Study Guide to Canada for International Students: Eligibility Criteria, Cost of Living, Admission Process 2024

In terms of area, Canada is the largest country in North America. Famous for its mesmerizing beauty, Canada is also one of the top study destinations for International Students. Thousands of students from a large number of countries reach Canada to fulfil their dreams of getting a world-class education.

There are many reasons such as great infrastructure, safe environment, etc. why Canada is preferred by students from all over the world. With its immigration friendly policies, Studying in Canada is now easier than ever before. If you are also looking to study in Canada then we are going to help you out through this post.

Guide for International Students to Study in Canada

It is rare to see students finding themselves in dilemma due to questions such as how they can study in Canada from India or from their respective countries. Such students should know that the journey to study in Canada starts with you applying to Canadian University for Admission.

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Once you get the admission, you need to apply for the Study Permit for Canada. So, the first thing you should know is how to apply for admission into Canadian Universities.

How to Apply to Canadian Universities from India?

The application forms of Canadian Universities will release separately for different universities. Apart from this, the application process also depends upon the course for which you are applying. Go through the following important points related to the application process of Canadian University for Indian Students.

  • As an Indian Student, you need to meet a minimum English Language Requirement.
  • The minimum percentage marks required to Study in Canada is 65% and above for humanities in class 12th or equivalent. At least 70% to 80% marks are required for Science/ Commerce students in class 12th.
  • Foundation and Diploma Programs are also available for students who scored less than 60%.
  • Students should have completed 18 years of age before joining a degree program.
  • Those students who are looking to pursue MS programs in Canada should know the minimum percentage required for a master’s degree in Canada. Remember, the minimum GPA required to pursue MS in Canada is 3 on a scale of 4.
  • Nowadays, there is a huge demand among International students to study STEM or other business related to business. These courses have their own requirements. So, you must check the same with the university.

Steps to Apply For Admission into Canadian University

  • Search for the college and course in which you are looking to apply.
  • Contact your university authority and visit the corresponding websites for information.
  • Narrow down the list of schools to which you want to take admission.
  • Take the entrance exams as per your university like SAT, GMAT, GRE, TOEFL
  • In the next step, you should write SOPs and ask for LORs
  • After that, you should apply to the colleges which fit your budget and interest.
  • In order to get admission, you will have to appear for video interviews.
  • In case you get accepted for admission, you can apply for a student visa.

What are SOPs and LORs?

As you can see in the steps to apply, you will have to write SOPs and ask for LORs in order to confirm admission. If you don’t know what are these then you should check out the points explained below.

  • SOP (Statement of Purpose) – A statement of purpose is your introduction to the college and admission committee. The SOP is always written in the first person and describes the reason why you are applying to a particular college. Through this document, you can let the college know about your strengths and why you are the best fit for university admission. This letter should also be written in a formal tone.
  • LOR – LOR stands for Letter of Recommendation. It is a reference letter written by a third party describing the qualities, capabilities, characteristics, etc of a probable student. Here, third-party means a professor, direct manager, etc.
  • Essay – In order to get admission, students are also required to submit their Essays. Essays are a crucial part of the university admission process. To get admission, a student is required to write one or two essays at least. The common topics on which students are required to write down essays are strengths and weaknesses, career aspirations, experience, skills, and the reason why they are considering this college for admission.

Student Safety in Canada

  • As per records, Canada is one of the safest countries in the world with one of the highest standards of living in the world.
  • The general environment of Canada is free. People are also allowed to express their opinions freely. Plus, People are not judged on the basis of their appearances or country of origin.

Weather in Canada

Canada is a huge country with 10 provinces and 3 territories. The general weather depends upon the location in which you are living. Stretching from the Pacific to the Atlantic ocean, Canada covers five time zones.

  • In Montreal region, you will find that Winters are cold and Snowy. Due to wind-chill factor, cold in Montreal is extreme. The month of November marks the beginning of snowfall and it continues till the month of March. The day-time temperature during the month of Winter falls between -6 degrees Celsius to – 15 degrees Celsius.
  • Taking about the Weather in Toronto, we can say that it is milder than most of the cities in Canada. Yet, it is very cold and snowy. During the winter season, the daytime temperature remains between – 10 degrees Celsius to 12 degrees Celsius. The summer temperature range from 15 degree Celsius to 25 degree Celsius.
  • You will find the most suitable temperature as an Indian in Canada in the Vancouver region. Here, the summers are pleasantly warm with temperatures ranging from an average 7 degrees Celsius to 22 degrees Celsius. Winter is cold but snowfall is rare. The average temperature in winter range from 3 degrees Celsius to 7 degrees Celsius.

Accommodation Facilities for International Students in Canada

  • There is no shortage of accommodation facilities for International Students in Canada. It is up to you to decide if you want to live in university-managed accommodation or opt for living with a private landlord.
  • The benefit of living at university-managed accommodation is that you get an option to choose from catered and self-catered options. In case you choose catered option then you will cook food at the university mess. However, you will have to pay for that.
  • Living with a private landlord can be a budget-friendly option. But, you need to be careful. Make sure you read all the terms and conditions mentioned on your contract very carefully. It is so because, in most cases, you will be asked to enter into a tenancy agreement. Not reading the clauses carefully can result in confusion later on.

Canadian Universities Document Requirements for Admission

You need to have the following documents in order to get admission into Canadian Universities.

  • Mark sheet for Class 10th and Class 12th
  • Mark sheets and Degree Certificate of Graduation (If applicable)
  • In case you have any work experience then you also need 2 letters of recommendation from the employer/ manager who knows you well and can comment on your professional abilities and behavior.
  • Your Professional Resume
  • Statement of Purpose
  • Portfolio (in case of Students applying for art and design courses & architecture programs)
  • Proof of funds
  • Score Card of Tests like GMAT / IELTS / TOEFL
  • Medical Tests Reports
  • Others (certificates/achievements at the state and national level and extracurricular activities)

Life of an Indian Student in Canada

You will find a large number of Indian Students living in Canada. Not only students, but the number of Indians residing in Canada is also increasing at an astonishing rate. According to a report published in Forbes magazine recently, the number of Indians who became permanent residents in Canada increased from 39,340 in 2016 to 80,685 in 2019.

Most of the Indians live in and around areas like Toronto, and Vancouver. You will also find smaller Indian Communities in cities like Calgary, Edmonton, and Montreal. Approximately, there are around more than 140,000 Indian students who are currently studying in Canada. This outnumbered the Chinese students by a fair margin.

Cost of Living for an Indian Student in Canada

The cost of living heavily depends on which region of Canada you are living in. Apart from the tuition fee, you will also have the bear the following expenses.

  • Accommodation rent (on campus or off campus)
  • Groceries and food
  • Phone bills
  • Utilities like electricity, water, gas, internet
  • Text and reference books
  • Airfare for traveling back to India

Note: Please note that here we are not including non-essential expenses like Travel and Vacation, Dining Out, Car Rent and Car Insurance, Cable TV connection.

Types of Visas that Canada Offers

The following types of Visas are offered by the Canadian government.

  • Temporary Visas
  • Student Visas
  • Federal Skilled Worker Visa
  • Canadian Experience Class Visa
  • Federal Skilled Trades Program
  • Provincial Nomination Programs
  • Super Visas for Parents and Grandparents
  • Visitor Visa
  • Work Permits
  • Business Class Immigration
  • Quebec -Selected Skilled Workers Program
  • Family-Sponsorship Program
  • Live-in Caregiver Program (LCP

What is the application Fee for Canadian Universities?

The application fee depends upon the university to which you are looking to apply. However, the application fee for tests necessary to get admission is as follows.

  • IELTS – Rs. 14,700/-
  • TOEFL – US $190 (Around Rs. 14000/-)
  • PTE – Rs. 14,700/-
  • GMAT –  INR 21,200 (US $275),
  • GRE – INR 16,422 (US $213)
  • SAT – INR 8,000 ($104)

How to get a Canadian Student’s Visa?

You will have to apply for a Canadian Student’s Visa after you get the acceptance letter from the college. Before applying, you need to ensure that you have the following documents.

  • Proof of acceptance – The school will send you an acceptance letter in case you are planning to attend any college, university, or other educational institutes in Canada.
  • Proof of financial support – You also need to prove that you can support yourself financially at the time of your stay in Canada.

At the time of the interview, you may need to show some additional documents.

Top Universities in Canada

Given below is the list of top Globally recognized Universities in Canada to which you can apply for admission.

  • University of Toronto
  • McGill University
  • University of British Columbia
  • Université de Montréal
  • McMaster University
  • University of Alberta
  • University of Waterloo
  • Western University
  • Queen’s University
  • University of Calgary

Pre-Departure Checklist

If you are lucky enough to get admission into a Canadian university then you must ensure that you are the following documents ready before leaving the home.

  • Airline tickets
  • Passport
  • Letter of Acceptance by the educational institution
  • Travel insurance certificate
  • Key addresses and phone numbers
  • Prescriptions for any medication you are carrying
  • A bank statement showing proof of funds
  • Medical and immunization records
  • Traveler’s cheques (if applicable)
  • Academic history and university mark sheet
  • Travel and Health Insurance Documents
  • Airline Tickets

Student Loan for Indians in Canada

It is understandable that not all of us are financially strong enough to bear the cost of living and studying in a country like Canada. Such students can apply for a student loan in Canada. Please note that most Indian banks will offer you a loan only if you meet the following criteria.

  • You must be an Indian Nation.
  • You need to have a strong academic record.
  •  Most banks maintain that the selected course should be job-oriented. So, you must be seeking admission to a professional, technical, or another course of study.
  • You must be above the age of 18 years or else your parents can avail the loan on your behalf.
  • You must have got admission into a university of repute.

Amount of the Loan – In case your course fee is around 10 lakhs then a bank may offer you a loan of about 80% of the total fees i.e., Around 8 lakhs. You will have to put in the rest 20% of the amount i.e., Around 2 lakh rupees. Normally, the maximum loan amount a bank can offer a student is around 20 lakh rupees at a nominal interest rate.

You will have to repay the loan amount once your course period gets over. Please note that you will have to start the repayment process no matter you are employed or not. Generally, students repay the educational loan amount within 5 to 7 years of the starting of the repayment process.

Frequently Asked Questions

Question – 1: How much does it cost to study in Canada?

Answer: It depends upon the course for which you are looking to apply. The average fees for various courses are as follows.

  • Undergraduate program – $13,000 to $20,000
  • Postgraduate master’s degree – $17,000 to $25,000
  • MBA – $30,000 to $40,000
  • Doctoral degree – $7,000 to $15,000

Question – 2: Is the cost of living in Canada is higher than in India?

Answer: Yes, according to a report the cost of living in India is 67% cheaper compared to Canada.

Question – 3: Which Course is best in Canada?

Answer: Well, it depends upon preference. Still, you can check out the Top courses to study in Canada for International Students.

  • MBA.
  • Computer Science & IT.
  • Business & Finance.
  • Core Engineering & Engineering Management.
  • Physical & Earth Sciences and Renewable Energy.
  • Agricultural Science & Forestry.
  • Biosciences, Medicine & Healthcare.
  • Media & Journalism

Question – 4: How long does it take to get a student visa to Canada?

Answer: After applying for your Canadian study permit, the processing time may take up to 90 days. But, usually, applications get processed faster.

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