EduFlyHigh

The Experience of Studying in the Canada

Canada offers a high standard of higher education with qualifications that are recognized around the world by employers and considered on the same level as degrees from America, the UK, and other top study destinations. Four of Canada’s institutions made the Top 100 universities in the 2014-2015 edition of the Times Higher Education World University Rankings: the University of Toronto, University of British Columbia, McGill University, and McMaster University. Toronto, McGill and British Columbia also made the Top 100 in QS’ World University Rankings 2014-15 alongside Universite de Montreal and University of Alberta. Toronto cracked the Top 20 in both league tables.

All academic courses are regularly reviewed by their institution to maintain high standards. Government bodies like the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada (AUCC) are also in place to ensure that universities are offering the best possible education. Until August 2019, Canada experienced almost 70,000 international students studying at all levels in the country, which explains its popularity across the globe.

Education System in the Canada

One of the major reasons behind Canada’s popularity among students is its affordable quality education. The Canadian government spends generously on higher education and is among the top three countries to spend per capital on post-secondary education. Let’s find out more about the Canadian education system.

Since the education system in Canada is managed by the provincial governments, the study levels and educational stages may lie in different clusters with different names. Here’s a synopsis:

Study Level	Duration	Description
Certificates and Diploma	1 to 2 years	Vocational and job-oriented programs, mainly technical
Associate degree	2 years	Equivalent to first two years of a 4-year bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree	3 to 4 years	And undergraduate degree which requires successful completion of secondary school. The duration of your course depends on the province and type of program although most courses last for 4 years. Certain provinces like Quebec have bachelor's degree of 3 years.
Bachelor's Honors degree	4 years	This will require getting a specific GPA or credits, a major or a specialist program
Postgraduate diploma	1 to 2 years	A post bachelor’s degree qualification
Master's degree (by thesis)	1 to 2 years	Often referred to as research masters, this requires mandatory submission of thesis for assessment and course completion
Master's degree (by non-thesis)	1 to 2 years	This is a taught master's degree, not requiring thesis submission
Doctorate or PhD	4 to 7 years	Ph.D. is awarded when students complete dissertation and successfully defend their work before a panel of faculty members
Post-Doctoral Programs	No time limit	Specialized research-oriented programs

Types of institutions

University: Students can apply for undergraduate degree, postgraduate certificate, diploma and degree, professional degrees and doctorate in universities of Canada.
University colleges: Programs offered by university colleges include diploma and university transfer programs.
Community colleges: Students can get certificate, diploma, associate degree, undergraduate degree and postgraduate diploma in community colleges.
Career and technical colleges: Certificate and diploma offered for technical education

How much does it cost to study in the Canada?

Study Level	Average Annual Fee (in Canadian Dollar (CAD)*
Undergraduate Program	$13,000 to $20,000 per year
Postgraduate master's degree	$17,000 to $25,000 per year
Doctoral degree	$7,000 to $15,000 per year
MBA	$30,000 to $40,000 per year

Student Visa Requirements for the Canada

The Canadian Government provides an opportunity to Indian students to study in the country but as a prerequisite, you’ll have to obtain a Study Permit and a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV).

What is Study Permit?

This is not a visa, it’s a permit or a document issued by the Citizen and Immigration (CIC) which allows you to study in Canada. If you hold a study permit, you must remain enrolled and make reasonable and timely progress towards completing your course.

Your study permit is always accompanied along with a visitor visa or Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA). Please note that a study permit is a document that allows you to study in Canada while a visitor visa or ETA allows you to enter Canada. Your counsellor will help you access the latest information and connect you with authorized migration experts.

Documents Required for Study Permit

An acceptance letter from your education institution
A valid passport or travel document
Proof that you can support yourself or any family members who might accompany you, while you’re in Canada

Check the minimum funds that need to be reflected in your bank account as an international student

You must also prove that you have enough money to pay for your:

Tuition Fees
Living expenses for yourself and any family members who come with you to Canada
Return transportation for yourself and any family members who come with you to Canada
Be a law-abiding citizen with no criminal record and not be a risk to the security of Canada (you may have to provide a police certificate)
Be in good health (you may need to complete a medical exam)

You will also be required to appear for a personal interview at the Canadian embassy or consulate.

To prove you can financially support yourself and any accompanying family members, you may be asked to provide

Documentation of a Canadian bank account in your name, if money has been transferred to Canada
Documentation of a student/education loan from a financial institution
Bank statements
A bank draft in convertible currency
Proof of payment of tuition and accommodation fees
A letter for the person or institution providing your funding
Proof of funding paid from within Canada if you have a scholarship or are enrolled in a Canadian-funded educational program

*Please note that these are the basic requirements, speak with your IDP counsellor for a detailed list of documents required for visa processing

Applying for your visa online

You’ll have to apply for your student visa application online using the CIC official website. You can apply up to three months before your intended date of travel to Canada. Remember, your application date is the date when your application fee is paid.

Benefits of online visa application:

The visa process is expedited.
You will know if it's incomplete as an incomplete request is not accepted online
You can speedily submit your rest of the documents, as and when required
You will be updated through emails on the status of your application

Study Permit Fee

As an applicant from outside Canada, you will have to pay CAD150 as your visa fee (do check the latest fee when applying here)

How can EduFlyHigh help in your visa application?

If you’re an EduFlyHigh potential candidate with an offer letter from any of our partner institutions in Canada, we can advise you on how to go about the entire process. We’ll make sure you are fully informed on the latest visa requirements and conditions; also help you prepare the right documents for your submission.

Our EduFlyHigh Visa Processing Officers will direct you to the official websites and to authorized immigration representatives to ensure you have the latest applications forms and guidance. To reduce your hassle, we can also help certify, translate, and courier your documents.

NOTE: Student Direct Stream - Indian students applying to universities and colleges in Canada can now expect faster visa processing through the Study Direct Stream (SDS) program launched by the Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada. Unlike the usual visa processing that may take up to 2-3 months, SDS allows students from India to avail their visa in 4-6 weeks. However, if you choose to apply through SDS, you may need certain additional documents. Don’t worry, your EduFlyHigh Admission Counsellor can guide you easily for the same.