Things You Must Know Before Applying to Study Abroad in Canada

Canada is famous the world over for its unique bilingual identity, multiethnic ambience and its

welcoming outlook towards settlers and immigrants. From snow-capped mountains to

thousands of lakes, the maple leaf country is also known for its beautiful natural landscapes.

Some of the most famous cities in Canada are Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal, always

bustling with activities amid a cosmopolitan environment. Home to people of myriad races,

religions and ethnicities, Canada is noteworthy for its peaceful and safe environment and high

quality of life.

Why choose Canada for higher studies?

Incidentally, Canada is also a much sought-after higher studies destination for the international

students. Every year, during admission session, the esteemed Canadian institutions of tertiary

education receive thousands of applications from all over the globe. Let us take a look into

what makes thousands of students to choose to study abroad in Canada.

The certificates, diplomas and degrees awarded by the higher education institutions in

Canada are internationally acknowledged and held in high regard among the employers

from all the job sectors and industries

The higher education institutions in the maple leaf country are all among the top-ranked

ones in the QS World University Rankings and Times Higher Education Rankings, which is

evidence of the superior quality of tertiary education disseminated in their sprawling

and inviting campuses

The higher education institutions in Canada offer traditional academic courses,

research-intensive courses and vocation-driven professional skill development courses

over a wide variety of disciplines covering all the areas of higher studies and

specialisations

Using their study permit, the international students can be engaged in part-time work

for a maximum of 20 hours per week during the academic session and full-time during

the holidays while studying in the esteemed Canadian higher education institutions

The immigrant-friendly policies of the Canadian government allows the international

students to extend their stay with a temporary work permit on completion of their

study programs in the country and join the workforce

The stringent policies against racial discrimination and efficient implementation of law

enforcement ensures a safe and secure ambience for students in the maple leaf country

Higher education institutions in Canada

Home to some of the best universities in the world, Canada is renowned for the innovative

courses and a wide variety of degree options for the international students. The higher

education institutions in Canada are called Designated Learning Institutes (DLIs), and four of

them rank among the top 100 in the QS World University Rankings. For overseas students who

choose to study abroad in Canada, the following are the some of the best DLIs in the country.

McGill University

University of Toronto

Universite de Montreal

University of Western Ontario

University of Alberta

McMaster University

York University

University of Calgary

Queen’s University

University of Waterloo

University of British Columbia

Apart from the 81 public universities in Canada, the 15 private universities in the country offer a

plethora of courses at the undergraduate and postgraduate level leading to globally acclaimed

diplomas and degrees.

Courses to study in Canada

While the impressive learning resources and research opportunities draw thousands of

students to Canada every year, the sheer variety of specialisations and courses to study in the

country is also quite an alluring factor for them. The various course specialisations lead to

diplomas and degrees at the undergraduate and postgraduate level at the Canadian DLIs.

Following are the topmost picks for international students who come to study in the country of

the iconic Niagara Falls.

Medicine and healthcare disciplines

Business studies

Engineering (all specialisations)

Computer science and information technology

Finance and accounting

Law and legal studies

Environmental studies

Eligibility criteria and English language requirements

International students must satisfy the admission requirements and have evidence of their

proficiency in English, the medium of instruction for higher studies in Canada.

Although the specific cutoff and percentage required for admission vary according to the

selected course, level of study and the university, the following is a general guideline on the

required levels of qualifications needed to apply for admission in the Canadian DLIs.

Admission requirements:

Undergraduate courses: A plus-two level qualification (CBSE/ ISC/ State Board

Matriculation) with at least 70% marks in aggregate. Disciplines like natural sciences

(physics), actuarial sciences (statistics), and finance usually require mathematics to

have studied as a compulsory subject at the plus-two level.

Postgraduate courses: A three-year or four-year bachelor’s degree qualification with

an excellent academic record. Some disciplines require specific subject prerequisites

to have studied as core or electives at the bachelor's level.

MBA courses: In addition to a bachelor’s or higher level of qualification, most MBA

courses in Canada require relevant work experience and a valid GMAT score.

Doctoral courses: In addition to a bachelor's or higher level of qualification, most

research courses at the postgraduate level or above require prior research

experience or relevant publications.

English language requirements:

The cutoff for the English language proficiency tests depends on the level of study

(postgraduate courses usually have higher cutoffs) and the course chosen (MBA or law

courses typically require a higher level of proficiency). The following are the standardised

English language proficiency tests accepted at the Canadian DLIs.

IELTS Academic

TOEFL PBT

TOEFL CBT

TOEFL iBT

PTE (Academic)

Cambridge English (Advanced)

Michigan English Language Assessment Battery (MELAB)

Tuition fees

Offering some of the best higher studies programs in the world, the cost of education in the

Canadian DLIs are quite steep but almost half the cost when compared to the expense of higher

education in the USA or the United Kingdom. The tuition fee structures in the higher education

institutions in Canada are mostly dependent on the chosen course of study (medicine courses

have very high tuition fees), type of institution (private DLIs are most expensive than the public

universities), and the level of study (postgraduate fees are slightly higher than the fees for

undergraduate programs).

The following is a sketch of the average annual tuition fee structure for international students

at the Canadian DLIs.

Undergraduate courses: CA$ 12,000 to CA$ 35,000

Postgraduate courses: CA$ 10,000 to CA$ 39,000

MBA programs: Around CA$ 42,000

Scholarship options

Studying in the esteemed higher education institutions in Canada is made easier for the

exceptionally talented students through a wide variety of scholarship programs. The

government of Canada, private organisations, philanthropists, and charitable foundations

sanction plenty of scholarships, prizes and fellowships for the meritorious international

applicants aspiring to study in the maple leaf country. The following are some of the best

scholarship programs for the international students to study in Canada.

Canada Graduate Scholarships – Masters Program

The Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships

Canadian Commonwealth Scholarship Program

IDRC Research Awards

NSERC Postgraduate Scholarships

Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships

Anne Vallee Ecological Fund

Trudeau Scholarships and Fellowships

There are also multiple funding opportunities available for the overseas students through the

university-specific range of awards, prizes and scholarships, some of which are listed below.

Concordia University International Undergraduate Awards

University of Calgary Graduate Studies Award

Carleton University Awards for International Students

McGill University Scholarships and Student Aid

International Student Scholarships at Humber College Canada

Queen’s University International Scholarships

UBC International Leader of Tomorrow Award

York University International Student Program

University of Manitoba Graduate Fellowships

Application procedure and required documents

Applying to the Canadian DLIs is relatively simple and can follow any one of the two ways:

(i) Online application through the official university websites

(ii) Online application through a trusted study abroad consultant (preferably an

authorised partner agent of the Canadian DLIs)

The documents that are required for the online admission application usually depend on the

study level and higher education institution. However, the following is a general checklist of the

essential documents that you must have to apply for the course of your choice to study abroad

in Canada.

Academic transcripts and certificates of all prior qualifications

English language proficiency test scorecards

Statement of purpose (dependent on course and level of study)

Letters of recommendation (dependent on level of study)

Resume or CV (usually required for postgraduate business courses)

Portfolio (usually required for architecture/ design/ fine arts courses)

A copy of passport or similar travel document for proof of residence and identity

Student visas for Canada

The international students need a study permit from Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC)

that can be obtained through an online application using the CIC website or a paper application

at the nearest Canadian embassy or consulate. The online study permit applications take lesser

processing time than the paper applications. The following are the documents that are needed

to apply for a Canadian study permit to the CIC.

A duly filled-in application form

A valid passport or similar travel document

Two passport-sized recent photographs

The letter of acceptance from the Canadian DLI stating the date of commencement of

the academic session and the other course specifications

Financial records (bank statements/salary slips) as evidence of sufficient funds to

support the stay throughout the entire duration of the study program

The aspirants who wish to study abroad in Canada can now gear up and prepare for the

effective planning of their higher studies overseas with the help of the guidelines discussed

above.