Study Abroad - Canada

Canada's capital is Ottawa, but the largest city in Canada is Toronto (ON, Canada), following by Montréal & Quebec City (QC, Canada) and then Vancouver (BC, Canada). Other major cities in Canada are: Victoria (BC, Canada), Abbotsford, BC, Edmonton (AB, Canada), Calgary (AB, Canada) and Winnipeg (MB, Canada), Charlottetown, PEI, Halifax, NS. The Largest province in Canada is Quebec. However the largest population is in Ontario with capital city of Toronto whose population is almost half of the population in Ontario.

Canadian Education System

Education in Canada is under the complete jurisdiction of the provinces and territories (States) and as such, there is no Federal (Central) education system in Canada. In keeping with the national commitment to education, public education in Canada is free up to secondary school (12th Std), in all the provinces. At the post-secondary level, institutions are divided into community colleges and universities. A significant number of university graduates attend college upon completion of their degree in order to acquire vocational skills for employment.

Certification Course

• Certificate : Canadian Certificate is a qualification awarded upon completion of a one year programme.
• Diploma: Canadian Diploma is a qualification awarded on the basis of one or two year's programme.
• Advanced Diploma: Canadian Advanced Diploma Is a 3 years program some of which may lead to a Bachelors Degree. It generally precedes the final year of Bachelors level studies.
• Bachelors Degrees: Canadian Bachelors Degree is awarded by Universities, University Colleges, Community Colleges after four years of full-time study. This leads to graduate (postgraduate) level studies.
• Post Graduate Diplomas / Certificates: Canadian Post Graduate Certificate or Post Graduate Diploma is level of study undertaken after a 3 years or 4 years Bachelors Degree. It leads to a Masters Degree. These programs have work terms which provide full-time opportunities to gain practical experience along with theoretical studies. A typical co-op term lasts 12 to 17 weeks.
• Masters Degree: Students who have successfully finished their Bachelors level education can opt to study a Canadian Masters Degree. It is of 2 years duration and can be pursued after a 4 years Bachelors or a 3 years Bachelors and a 1 year Post Graduate Diploma from Canada. Masters degree generally will take a time period of 2 years to finish and will also involve a blend of course work and thesis (also known as dissertation).
• MBA: MBA in Canada can be studied after finishing a Bachelors degree. It generally requires a 4 years Bachelors. Most Canadian MBAs will require at least 3 years of work experience with a good GMAT score.
• Doctorate or PhD: Is a degree ranking above the Masters Degree and generally requires four to seven years to complete.
• Post-doctoral:These programmes are much more specialized, research oriented programmes.

Co-operative Work Term in Canada

Co-op provides an excellent opportunity to students to gain practical experience related to the field of specialization. Students can gain on-the-job experience while continuing to study . Co-op provides full time opportunities that last for 12 to 17 weeks. Co-Operative work programmes, combine courses in many subjects with relevant work, giving students a valuable start with their careers. This assists International students in connecting with the Canadian job market and developing a network with the Canadian companies.

Types of Education Institutions in Canada

The degrees & diplomas from Canadian Institutions are among the most widely recognized in the world. The education system in Canada encompasses of both public funded & private institutions. Students have a diverse choice of Universities & Community Colleges offering a wide array of programmes. While pursuing their studies, the students, are allowed to work for the first 6 months on-campus and thereafter off-campus. Student can earn more from vocational & Technology courses than normal degrees.

Post secondary education is offered by four types of educational institutions:

Technical / Career Colleges :These are privately owned and operated with the main objective of preparing students for the job market after a short period of instruction. The emphasis at career colleges is on practical skills over a broad range of programmes. Students seeking short-term training programs in multimedia, film studies, computer/internet studies, graphic design and hospitality to name a few, may want to consider applying to a career college.

Community Colleges & Technical Institutes: They typically have more career oriented, practical/ technical related curricula, with small classes, off-campus course offerings, a greater ratio of laboratory space to class room space, and an interactive teaching style.

University Colleges: As a component of the Canadian University system, University Colleges offer students a choice of either academic oriented university degree programmes or the more practical-oriented college diplomas and certificates. Students intending to acquire a degree at a university can complete their first two years of study at a community college or university college and earn credits.

Universities: Canadian Universities are largely public funded and as a result, offer consistently high quality education at lower tuition rates for International students than their counterparts in competing countries. They offer a broad range of courses and degrees from Undergraduate to Doctorate and also certificate and professional degrees.

English Requirement

Diploma and Bachelor degrees: IELTS 6.0/ 6.5 band with no band less than 5.5/ 6.0 Graduate Diploma and Post Graduate Diploma: 6.0/ 6.5 band Masters degrees: 6.5 band with no band less than 6.0

Fee Structure

Tuition Fee: Average C$ 10,000 – C$ 12,000 per year

Living expenses:Average C$ 10,000 – C$ 12,000 per year

List of Universities

• Algonquin College, Toronto, Ontario
• British Columbia institute of Technology, Burnaby, British Columbia
• Columbia College, Vancouver, BC
• Capilano University, North Vancouver, BC
• College of New Caledonia, Prince George, BC
• College of the Rockies, Cranbrook, BC
• Douglas College, New Westminster, BC
• Fanshawe College, London, Ontario
• Grant Macewan University, Edmonton, Alberta
• Kwantlen Ploytechnic University, Surrey, BC
• Langara College, Vancouver, BC
• Malaspina High School
• Medicine Hat College, Medicine Hat, Alberta
• Mohwak College, Hamilton, Ontario
• Mount Royal University, Calgary, Alberta
• Newyork Institute of technology, Vancouver, BC
• North Island College, Vancouver Island, BC
• Northern Alberta Institute of Technology, Edmoton, Alberta
• Northern Lights College, Fort St. John, BC
• Okangan College, Kelowna, BC
• Red River College, Manitoba
• Selkirk College, Castlegar, BC
• Seneca College of applied Arts & Technology, Toronto, Ontario
• Sheridan Institute of Technology & Advanced Learning, Toronto, Ontario
• Southern Alberta Institute of Technology, Calgary, Alberta
• St. Lawrence College, Kingston, Ontario
• Thompson River University, Kamloops, BC
• Trinity Western University, Langley, BC
• Vancouver Community College, Vancouver, BC
• New Brunswick Community College
• University Canada West
• University of Fraser Valley, Abbotsford, BC
• University of Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown, Prince Edward
• University of Sasketchawan, Saskatoon, SK
• Vancouver Island University, Nanaimo, BC