Study Abroad: Canada
Education System
Admission
Required Tests
Cost of Education
Applying for a visa
Universities - Canada
Study in Canada
Studying in Canada would be a beautiful experience for
anyone, literally, since Canada is ranked as the BEST PLACE in the world to
LIVE. Because of its access to education, high life expectancy and low crime
rates, Canada is a very attractive destination for students throughout the world.
Of more attraction to Zimbabwe students is the fact that Canada welcomes
immigrants with open arms. Thus, those who complete their education can decide
upon staying back and complete the immigration process to enjoy the best life
in the world! As a country of immigrants, Canada places a high-demand on
multicultural diversity.
Moreover, Canadian education costs are relatively cheaper
than US and other countries - by at least 30%. Coupled with its low cost of
living, Canada is one of the best destinations for international students.
Canada is a bilingual country with two official languages -
English and French. Most of the French-speaking inhabitants live in Quebec.
However, almost all non-Quebec based universities offer education instruction
in English only.
Education System in
Canada
The education system in Canada encompasses both
publicly-funded and private schools, including: community colleges / technical
institutes, career colleges, language schools, secondary schools, summer camps,
universities and university colleges. Canadian universities are largely public
funded and as a result, are of a consistently high quality, regardless of
location or area of study. At the same time, they (the universities) retain a
high degree of academic autonomy.
Education is a provincial responsibility under the Canadian
constitution, which means there are significant differences between the
education systems of the different provinces. However, education is important
to Canadians, and standards across the country are uniformly high. Once
students complete elementary school which is up to 8thstandard, they would take
up High school education comprising of classes 9thto 12th. There are more than
175 post-secondary institutions that offer various programs such as
Certificate, Diploma and Bachelor's, including vocational and adult-education.
These institutions are known as Community colleges, Technical Institute,
University College. All these colleges are members of the Association of
Canadian Community colleges.
Undergraduate programs are of 4 years duration, except in
Ontario, where there is three-year Bachelor degrees and three-year Master's
degrees. In the other parts of Canada, post-graduate programs (Master's) are of
two years duration. A degree from a Canadian university is recognized
world-wide and as a result, international students who graduate from Canadian
universities enjoy successful and prosperous careers.
High Quality
Education
Education institutions are not officially ranked in Canada,
but you will find quality institutions across the country. When choosing your
school in Canada, consider the type, size and location of the institution. If
you are interested in a particular area of study, investigate which schools
have more to offer in that discipline.
Admission
Admission requirements vary from one university to another.
However, as a general rule, Canadian institutions prefer applicants with very
good academic background and decent scores in TOEFL or IELTS for admission. A
four-year Bachelor's degree is required for admission into M.S/MBA programs,
with a minimum of mid-B grades (around 70%).
For those with a three-year degree, admission into Post Graduate
(PG) diploma program is possible with a minimum score of around 240 in TOEFL.
PhD programs generally require five years to complete
full-time. They usually require a combination of course work, original research
and a thesis, which must be defended by oral examination.
One important factor is time. It takes at least one year for
the whole admission process to be completed. Most institutions have a January
deadline for September intake. Hence, it would be in your best interest to
apply at least one year before the start of semester.
Main intake every year commences in September and ends in
May. Some universities that run on the semester system conducts courses even in
the summer, and have intake in January (winter) June to August is the period of
vacation.
All the programs in all fields of specialization are
available for study in Canadian institutions at all levels.
Required tests
Canadian colleges and universities accept either TOEFL or
IELTS scores as proof of English proficiency. Depending upon the institution,
the score requirements may vary - between 213-250 for TOEFL and 5.5 -7.5 bands
in IELTS.
GRE is required for Master's level admission, and some
universities and programs may need a good score in the Subject Test too.
However, for MBA admission, good score in GMAT is essential, in addition to
academic performance, other tests' scores and requirements as prescribed by the
B schools individually.
Cost of Education
Studying in Canada is not free, but it is affordable. The
average cost for a foreign student for one school year (8 months) in an Arts
& Science program is C$ 11,903.
International Students, 2001-2002 Tuition Fees, General Arts
and Sciences Programs
Province
Undergraduate Graduate
Newfoundland $7,260 $1,896 - $3,549
Prince
Edward Island $7,510 $6,100
Nova Scotia $8,520
- $12,480 $4,329 - $15,000
New Brunswick $7,063 -
$ 10,720 $5,610 - $8,465
Quebec $9,168
- $10,518 $8,268 - $20,000
Ontario $6,900 -
$16,204 $5,432 - $29,000
Manitoba $4,940
- $6,900 $3,759 - $9,685
Saskatchewan $7,779 -
$10,890 $5,313
Alberta $6,293 -
$11,078 $5,298 - $19,200
British Columbia $4,462
- $15,870 $2,272 - $17,499
Source: Statistics Canada
Accommodation and
living expenses
For accommodation, students have a number of options
available that can be on-campus or off-campus such as hostels, rented housing,
home stay etc. Cost of living for students in Canada would be between Can. $
8,000-12,000, depending upon the location of their residence.
Financial Assistance
for International Students
There are limited scholarships available in Canada. They
rarely cover the full cost of a study program and they are not always easy to
find. Scholarships to international students are available at some Canadian
institutions for students with exceptional results. The amount awarded varies
from one institution to another and usually covers only part of a student's
education and living expenses. The calendar of each university in Canada
includes a complete and detailed list of the scholarships it administers. This
information is usually available on school web sites as well. Obtaining a
scholarship is very competitive and applications must be made directly to each
university along with the application for admission. Community and Career
Colleges do not usually award scholarships nor do school boards or most private
schools.
There are various organizations within Canada that
administer scholarship programs in various countries but they are usually for
graduate students and professors who are studying or researching a specific
subject; Canadian studies are a typical area for which scholarships are
awarded. Students should also check within their home country through public
and private organizations for any financial assistance they may provide to
Work prospects
Full-time students registered in a degree or
diploma-granting course are allowed to work on the campus of the institution at
which they are registered without the need for an employment authorization.
This includes on-campus employment for graduate, teaching or research
assistants. Spouses of full-time students are eligible for open or
open/restricted employment authorization, depending on medical requirements
having been met. Students whose intended employment forms an integral part of
their course of study such as undergraduate co-op programs, some programs
offered by career colleges or language schools and some high school programs.
Applying for a visa
You may obtain study permit forms in your country of origin
at the Canadian Embassy, High Commission or Canadian Education Centre.
Applications and documentation must then be submitted to the nearest visa
office.
