Overview | Admission Process | Visa Information | FAQs

Canadian universities are highly regarded around the world. Courses in Canada offer great value for money – tuition fees are lower than many other English-speaking countries, and the cost of living is affordable.

You can learn both English and French in Canada – and with two national languages, universities in Canada are experts in language studies.

Studying in Canada opens up many opportunities to work in North America when you graduate – after completing a course in Canada you can stay and work for up to one year. You can also work part-time during your studies – making it easier to get great work experience, and save money.

The semester when international students are admitted is the fall semester. There are a few programs that start in January and May to which the students can apply.

Scholarships, RA/TA and fellowships are available to students. These scholarships cover most direct economy class air passage (both ways), approved tuition and other compulsory university fees (excluding board and residence), personal maintenance allowance, approved medical and hospital expenses and Book allowance. However, limited financial assistance is available for most students coming from abroad. But there are some schools may offer scholarships (based on academic merit) specifically for foreign students.

The tests that need to be taken by any candidate aspiring to join a Canadian university should take the GRE (M.S), GMAT (M.B.A), and the TOEFL. The optional tests that are also considered are the MELAB (Michigan English language assessment battery), and CanTEST (The Canadian Test of English for Scholars and Trainees).

Yes. An overseas relative can sponsor one’s education in Canada.

It is compulsory for all international students whose mother tongue is not English to take a proficiency test, the most preferred being the TOEFL.

An international student is allowed to work on campus for 20 hours. He may work on the campus of any publicly-funded, degree-granting institution that you are attending. If he is a full-time student at a post-secondary institution, he may also require an employment authorization for the following circumstances: if the intended employment is an essential and integral part of the student’s course of study (this does not apply to accounting students, medical interns or medical residents); if the intended employment is related to an approved research or training program; or if the student has successfully completed a community college or university program in Canada and wish to work for a maximum of one year in employment related to his course of study.

Students are required to apply for a study permit before they arrives in Canada if he is planning to continue his studies in another program after the short program. This will allow him to apply for your new program from within Canada. Otherwise, he will have to apply to a Canadian visa office abroad. Most foreign students will need a permit to study in Canada. Therefore if a student wishes to study in Quebec he will also need to apply to Quebec. The provincial Ministry of Cultural Communities and Immigration of Québec (M.C.C.I.) will issue the Certificate of Acceptance / Certificate d'acceptation (C.A.Q.).

A student will have to bear the expenses of paying for his education and also for the expenses of living in Canada. The costs would be around Can$16,000 to can$20,000.

If the student wishes to extend his student authorization, he can do so within Canada. He should contact the nearest Canada Immigration Centre at least two months before the expiry of his authorization, and ask for an application to be mailed to him. All applications for student authorizations from within Canada must be mailed to and processed by Citizenship and Immigration Canada's central processing centre in Vegreville, Alberta (Fax: (403) 632-8165).

It is essential that every international student take out a health insurance. Generally it can be said that international students have good health services available to them at a minimal cost, but at a cost. Health insurance must therefore be arranged before the student arrives in Canada. This may be as simple as registering himself in the provincial insurance coverage or a compulsory enrolment in the university's health plan. Look below at the provincial guidelines of the province you wish to study in.

A student will require a visitor's visa and student authorizations to study in Canada. Language study programs less than three month's in length do not require a student authorizations.

The following is the procedure to be followed when applying for a visa,

1) Fill the form IMM 1208
2) Have a valid passport.
3) Have a letter of acceptance from an educational institution;
4) proof that the student has enough money to support himself; he has to complete the application form;
    and pay a fee.
5) Take the medical examination.
6) Prove that he does not have a criminal record.

The visa fee is Can$125.

The Canadian High Commission. CEC, India can provide the student with counseling and guidance on the student authorizations (visa) process.

After reviewing the student’s application, a visa officer will decide if an interview is necessary. If so, the officer will contact the student directly to set up a time and place for an appointment.

The following is required of a student when he submits his application,

1. Photocopies of a valid passport/travel document / identity document that guarantees re-entry to the
    country that issued it;

2. Four recent passport-size photos (2" x 2.5") for each family member, with the full name and date of
    birth recorded on the back of each photo. Visa officers may also wish to see the actual passport or
    travel document and will inform you if this is the case.

3. Proof of financial support that shows that the student will be enough money during his stay in Canada to
    cover tuition fees return transportation and $10,000 CDN per annum for living expenses. Documentation
    for this requirement could be proof of a Canadian bank account or a bank draft in convertible currency
    bank statements for the past four to six months, or proof of payment of tuition and residence fees. (As a
    guideline, $10,000 CDN plus to tuition fees per academic year are generally viewed as sufficient.)

4. A medical examination in your country of origin. Medical exams are required if your stay is longer than
    six months. Please note that medical processing will add several weeks to the time necessary to obtain
    a student authorization. In some cases, the student might need a medical examination even though the
    course is less than six months in duration

5. Proof of acceptance by an approved educational institution. This letter must be signed by an authorized
    representative of the institution.

Visas and Study Permits are administered by Citizenship and Immigration Canada, and any questions regarding applications should be directed to them. Please see their website at www.cic.gc.ca. The Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade has no involvement or influence in regards to Visas and Study Permits.