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About Canada
More than 130,000 students come to study in Canada every year and even more come to Canada to learn English or French. Foreign students bring a rich culture to our classrooms. Your knowledge and skills are welcome in our schools.
The provinces regulate education and schools in Canada. For more detailed information on living and studying in a specific province or territory, contact the school where you wish to study.
Studying in Canada would be a beautiful experience for anyone, literally, since Canada is ranked as the BEST PLACE in the world to LIVE. Because of its access to education, high life expectancy and low crime rates, Canada is a very attractive destination for students throughout the world.
Of more attraction to Indian students is the fact that Canada welcomes immigrants with open arms. Thus, those who complete their education can decide upon staying back and complete the immigration process to enjoy the best life in the world! As a country of immigrants, Canada places a high-demand on multicultural diversity.
Moreover, Canadian education costs are relatively cheaper than US and other countries – by at least 30%. Coupled with its low cost of living, Canada is one of the best destinations for international students.
Canada is a bilingual country with two official languages – English and French. Most of the French-speaking inhabitants live in Quebec. However, almost all non-Quebec based universities offer education instruction in English only.
Education System in Canada
The education system in Canada encompasses both publicly-funded and private schools, including: community colleges / technical institutes, career colleges, language schools, secondary schools, summer camps, universities and university colleges. Canadian universities are largely public funded and as a result, are of a consistently high quality, regardless of location or area of study. At the same time, they (the universities) retain a high degree of academic autonomy.
Education is a provincial responsibility under the Canadian constitution, which means there are significant differences between the education systems of the different provinces. However, education is important to Canadians, and standards across the country are uniformly high.
Once students complete elementary school which is up to 8thstandard, they would take up High school education comprising of classes 9thto 12th.
There are more than 175 post-secondary institutions that offer various programs such as Certificate, Diploma and Bachelor’s, including vocational and adult-education. These institutions are known as Community colleges, Technical Institute, University College and ce`gep. All these colleges are members of the Association of Canadian Community colleges.
Undergraduate programs are of 4 years duration, except in Ontario, where there is three-year Bachelor degrees and three-year Master’s degrees. In the other parts of Canada, post-graduate programs (Master’s) are of two years duration.
A degree form a Canadian university is recognized world-wide and as a result, international students who graduate from Canadian universities enjoy successful and prosperous careers.
Admissions
Admission requirements vary from one university to another. However, as a general rule, Canadian institutions prefer applicants with very good academic background and decent scores in TOEFL or IELTS for admission. A four-year Bachelor’s degree is required for admission into M.S/MBA programs, with a minimum of mid-B grades (around 70%).
For those with a three-year degree, admission into PG diploma program is possible with a minimum score of around 240 in TOEFL.
Ph.D programs generally require five years to complete full-time. They usually require a combination of course work, original research and a thesis, which must be defended by oral examination.
One important factor is time. It takes at least one year for the whole admission process to be completed. Most institutions have a January deadline for September intake. Hence, it would be in your best interest to apply at least one year before the start of semester.
Main intake every year commences in September and ends in May. Some universities that run on the semester system conducts courses even in the Summer, and have intake in January (winter)
June to August is the period of vacation.
All the programs in all fields of specialization are available for study in Canadian institutions at all levels.
Required Tests
Canadian colleges and universities accept either TOEFL or IELTS scores as proof of English proficiency. Depending upon the institution, the score requirements may vary – between 213-250 for TOEFL and 5.5 -7.5 bands in IELTS.
GRE is required for Master’s level admission, and some universities and programs may need a good score in the Subject Test too. However, for MBA admission, good score in GMAT is essential, in addition to academic performance, other tests’ scores and requirements as prescribed by the B schools individually.
Cost of Education
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