I Want To Live/Study in Canada. What Are My Options? by Danielle Ward explains why you might want to consider heading North for your college education. Most Americans will find Canada an easy place to adapt to and an enjoyable environment to live in.

I Want To Live/Study in Canada. What Are My Options?

• Gone are the days when high-school graduates had limited options and courses to pursue in college. Today, freshmen can apply for foreign universities and courses in almost every field of study ranging from engineering and medical sciences to literature and management. Over the years, Canada has become an increasingly popular destination for international students owing to its liberal policies and prestigious universities.

Why Study in Canada?

• Canada has yet again claimed the number one spot for being the “the best place to study/live” in three consecutive years attracting students from all corners of the world to apply in one of the top 98 universities there. Harboring one of the longest coastlines, vast wild forests and world-class cities, the country is known for its tolerant and diverse environment that promotes education and investment. Here you get a wide range of courses and programs to choose from. Be it a bachelor’s course or masters and Ph.D. program, you can get it all here.

Top Colleges and Institutes in Canada

• With so many international courses and affordable college programs, it is only natural that the country would attract students from around the globe. The powerful post-secondary education system offers lucrative graduate, post-graduate and doctorate programs for aspiring candidates. Students can have their pick from over 10,000 undergraduate and graduate courses from 98 universities and 175 community colleges. Some of the top universities here include the McMaster University, University of Alberta, Queen’s University, University de Montreal, University of British Columbia, University of Toronto, University of Calgary, University of Western Ontario, and York University. In 2009, some institutions also designed a Student Partner’s Program or SPP where Canadian colleges collaborated with other universities fostering foreign students who wanted to pursue a degree-course there.

Some Useful Tips For Foreign Students Who Want to Apply

• International students applying for Canadian universities should keep in mind these tips for boosting their chances of getting accepted successfully in their dream institution
  1) Look for colleges that offer SPP programs as they allow international students to temporarily stay in Canada and complete their course.
  2) The students selected under the SPP programs also have a relatively easy visa approval process and don’t require much documentation as well.
  3) Apply for a student permit at the visa office for smooth immigration.
  4) Apply for scholarships and request for concessions in order to reduce the burden of handling the expenses all by yourself.
  5) You can even apply for student loans and funding options that have a lower interest and repayment rate than regular loans.
  6) Aim for a higher score in the entrance tests such as IELTS, GMAT, SAT, and GRE as it really enhances your chances of getting in.
  7) International students can even check out colleges that have affiliations with language schools to improve their English.

Cost of Living in Canada

• (Currently 1 Canadian dollar costs 80 cents US.) Canada is a lot cheaper than most other places in America. The courses and programs there cost about half as much as what they would charge in the US. Even the annual living expenses are pretty affordable ranging from CAD 7,000 -14,000. Students who have opted for inclusive accommodation have to spend even less, roughly CAD 4,000 to CAD 9,000 per year. Students can even apply for part-time jobs Work from home or event management jobs like experiential marketing. and paid internships that would lessen their burden. Even the food and transport is inexpensive here compared to the other places in America.

Accommodation Options

• International students can either opt for the inclusive accommodation facilities i.e. stay within the university grounds in dorm rooms and hostels or rent an apartment. There are many housing options to choose from depending on the facilities and budgetary limitations. The student residences cost roughly CAD 250 – 600 per month while the university home-stays are priced somewhere between CAD 400 – 800 per month. Students moving into rented apartments and studios have to pay extra for the basic utilities and internet connection.

Canada’s Stay-Back Options

• International students who have completed their course and graduated from Canadian universities can stay back to take up the various employment options as well. Students graduating from SPP affiliated colleges also get the added benefit of faster work permit processing. The post-graduation work permit allows the candidate to stay back for three years depending on the duration of the program. Also, having a permanent residence in the country guarantees social and economic perks to students.

The Bottom Line

• Canada is a thriving and safe country that runs on liberal ideals of tolerance and secularism unlike other countries in America where students are more likely to have to deal with hostility and violence. It doesn’t have a central education system; each university is under the jurisdiction of the specific province it falls under. This decentralization of power and control only improves the quality of education provided making Canada one of the best international destinations to study in.

Danielle Ward

• Danielle is a Blogger by profession and loves sharing my thoughts over wealth and wellness blogs so that people can live a healthy life with a handsome income. She is based out in the UK but planning to move to Malta soon.

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