Millions of applicants from around the world seek to become students at a Canadian institution of higher education. The popularity of studying in this country is due to its high standard of living, minimal crime rate and, most importantly, its ideal higher education system in every respect and acceptable prices.
Why Canada?
Canada is one of the few countries in which the government pays a lot of attention to university facilities. Up to 90% of higher education institutions are financed by the government. Becoming a student at any of the Canadian universities is prestigious and honorable. Studying in Canada, you can be sure that there will be no problems with finding a decently-paid job after you graduate.
Fields of study in Canada
Canada is one of the most highly developed and safest countries in the world, which offers its students a variety of study programs. Among them:
– Higher education in Canada: universities and colleges;
– Masters and MBA programs in Canada;
– Diploma and certificate programs;
– English language courses in Canada
A brief look at Canadian higher education
– Education in Canada is ranked as the 5th strongest higher education system.
– Price. Education costs from 11 583 USD to 34 748 USD per year, MBA programs – up to 42 470 USD per year. You should budget at least 7,722 USD/year for living expenses.
– Requirements. You may apply for a Bachelor’s program after 11th year of high school (except in Québec). You must have a grade point average above 3.0/4.0 to be considered for admission. Many universities require foreign educational documents to be evaluated and apostilled beforehand.
– Territories. Look carefully at which province the university you are considering is located in – French-speaking and English-speaking territories have different admission procedures. Dates of admission: September and January.
– Language. In Canada they prefer the IELTS, in Quebec the language of instruction is French and the DELF/DALF test.
– Legalization. For admission to Canada, the certificate or diploma must be apostilled. Also, they must be translated and notarized. The subsequent legalization of educational documents is done by the universities themselves.
– Visa. Visa requirements allow foreign students to apply only to accredited educational institutions. In the case of denial of a visa you can apply again unlimited number of times, but each time you have to pay the consular fee of 116 USD. You must also prove that you do not intend to immigrate under the pretext of education.
Canadian higher education: prospects for graduates
According to statistics, about 95% of graduates who have studied in Canada, within the first six months get a job in the state itself. For foreigners who graduated in Canada, there are also no difficulties with the job placement. So, after your studies in Canada, you will have a chance to find a great job not only in Canada, but also in any other country in the world. Considering that the cost of education is quite reasonable, it would be a shortsighted decision to refuse such an opportunity.
College – Vocational Education
Unlike universities, which award bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degrees, vocational colleges award diplomas or certificates of completion or qualifications. Their main feature is a completely practice-oriented education, designed to train professionals in fields such as engineering, information technology, accounting, business administration, health care, architecture, and law. Some university colleges also offer bachelor’s degree programs, where students take courses and earn credits toward a college degree. However, a college-level education is already enough to land a job that does not require an advanced four-year course of study.
Bachelor’s Degree in Canada – Undergraduate
The bachelor’s degree is the first stage of a classical university education. It lasts three to four years, depending on the province.
The academic year usually lasts from September to May and is divided into terms. Some universities offer a summer term. In addition to the general compulsory subjects, undergraduate students have the opportunity to take additional courses not related to the program. The main focus of the program is on seminars and independent study, which requires a high degree of commitment from the student to the chosen program. In order to get a diploma of a Canadian university, it is necessary to get a certain number of educational credits, the system of calculating which is individual for each university.
Most universities in Canada oblige students to undertake an internship (1-2 months) in a Canadian company, which becomes a significant advantage in future employment.
The co-op education program (cooperative education program) can be considered a separate type of the bachelor degree. Within 4.5 years, students combine study with work, for which they can get up to 50 percent of educational credits.
Master’s Degree in Canada – Graduate/Postgraduate
The master’s degree, as opposed to the bachelor’s degree, has a narrower subject focus. You can choose between two types of master’s programs: one with a scientific focus, and one with a specific career focus. Depending on the program, the training lasts from 1 to 3 years, after which the student is awarded a master’s degree.
Most programs involve writing a dissertation, which provides a significant portion of the credits. At the end of the program, master’s students take a comprehensive examination, which includes both written and oral parts. The exam can take several days because of its length. Each section is graded on a pass/fail basis.
Some Canadian universities offer “co-op” programs, which send students to work placements in their fields for 2 to 4 months, and employers get acquainted with potential employees.
Doctoral Degrees in Canada – Postgraduate
As in many countries, the highest level of academic qualification in Canada is considered to be PhD, which is equivalent to the degree of Candidate of Sciences in Russia and CIS countries. In addition to the traditional academic PhD, professional doctoral programs are also available: DBA and EdD. Training usually takes 3 years, but can be up to 6 years.
In contrast to the U.S., doctoral studies in Canada are initially focused on research. In the first year, students take general courses in research techniques and methodology, pedagogy and publication, take a comprehensive exam, and then focus entirely on their dissertation research. The professional programs, in turn, involve a lot of practice and case studies and also conclude with a dissertation.
Some universities offer the opportunity to study at another foreign university as part of cellular programs. In this case, the partner university is selected according to the specifics of each student’s project.
Entry to Doctoral Programmes in Canada after Bachelor’s Degree
Working while you study
The student visa allows full-time international students to work on and off campus, which can significantly reduce their costs of living in the country. No additional permission is required. A student may work up to 20 hours per week during the semester, and full-time during the winter and summer break. The minimum wage for an international student depends on the province and can be 8-12 USD. It is mandatory to have a Social Insurance number (SIN), which also allows you to receive additional benefits and services through government programs.
Residency and Immigration
Upon graduation, graduates are eligible for a special work permit – Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP). It may be issued for 3 years provided the program has been in place for more than 2 years. In other cases, the duration of the PGWP Work Permit will be determined by the time spent studying. The cost of the permit is 197 USD.
In order to take advantage of this opportunity, you have to complete the PGWP-eligible program at one of the accredited educational institutions in Canada[8] and submit your documents before the study permit expires.
Mandatory criteria for this program are:
– Duration of at least 8 months;
– Full-time study;
– Degree, certificate or diploma upon completion.
The application takes about 3.5 months to be processed. During this time, the graduate is eligible to work full-time if he/she:
– Had a valid learner’s permit at the time of application;
– Completed the program of study;
– Was able to work while enrolled and did not exceed the limit of authorized hours.
If approved, the visa will be renewed automatically.
PGWP work experience can be an added advantage in the selection process for immigration through the Express Entry system. It offers both federal and provincial programs that allow a skilled worker and his or her family to become permanent residents of Canada. In order to participate, the candidate must complete a full profile in the system. All achievements are subject to evaluation and further ranking. The most successful workers receive an invitation to permanent residency within 90 days.
Prospects and employment opportunities
– In Canada. If a graduate decides to stay in Canada to find a job, he or she will immediately receive a residency permit for up to three years after graduation. Afterwards, if there are no problems with police and have a renewed contract he is likely to receive a permanent residency permit under one of the immigration programs.
– Within America. A Canadian diploma is in no way inferior to an American one, and the higher education systems of the two countries are very similar. Therefore, if desired, a graduate can try to find a job in the United States.
– In the CIS countries. A degree from a Canadian university is highly rated in the CIS countries. It will be not only a proof of excellent knowledge of English, but also an indicator of advanced knowledge in his field.
The Province of Ontario has 24 colleges, which were established by the Government of Canada between 1965 and 1967 to meet labor market demands for professional workers. Ontario’s public colleges are often called Colleges of Applied Arts and Technologies (CAATs). In 2013, five CAATs – Humber, Sheridan, Seneca, Conestoga, George Brown – were accredited and called Institutes of Technology and Advanced Learning.
The main goal of the colleges of Canada is to train specialists and professionals according to the requirements of the Canadian labor market, and in this way to contribute to the economic and social development of the country. Because public colleges in Ontario are very practically oriented, only a limited number of bachelor’s degrees are offered and no master’s degrees are offered. The jobs you get from a college in Canada are in high demand in the job market. The Canadian government determines which professionals are needed and in what quantities.
Toronto is the first place students want to go to study in Canada. In this article, our expert on education in Canada will tell you about Toronto and its public colleges, what to study here, and how much it costs.
As you know, Toronto is not the capital city, but it is the largest city in Canada. It is Canada’s largest industrial, commercial and financial center, a major transportation hub, and an important scientific, cultural, religious and artistic center. It is important to note that according to Forbes magazine, Toronto is at the bottom of the ten world cities with the most powerful economy, and also ranks 7th in The Economist’s ranking of the most livable cities in the world.
Humber College
Number of regular students: 31 000
Number of international students: 6,000 from 138+ countries
Departments at Humber College
Academic Advancement, Arts & Sciences
– Accounting and Finance
– Advanced Manufacturing
– Art, Animation, and Design
– Baking, cooking, and food service
– Business management and leadership
– Criminal justice, law, and public safety
– Design and built environment
– Fashion and beauty business
– Fire Safety
– Fitness, Sports, and Massage
– Health Sciences
– Hospitality & Tourism
– Human Services
– Information and Communication Technology
– International Business and Marketing
– International Development
– Language, Teaching & Learning
– Legal Research
– Media, Communication and Writing
– Music and performing arts
– Skilled trades and apprenticeships
George Brown College
Number of regular students: 24 849
Number of international students: 3,270 from 95+ countries
Departments at George Brown College
Preparatory and Liberal Studies
School of English as a Second Language
School of Immigrant and Transitional Education
School of Liberal Arts and Sciences
School of work and college preparation
Community services and early childhood
School for the Study of the Deaf and Deaf-Blind
School of Early Childhood
School of social and community services
– Art, design, and information technology
School of computer technology
School of design
School of Fashion and Jewelry
School of Media and Performing Arts
– Business
School of Accounting and Finance
School of Human Resources
School of Management
School of Marketing
Health Sciences
School of Dental Health
School of Health and Wellness
School of Health Services Management
Sally Horsfall Eaton School of Nursing
Construction and Engineering Technology
Angelo DelZotto School of Construction Management
School of Apprenticeship and skilled trades
School of Architectural Studies
School of Mechanical Engineering Technology
Hospitality and the culinary arts
School of Chefs
School of Hotel and Tourism Management
Centennial College
Number of regular students: 21 000
Number of international students: 7 000
Departments at Centennial College
Academic, Arts and Science Preparation
Advanced Manufacturing and Systems Automation
Advertising, Marketing and Public Relations
Aerospace and Aviation
Arts, Animation and Design
Automotive and Motorcycle
Biological, Environmental and Food Sciences
Business
Community and Child Services
Emergency, Law and Court Services
Food and Tourism
Health and Wellness
Heavy Duty, Truck and Coach
Hospitality Management
Information Technology, Networking and Software Engineering
Media, Communications and Writing
Sustainable Design and Renewable Energy
Seneca College
Number of regular students: 30 000
Number of international students: 7 000
Departments at Seneca College
Agriculture, Animal & Related Practices:
Arts & Culture
Business, Finance & Administration
Career & Preparation
Computers & Telecommunications
Culinary, Hospitality, Recreation & Tourism
Education, Community & Social Services
Energy, Environmental & Natural Resources
Engineering & Technology
Fire, Justice & Security
Health, Food & Medical
Media
Professions & Trades
Transportation & Logistics
Sheridan College
Number of regular students: 30 000
Number of international students: 7 000
Departments at Sheridan College
Arts & Culture
Film Production
Graphic Design
Theatre Arts – Performance
Visual Arts
Business, Finance & Administration
Accounting
Advertising
Business
Finance
Human Resources
Marketing
Computers & Telecommunications
Computer – Networking / Communications
Computer – Programmer / Analyst
Computer – Software
Computer – Systems / Engineering Tech
Information Management / Informatics
Engineering & Technology
Architecture
Chemical Production
Drafting / Design
Electronics
Instrumentation / Control
Robotics / Automation
Education, Community & Social Services
Child & Youth Worker
Child Studies
Professions & Trades
Electrician / Electrical
Mechanical Engineering Tech
Durham College
Number of regular students: 13 600
Number of international students: 1 800 из 65 стран
Departments at в Durham College
Business, Office Administration
Children, Youth, Counselling
Computers, Web, Internet
Construction, Trades, Mechanical
Creative, Design, Media, Gaming
Culinary, Hospitality, Horticulture
Engineering, Technology, Automotive
Foundations, General, Upgrading
General Arts and Science
Graduate studies
Health, Community Law, Court, Emergency
Science, Energy, Environment
Sports, Fitness, Recreation
