TASA ASIA | Canada

Apart from the mainstream courses, Institutions in Canada offer vocational and diploma courses for international students. Listed below are a few features that make Canada, a sought after study abroad destination.

Career Support Centres

Since there is no concept of placements in Canada, most of the universities have a section called career service centers. This center helps the students to get jobs and also prepare them for interviews. The companies that recruit through the university do not offer a job. They take the students on internship or co-op. Based on the performance of the candidates, they offer a full-time job to the candidates.

A mix of diversity and variety

The structure of the education system in Canada allows the flexibility to choose courses that suit the students well. Apart from the mainstream courses, there are many institutions that offer vocational and diploma courses which enable students to enhance their skill set. These courses provide employment opportunities. The students can complete their graduation and can continue their studies to pursue a Masters degree or a Doctorate.

Quality at affordable cost

The students who choose to study in Canada get quality education at affordable costs. Students can also earn in their spare hours while they are studying.

Co-op Education Programs

Many universities in Canada offer Co-operative programs, which is a period of study that alternates with work. It is structured by the university where the intent is to recruit students who are still in school and shall eventually fill up the permanent positions after their graduation. Indian students interested in such programs must apply for a work permit along with a study permit. They must also have a certified letter from a responsible academic official of the university or college.

In Canada, the constitutional responsibility for higher education rests with the provinces of Canada. As a result of the constitutional arrangement, a distinctive system of education, including higher education, has evolved in each province. The federal government's responsibilities in education are limited to the Royal Military College of Canada and funding the education of aboriginal peoples. Education is available in both English and French in most places. High school is typical for grades 9 to 12. In Québec, high school ends in grade eleven and is followed by a program that prepares the student for university or a technical field called CEGEP.
The higher education systems in Canada's ten provinces include their historical development, organization (e.g., structure, governance, and funding), and goals (e.g., participation, access, and mobility). Each of the three territories in Canada (i.e., Nunavut, Northwest Territories, and Yukon) have separate higher education systems that reflect the territorial history, organization, and goals in the context of geographical challenges. Graduate or masters programs are undertaken after completion of an undergraduate program. Some professional degrees like medicine, veterinary, law, etc., have longer programs that can take five years or more for completion.
The most popular universities in Canada are the University of British Columbia, McGill University, University of Alberta, Simon Fraser University. The best colleges are situated in Toronto, British Columbia, and Montreal.

The qualifying exams vary between study programs and levels. For each course, international students will need to meet a minimum English language requirement. Besides, there will be a minimum academic performance record as stipulated by the universities to qualify for admission.

General Exams

GMAT - The Graduate Management Admission Test is given by those who want to pursue an MBA or business or management-related courses. The aspirants are measured on English, mathematical and reasoning skills.

GRE - The Graduate Record Examination is taken by students applying to graduate schools to pursue an MA or MS. Also, many business schools accept GRE scores for granting admission for pursuing MBA or business or management courses.

LSAT - The Law School Admission Test is a standardized test and is taken by students who want to take admission in law schools. The students are evaluated based on reading and verbal reasoning skills.

SAT - The Scholastic Assessment Test evaluates the aspirants based on literacy and writing skills that are needed for academic success in higher education. This test measures the problem-solving skills learned in school which they will be using further in college. The SAT exam is generally taken by students who have completed their schooling or students in high school looking for admissions in UG courses.

Students need to check on the qualifying exams as stipulated by the universities and accordingly apply for the same.

Language Exam

TOEFL – It is the most popular English proficiency exam accepted by a majority of the Canadian universities. The TOEFL tests the students’ usage and understanding of the English language as it is used in communicating in college and university settings. Students can appear for this exam any number of times. This test is administered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS), which conducts the test and set the test paper.

IELTS – International English Language Testing System is a standardized language test that needs to be cleared for admission in different universities in Canada.

PTE – Pearson Test of English is also a standardized language test that needs to be cleared to secure admission in different universities in Canada.

Students are advised to thoroughly check the entry requirements of the university/college they are applying to and then take up the exams accordingly. Many educational institutes accept some specific exams whereas some institutes allow students to give the exams of their choice. Therefore, before preparing for the exams, students should check the university requirements.

Application Requirements

Apart from the above-mentioned tests, there are other requirements for applying to educational institutes in Canada.

Letter of recommendation – (LOR) is a reference letter written by a third-party describing the qualities, characteristics, and capabilities of the prospective student for recommendation to the college in terms of that individual’s ability to perform a particular task or function. The third-party could be a professor, direct manager, etc.

Statement of Purpose – A Statement of Purpose (SOP) is the introduction of the student to the college and admission officers. It is always written in the first person and describes the reason for applying to a particular college. It needs to highlight why the college should accept you. The style of writing could differ from formal to casual, but it is important to remember that it should reflect the student’s personality as well.

Essay - Essays are also required to be submitted by a prospective student. Essays are an important part of the university admissions process. Students may be required to write one or two essays, along with a few optional essays too. Common topics include career aspirations, strengths and weaknesses, skills, experiences, and reasons for considering a particular school.

There are some relevant documents required to apply for diploma and vocational courses. Students need to check the same and submit it along with the other required documents.
Apart from the above-mentioned requirements, students applying to undergraduate courses should have completed 10+2. Also, those who are applying to graduate courses must have completed 16 years of education. In addition to all these students also need to show proof of the finances to the universities to secure admission.

Cut-off for Exams

All the major universities and colleges also set cut off for various exams which students need to obtain to get admission. Before applying to their preferred universities, aspirants should check the cut-off marks for GMAT, GRE, TOEFL and then start preparing for the exams accordingly.

International students in Canada have varied tuition fee according to the university, courses and the city they have chosen. Postgraduate courses cost more than the undergraduate courses. Living expenses like accommodation, food, travel, etc are as per the choice of the student. Costs will vary depending on the lifestyle, place of residence and socializing of the students. Students studying in metropolitan cities like Toronto, Vancouver will be spending more than their counterparts in the smaller cities.
Medicine, Business Management, Computer Science, Finance and Accounting, Economics, Communications/Media are popular courses that Indian students pursue in Canada.

Student visas are issued to applicants whose primary purpose of visit to a country is to pursue education. Although getting admission in the university is extremely important, these legal documents for obtaining visas are of utmost importance. Every country has its own immigration rules. The documents can range from education-related ones to different proof of funds acceptable and so on to enable the students to study in that country. These are specified on the official website. Students can check on the same and accordingly apply for their visa. There are some common factors in all student visa applications.
The students need to know the entire process of applying and obtaining the student visas to study abroad. Studying abroad requires meticulous planning. Students are advised to plan their admission/ application process as per the university deadlines and should accordingly work backward. Students are required to appear for English eligibility tests as per the university policies and also have required documents in place for the smooth processing of their application. Hence, students are always advised to apply 3-4 months in advance to avoid any last-minute delays. Candidates seeking financial aid, scholarships and education loans should start a couple of months earlier than the regular applicants for the process of application and approval of the same.

Canada

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