An Overview

Canada is the land of immigrants with a cross-cultural, multilingual society. With an amalgamation of national and cultural ethnic groups, the nation differs significantly from one province to another. Many famous cities like—Quebec, Toronto, Vancouver, Halifax, Montreal, Calgary, and Winnipeg witness a major versatile group of migrants. These marvellous metropolitan cities are the best places for Indian students to explore their talents and study in Canada. 

Why study in Canada

Canada is the capital of multinational corporates and a world leader in Aerospace, Pharmaceuticals, Telecommunications, and Biotechnology. Ontario and Quebec are chiefly known for their solid and robust industries. Its primary source of economic wealth is agriculture, fisheries, gas, forestry, and many more, playing a vital role in global GDP growth. Being an international influencer, Canada facilitates world-class education with affordable fees for international students. Plenty of universities offers paid internship opportunities while studying. 

An international or Indian student can apply for a work visa or permit and land lucrative job opportunities after graduation/post-graduation. One can grow in a healthy, competent, and safe environment and develop a relevant skill set as per current industry trends. The renowned Canadian universities are globally recognized with professional and highly specialized courses. Research-oriented degree courses broaden the horizon of the learners and prepare them with hands-on or real-world experience. Canada has been bustling with famous global discoveries that foster a vibrant and intriguing pathway of innovative scientific methods. 

The fundamental focus of the Canadian education system is driven by career-oriented programs, global projects, workshops, group works, specialized curriculum, projects, and cutting-edge teaching and technical aspects. A state-of-art infrastructure and quality education in a bilingual environment create excellent scholars and professional experts in their fields. It also facilitates an easy visa process with specific requirements. After graduation, one can enhance their learning experience by working with renowned industries to excel in their career and practical experience. 

The job market of Canada is highly developed and equipped with numerous high-remunerated jobs in diverse sectors like—banking, travel & tourism, transport, IT, engineering sector, service sector, and many more. An Indian student can also avail of scholarship benefits according to their academic excellence or extracurricular performances, depending on the program and level of a Canadian university. All international or Indian students must present their English proficiency scores while enrolling in an academic institution or applying for a study visa. 

The institutes or organizations offer different types of scholarship schemes or fellowships on various levels of study programs. Likewise, Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute—Shastri Research Student Fellowship, Canadian Commonwealth Scholarship Program, Canada Asia-Pacific Awards (CAPA), Professional Development Awards (PDA) by International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Ontario Graduate Scholarship Program, Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships, PEO International Peace Scholarships of Women, Dalhousie University Scholarships, Lakehead University—Undergraduate Entrance Scholarship, and many more. One needs to check the requirements as per the scholarship program offered by an institution before applying. 

Later on, one can apply for a permanent residence visa (PR) in Canada and a sponsor’s support. This article will be elaborating on specific relevant points; keep on reading. 

As per Times Higher Education’s World University Rankings, 2022, below is the list of a few of the best-renowned universities for international students to study in Canada: 

• The University of British Columbia, University of Toronto
• McGill University, Western University
• University of Waterloo
• McMaster University
• University of Montreal
• University of Alberta
• University of Ottawa
• St Francis Xavier University

Education in Canada is generally funded and managed by the Provincial Governments of Canada. There are three categories like universities, community colleges, and private colleges. 

Canada studies visa requirements & eligibility criteria for Indian or international students: 

• A study visa application can be submitted online by following the necessary eligibility requirements. 
• One should be enrolled at a designated learning institution (DLI).
• If an applicant is an international or Indian learner, their university/college must be enlisted in DLI.
• A valid proof of sufficient funds to:
• Study (tuition fee),
• Live with/without family members in Canada;
• A return ticket proof of the applicant and family members (if they come along in Canada);
• Must have a good character or have no criminal record and get a police certificate (if required)
• Requires to submit a medical exam report to show that the candidate is in good health.
• A proof of leaving Canada once the study permit expires to be presented to an officer. 

Now, the visa application online process consists of:

• Application form—IMM1294E
• Family information form—IMM5645E
• Use of representative form, if applicable.
• Custodian declaration form (if the candidate is below 18 years) 

Any legal resident of a particular country can get a study visa for Canada by applying through the Student Direct System (SDS). There are certain documents are required to submit while applying through the SDS procedure.

• A visa application form,
• Scanned passport size photographs 
• A letter of acceptance from an enrolled institution must be on the list of DLI

.

• An IELTS scores report with overall 6.0 bands and not less than that
• All the photocopies of the most recent academic documents
• A valid proof of payment receipts issued by Canadian Educational Institution showing pre-payment of first-year tuition fee.
• A Guaranteed Investment Certificate* of CAD 10,000 (mandatory).
• A medical examination document proof
• If a candidate applies to Quebec province’s university, a CAQ (Quebec Acceptance Certificate) will be required. 
• A Statement of Purpose (SOP) to study in Canada.

Those who do not belong to the SDS category or applying through a general variety need to have a look into the following additional information,

• For non-SDS category candidates, GIC is optional. A valid proof of adequate funds to stay and cover all the living expenses for the first year of study must be presented.
• Proof of payment receipts issued by Canadian Educational Institution. 
• A Form No. 16 for salaried employees or ITR documents of the sponsor should be included as well. 
• An IELTS/TOEFL/PTE scores report is also mandatory for the non-SDS category candidates. 

According to the current update from Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), a Duolingo English test will be not acceptable for a Canada study visa. 

Generally, there are multiple benefits of the SDS procedure for a visa application. Some of them are a streamlined visa process, minimal financial documentation, easy and rapid visa processing with the biometric after submitting the visa application. Remember, students in the non-SDS category filing their visa application under the general category may take 45-60 days, depending on the required information. 

Moreover, those who are registered Indians in Canada will not require a study visa or permit. If a student is a citizen of another country and has a Registered Indian status in Canada may not be required to apply for a visa. 

*A Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) is mandatory (under the SDS category) for the enthusiast while applying to study in Canada. It is a Canadian investment proof of the funds purchased from a participating Canadian financial institution like SBI Canada, Scotia Bank, ICICI Bank, and CIBC. It will be covering the living expenses for the first year of study with a minimum amount of CAD 10,000. The currency of Canada is CAD, Canadian Dollar. 

New updates or announcements:

According to the High Commission of Canada in India, they have introduced a new system replaced with the SDS procedure. This new system is the Student Partners Program (SPP) which has been partnered with the Association of Canadian Community Colleges (ACCC) and the Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC). This new process will influence Canadian study visa applications for Indian students. This brand new method has effectively worked out with the selected Canadian academic institutions and the High Commission of Canada in India to facilitate all the Indian enthusiasts with an easy and quick visa processing to study in Canada. A prime purpose of proposing this new process is to attract more Indian students and maximize the number of Canadian study visa applications. 

It comprises a few necessary points which need to be read and checked carefully– like; 

• Firstly, an aspirant does not have to apply for SPP separately; they can simply apply to a participating college or institution and need to get selected with their application for the chosen program. 
• Secondly, many eligibility requirements need to be fulfilled by an applicant, like;
• For UG courses, IELTS with a score of 6.0 and not less than band 5.5 shall be considered (issued in the past 2-years).
• The applicant must submit copies of the fee payment receipt for the 1st semester or 1st year as per SPP guidelines.
• It is crucial to present proof of purchasing any Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) from Scotia Bank, with CAD 10,000 to incorporate all the required living expenses for the 1st year. 
• As per this new update, numerous Indian banks have started making required changes concerning educational loans. 
• An aspirant must have attained a minimum of 50% in their latest completed degree/diploma or academic program. 
• Remember, if one’s study visa for Canada has been rejected by the authority, they will not be eligible for SPP as well. 
• Now, for PG degrees, an IELTS score of 6.5 and no band less than 6.0 was issued in the last 24-hours. 
• A study gap of not more than 5-years shall be considered, and for academically strong or excellent students, this gap may excel to 6-years. 
• The selected or applied program must be value-added as per one’s latest qualification.
• An interested pupil must have acquired a minimum 2nd class of C-level with a minimum score of 50% in their latest diploma/degree. 
• As per SPP participating institute, an applicant must present copies of tuition fee payment receipts for the 1st year. 

To cover all living expenses for the 1st academic year, one must submit the purchase of a Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) from Scotia Bank, 10,000 CAD. 

Remember, one should not have more than 8 backlogs in their previous degree course. 

Various colleges fostering tertiary education under the SPP from different Canadian provinces, chiefly; British Columbia, Ontario, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and many more.

Studying in Canada cost

Canada is a vibrant country with mesmerizing travel destinations for people across the globe. An average cost to study in Canada comprises; visa application fee, IELTS test fee, tuition fee (1 year), accommodation & living expenses, air ticket, biometric fee, and depend on the lifestyle of a particular student. 

Remember, the tuition fee may vary from one institution to another and study program. An average accommodation may cost between CAD 400-800 per month. There are various options available for an international or Indian student like; off-campus housing or school provided residency/dormitory. 

Courses to study in Canada

All 98 Canadian universities incorporate a multicultural environment and offer a wide variety of learning opportunities for international or Indian students. The highly acclaimed educational institutions and globally recognized courses prepare the young aspirants to explore their inner potentials and talent. The numbers of community colleges in Canada are 150 (approx.), which offers effective programs including UG Diplomas, University Transfer Programs, Bachelor Degrees, and PG Diplomas. 

The duration of the study programs varies as per the courses approximately, for instance: 

• Bachelor’s degree: 4 years
• Master’s degree: 2 years
• UG diploma: 2-3 years; wherein, 2 years program is a Diploma program and 3 years program is an Advanced Diploma. 
• PG Diploma/Graduate certificate: 1-2 years
• Doctoral degree/Ph.D.: 2-5 years

There are various popular courses among international students in recent times: Business, Environmental Science, Social Sciences, Management, Nursing, Engineering & Technology, Medicine, Arts, and so on. These, the widespread field of courses, has more lucrative job opportunities in Canada or across the globe. The renowned Canadian universities also provide excellent internship opportunities to the students and placement opportunities. 

Plenty of study options are available for international or Indian students to study in Canada after 12th or graduation/post-graduation. Each university or college has its own eligibility criteria to scale the candidates with the best opportunities as per their academic profile. 

Age limit to study in Canada

The age limit for Indian or international students falls into a minimum of 18 years, and it may vary from one province to another. Another criterion is an international aspirant that must be between 18-35 years. Also, a study permit will not be required if the duration of a particular course is less than 6 months, known as a short-term course.

How much money is required to study in Canada?

A qualified education with a state-of-art infrastructure, Canada is the most sought-after education destination for international or Indian students. The affordable education with excellent curriculum and renowned universities attract pupils across the globe. 

An undergraduate degree program may cost CAD 29,714, and a post-graduate degree program can cost CAD 17,744 per year. This tuition fee may vary from institution to the chosen course and location of a particular university. 

How to get PR in Canada after studying?

A PR or permanent resident is a facility that one can attain after graduation from a renowned Canadian university. There are several PR categories in which one can choose according to their profile and eligibility. It includes the Canadian Express Class, Federal Skilled Worker, and the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). 

The Canadian government grants permission to eligible candidates or temporary workers and students to become permanent residents in Canada. This process includes biometrics, and visa processing may take 6-months depending on the information required. 

Work and study in Canada

An international or Indian student can work while studying in Canada with the help of a study permit or visa. They can work on-campus or off-campus without a work permit, but only after their studies begin. 

Once a pupil graduates from a Canadian university, they can apply for a work permit known as (PGWP) Postgraduation Work Permit. This work permit may help a candidate/graduate to get a PR visa. There are two types of work permits and for a limited duration. 

Generally, international or Indian students can work up to 20 hours per week and full-time during the vacation breaks without a work permit. Therefore, it will be an excellent opportunity for all the Indian pupils to build their networks strong and learn practical communication skills. 

Is studying in Canada without IELTS is possible in 2021?

It is necessary to submit the IELTS scores for a study visa in Canada to prove the English language proficiency test. Otherwise, one can take TOEFL tests as well. There are plenty of Canadian universities which does not require an IELTS score but might ask to submit an English language proficiency certificate. Some may require grades for the past 4 years of one’s previous academic career. However, one can present the educational documents as proof of English medium learning from a former education institution to avail this exemption.

Universities that may take Indian or international students without IELTS scores are as follows: University of Winnipeg, Brock University, University of Saskatchewan, University of Regina, Carlton University, and many more. Remember, read all the guidelines of a particular university carefully before applying to it.  

How much gap is accepted for study in Canada?

The study gap in Canada depends on the course(s) enrolled before applying for it. A gap of 5 years or more (despite the work experience) in studies or a consecutive academic courses failure may lead to visa rejection. 

The study gap duration may vary from one-degree course to another. As per the universities’ guidelines, a study gap for 2 years will be satisfactory for the UG courses, and a 5 years gap will be for PG courses. A relevant explanation should be submitted concerning the enrolled course. 

Canada is a country of lush-green landscapes and a multitude of vibrant metropolitan cities with a diverse cross-culture. A perfect destination to sharpen your skill-set with a desired career-oriented workplace and suitable environment. This country majorly welcomes immigrants across the globe with promising and growing opportunities in numerous industrial sectors. Beyond Immigration, among India’s renowned and trusted consultation services, provides excellent guidance and assistance to clients globally.