industry together support research including: telecommunications, medicine, agriculture, computer technology, and environmental science.

More than one third of Canada’s research is conducted at Canadian universities – one of the highest rates among OECD and G8 countries.

Preparation courses in Canada

Some international students may not be able to attend a degree in Canada because their previous studies do not match the academic system of the country. To be allowed to take an undergraduate or graduate degree in Canada, they will need to enrol in a one-year pre-Bachelor or pre-Master offered by a local university.

Popular foundation degree studies in Canada include pre-law degrees, pre-MBA courses, pre-medicine, pre-nursing studies, or other types of international foundation programmes in engineering, economics, finance, social science, science and other types of university pathway programmes. Preparation courses in Canada include academic English language training to help international students meet university language requirements for future undergraduate or graduate studies.

Foundation degrees in early years in Canada are perfect for increasing your chances of getting accepted to a Canadian university. Pre-university business schools, law schools or med schools make sure international students develop the skills they need to succeed in the Canadian academic system. Pre-university education also includes cultural integration classes that help students feel more at home. Some pre-university programmes guarantee enrolment to the institution if students complete the preparation with high grades.

English language preparation courses in Canada

Meet language requirements for university admission in Canada by choosing an English language preparation course offered by English language schools worldwide, including Canada. By taking the right English exam training course you will advance your language skills in order to get the needed scores for IELTS, TOEFL, CAE, or other English exams.

General application requirements

To study in Canada, you need a study permit.

To apply for a study permit, you will need to have a letter of acceptance from a higher education institution.

You must not have a criminal record or be a risk to the security of Canada.
You must be in good health and willing to undergo a medical examination, if necessary.
You must provide proof you will leave Canada at the end of your authorized stay.

A study permit is not needed if you want to take short-term courses or programs of study of six months or less. You may enrol in short-term programs at any learning institution, regardless of whether or not it is designated.

Canada is a bilingual country and a world leader for those looking to study abroad in English and French. Since 1982, education in both English and French has been available in most places across Canadian higher education institutions. Most programmes are offered in English, followed by French-taught programmes, while some provide instruction in both languages. Students coming from abroad can find a wide variety of programmes taught in English or French at Bachelor’s, Master’s or PhD level. Some universities, particularly those in Quebec, permit students to choose to study in either English or French, depending on their preference.

Foreign students who are not English or French native speakers should note that many Canadian institutions require prospective graduate students to take a standardised language test. English tests required usually include:

The Canadian Academic English Language Assessment Test (CAEL)
The TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language, Princeton Jersey)
The MELAB (Michigan English Language Assessment Battery)
The IELTS (International English Language Testing System)
CanTEST

French language tests and certificates include:

Test d’évaluation de français (TEF).
Diplôme d’études en langue française (DELF).

English exam preparation courses in Canada

Visas

You need a visa to study in Canada, you will need to have received a letter of acceptance from the university before you can apply for your visa. You must be able to prove that you can support yourself financially during your studies in order to be eligible; you need to be able to cover the university tuition fees, and C$10,000 (C$11,000 in Quebec) per year for living costs, as well as the cost of the journey back to your home country at the end of your studies.

As an international student on a student visa, you may sometimes work on or off campus. It is advisable to check this with your nearest embassy or consulate before committing to work.