Canada has much more to offer for you
International students who choose to study at a Canadian college or university will notice that annual cost of studying will depend on their program and institution of choice. The same can be said for international students who choose to study at the K-12 level. Tuition and boarding fees for K-12 private schools in Canada, for example, ranges from $30,000 to $60,000. The costs for language study are based on an average tuition across 44 weeks of study; however language course tuition will vary depending on the type of course, the institution, and the number of study weeks.
Residence/Dormitory
Many post-secondary institutions have accommodation conveniently located on or near campus. Dorms generally have a shared kitchen, bathroom, and laundry facilities. Some dorm accommodations offer optional cafeteria meal plans where students, having paid a set price up-front, are issued two or three meal tickets per day.
If students are going to Canada for just a single semester, university/college residence may prove to be the simplest accommodation, as it is often less time consuming and simpler than finding private, off-campus housing. If they will be staying in Canada for a longer period, they may want to rent university accommodation for the first semester or so, then make other living arrangements for future semesters as they become more acquainted with their area.
Regardless, staying in dormitories is the preferred accommodation for the majority of Canadian students in their first and second years of study. Furthermore, many international students find dormitory living allows them to find friends and study partners more easily, saves them the trouble of finding transport to campus, and in general creates a smoother social transition.
Private Accommodation
A current list of private off-campus accommodation for rent near the Canadian educational institution is often available at the housing office or the student union office on campus. Students should note that post-secondary institutions do not normally inspect any of the lodgings listed. Therefore, it is up to the student to decide what type of place they want, to contact the landlord, to inspect the premises, and determine the suitability.
Students should expect to pay anywhere from $400 to $1500 per month, depending on the city, the particular area in which they choose to live, and whether there are co-tenants. It is typical for the landlord to collect one month’s rent up-front as a damage deposit, which will be returned to the student when they move out, assuming that the place is left in good condition.When renting accommodation, deal directly with the landlord and pay the damage deposit directly to him or her. If possible, pay rent with a cheque, as it is easier to provide proof of payment, and always ask for a receipt.
Check application requirements for each school
Education in Canada is the responsibility of our individual Provinces, and because of this we do not have a central clearing house like UCAS in the UK or the Common App in the USA. When applying to universities in Canada, generally you will be applying to each institution individually. There are exceptions though, such as the Ontario Universities Application Centre (OUAC) where you can apply to multiple universities on one single application. There are other provinces that have variations of the OUAC system, but for the most part you will be applying to universities individually.
Apply online in no time
Applications can be found and completed entirely online. As previously mentioned, the entire application should take you no longer than an hour to complete (probably closer to thirty minutes). Most applications only require your biographical information, educational history and information such as your intended program of interest and start date. Typically there are no supplementary information requirements such as letters of reference, essays or test scores. Again there are exceptions to this so please check with each university or the agents of the respective university.
Check application deadlines with each school
Canadian university application deadlines are typically later than in other countries. Most applications do not open until October of your senior high school year and deadlines range anywhere from January to June. Some universities also have multiple start dates to accommodate students studying in various countries or curricula. The “typical” start date is September of each year but some universities have January or even May start dates so there are many options for students.
Check the type of application process each school uses
Many Canadian university programs operate on a “rolling admission” process, meaning that once we receive your application and transcripts we can evaluate you and make an admissions decision. Sometimes, from a complete application to the point of admission, an admission decision can be made in about one week! There are “competitive admission” programs as well which will not evaluate applications until after an application deadline has passed so make sure you understand what the application process is for your program of interest.
Know what final requirements you need to enrolls
Many Canadian university programs operate on a “rolling admission” process, meaning that once we receive your application and transcripts we can evaluate you and make an admissions decision. Sometimes, from a complete application to the point of admission, an admission decision can be made in about one week! There are “competitive admission” programs as well which will not evaluate applications until after an application deadline has passed so make sure you understand what the application process is for your program of interest.
Canadian universities will typically offer you a “conditional offer of admission”. What this means is that we are admitting you to the program for which you have applied (or alternate program if you are not qualified for your preferred program), but there are certain conditions that you still have to meet in order to obtain full admission. Usually these conditions include maintaining your academic average and successfully completing your high school program and graduate. Be sure to read your admission offer letter carefully as there could be other conditions that aren’t as transparent or obvious. International students can also use these Conditional Letters of Admission to start the application process to obtain your study permit. All non-Canadian citizens or Permanent Residents are required to have a valid study permit to pursue studies that are longer than four months in length.
You must remain enrolled full time. Go to class and maintain passing grades. If you are having difficulty in your classes, notify your international advisor.
Your passport should be valid for at least 6-months in the future. Your country’s consulate or embassy can help you extend your passport if needed
International students are permitted to work in Canada while they study – both on and off-campus. Full-time students with a valid Study Permit can work on-campus without requiring a work permit. This permit allows students to work for 20 hours per week during term time and full-time during holidays and semester breaks. This applies to all full-time students enrolled at a public university, community college, vocational college, a publicly funded trade or technical school, or a private institution.
International students who wish to work off-campus while studying as a full-time student in Canada should find out whether their university permits off-campus work for international students – some may not.
Canada allows you to bring your spouse or partner with you. Your spouse/partner can also work while you are still a student.