Canada

Canada is a vast country in North America, with ten provinces and three territories covering over 9.98 million square kilometers. It shares the world’s longest bi-national land border with the United States. Canada is a parliamentary democracy and a constitutional monarchy with the prime minister as the head of government. It is a Commonwealth realm and is officially bilingual in English and French. Canada’s economy is highly developed, relying mainly on its abundant natural resources and well-established international trade networks. The country is known for its diverse and multicultural population, a product of large-scale immigration. Winter and summer temperatures vary across the country, with harsh winters in many parts, particularly in the interior and Prairie provinces, and a temperate climate in coastal British Columbia.

Top universities to study in Canada

When deciding which university to study at, it is crucial that you also look at the world university rankings.

S.No.	Institution	QS Ranking 2023 (Globally)	QS Ranking 2022 (Globally)
1	University of Toronto	34	26
2	McGill University	31	27
3	University of British Columbia	47	46
4	University of Montreal	116	111
5	University of Alberta	110	126
6	McMaster University	152	140
7	University of Waterloov	154	149
8	Western University	172	170
9	University of Ottawa	237	230
10	University of Calgary	242	235

Top courses to study in Canada

Engineering

Computer science

Business

Health sciences

Physiotherapy

IT

Animation & gaming

Hospitality

Intakes in the Canada

Unlike a single intake in Indian universities, Canadian colleges and universities offer three intakes. In some universities, intakes may also be referred to as a semester. The three intakes available in Canada are

Fall

A popular intake among Indian students, The Fall intake starts in the month of September

Winter

Starts in January; it’s best if you miss the September intake

Summer

Available for limited programs and colleges, the Summer intake usually starts around April and May

Cost to study in Canada

Tuition fees in Canada range from CAD 13,000 – CAD 35,000 per year, depending on the type of degree and institution. Humanities and arts courses are usually cheaper, while medicine and engineering are more expensive. Postgraduate tuition fees are higher, with MBA programs being the most expensive, costing between CAD 30,000-42,000 on average.

S.No.	Study Program	Average annual fee
1	Undergraduate program	$13,000 to $20,000
2	Postgraduate master’s degree	$17,000 to $25,000
3	Doctoral degree	$7,000 to $15,000
4	Masters of Business administration (MBA)	$30,000 to $40,000

Cost of living in Canada

When moving to Canada, it’s important to research the cost of living in your desired city. Quebec is one of the more affordable options. You’ll also need to prove you have enough money to cover expenses when applying for a student permit. Consider budgeting for expenses like housing, food, and transportation.

Communication costs

Always set aside money in your budget for phone and data bills as you’d be calling your friends and family back home frequently. Look for low-cost calling plans as well as student discounts. The average monthly cost will be around CAD 20.

Textbooks and supplies

Buying textbooks can be costly. Books for engineering courses, for example, might cost anywhere between CAD 250 and CAD 350. The value of courses like law, medicine, and pharmacy can be even higher. You may keep this within your budget by buying used books, purchasing digital versions, or even enrolling in a library membership.

Personal expenses and incidentals

Laundry, toiletries, clothing, dining out, and so on will be part of your everyday spending. This is largely dependent on the type of lifestyle you select.

Job prospects in Canada

Canada, over the past few years, has seen an abundance of international students from around the world and has provided various work opportunities to both, students and working professionals. As per Forbes and US News released rankings, Canada is considered as the best country amongst G20 countries for establishing business operations. Moreover, it’s also predicted by The Economist Intelligence Unit, that the country will be ranked as the 3rd best country amongst G7 for doing business over the 5 years i.e., 2018 to 2022, which only implies that ample job opportunities await an international student during and after completion of their studies in the time to come.

Student visa requirements for Canada

To study in Canada students require a study permit. While a student visa authorises your entry into Canada, a study permit validates your stay in Canada. It is a mandatory immigration document for an international student.

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 by 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 expert will help you access the latest information and connect you with authorised migration experts.

Scholarships to study in Canada

Here are some popular government-funded scholarships available for Indian students to study in Canada

Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute

Offers various fellowships at different levels from graduate to post-doctorate and from research to training fellowships

Canadian Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan

This scheme identifies students with high intellect from Commonwealth countries applying to programs of advanced study and research at the Master’s and Ph.D. level

Ontario Graduate Scholarship Program

First announced in November 2010 for doctoral students from around the world to study in Ontario

National Research Council of Canada (NRCC)

Research associateship is offered to master’s degree holders in engineering and Ph.D. holders in natural science or engineering disciplines

Quebec Provincial Government Scholarship

This scholarship is for students studying in Quebec.

Partnership Grants by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada

This scholarship is for Ph.D. candidates.

Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships

This is offered by the Canadian government to international students to pursue postgraduate programs within natural science, social sciences, or healthcare research.

Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships

This scholarship is awarded by the Government of Canada to meritorious students who aspire to pursue a doctoral degree at a Canadian institution