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What is the cost of studying in Canada?

Canadian universities and colleges are known across the globe, for their low tuition fees for international students and high-quality education. The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) also stated that Canada is amongst the top 3 countries in the world when it comes to spending per capita for public post-secondary education.

Given that the tuition fees are comparatively lower for international students and the quality of education is excellent, studying in Canada is also highly competitive. This competition is very well reflected in the fact that every year, more than 150,000 students migrate to Canada for their higher studies.

As per our recent calculation, the average tuition fee for pursuing any Diploma or Certificate program in Canada is somewhere in the range of C$ 15000 CAD-20000 CAD per annum (INR 9,00,000-11,00,000). Similarly, Bachelor’s programs on an average cost somewhere around C$ 26,000 and 50,000. Master’s programs on the other hand cost within the range of C$ 17,000 to 40,000 (INR 9,00,000-21,00,000).

Quite similar to other destinations, Canada also has primarily three options for accommodation. Students can stay in Hostels/Dormitories of institutions, they can stay off campus on rent or they can opt for home stays hosted by Canadian families.

Staying in Dormitories or hostels on-campus can cost students C$ 350 to 550 per month. Staying in rented accommodations off-campus can cost somewhere around 500-1500 CAD per month and if they share the apartment with others, this cost can be slashed at least 50%. Similarly, staying at home stays may cost somewhere between 500-900 CAD per month.

Health Insurance

It is compulsory for all international students to have medical insurance during their stay in Canada, and the medical coverage depends on the province where they will study and reside. Generally, the coverage depends on the length of the stay and the majority of provinces cover international students under their provincial health care plans.

But as we always say, the cost of living is finally dependent on the student’s lifestyle and varies accordingly.

Top courses to pursue in Canada

Canada is known to offer a myriad of courses which focus on preparing students for the real world. As per the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Canada, maintains its standing as the most educated country in the world surpassing U.S and OECD average.

Most of the colleges, universities and other institutions are more or less public-funded. Unlike the popular perception in India that private institutions are superior to public institutions when it comes to infrastructural and other factors, Canadian public institutions, including the polytechnic institutes, are popular for their world-class quality.

Like the other top education system, the Canadian system also concentrates on the practical learning aspect of any course and offers courses ranging from the most generic ones like MBA, Engineering, Law, Language and Tourism to the niche programs like Performing Arts, Cyber Security, Photographic Archiving and Neuroscience among others.

So, with basket full courses like this, students can find the course that best fits their interest and capabilities. And given that most of the faculty members are highly trained and are actual professionals in their field of teaching, it is doubtless that there is something for every student in Canada.

Which examinations/tests are required to apply and study in Canada?

Canada is a bilingual nation and the two languages spoken and used in the country are English and French. And international students are expected to know at least one of the languages. And since English is used as a medium of instruction in all Universities, colleges and other institutions, Indian students have nothing to worry about.

What about scholarships to study in Canada?

Given that millions migrate to Canada for studies, SCHOLARSHIPS for studying in Canada are highly competitive and limited and rarely cover the full cost of the study programs. The scholarships and the coverage also vary from institution to institution. Most scholarships are merit-based and some are specifically made available to students based on the region of origin, like Asian/Pacific Islander scholarships.

It is always advisable to contact your STUDY ABROAD CONSULTANT to know more about such scholarship opportunities and application process.

Types of Scholarships

Merit-based Scholarships

Primarily two types of scholarships are available in Canada. The first type is offered by the universities and the second type is awarded by other organizations. As the name states, the scholarships can be availed by international students with outstanding academic scores or talents in certain fields.

International Undergraduate Scholarships

These are scholarships awarded to international students who have qualified for any undergraduate course in Canada and fulfill the eligibility criteria put out by the provider of the scholarships.

Visa to study in CANADA

With the launch of the Student Direct Stream (SDS) by the Canadian High Commission, the process of acquiring a Canadian student visa became further streamlined and simple. As per the provisions of SDS, students of a selected few countries (including India) can get their visa processed faster if they satisfy a series of criteria including a minimum IELTS score of 6 bands and 7 in case they appear for Niveaux the Compétence Linguistique Canadiens for French. As a matter of fact, students who apply to the colleges under the Association of Canadian Community Colleges (ACCC) are to benefit from this with faster visa processing and other similar benefits.

One of the primary criteria to secure the Study Permit Application under the SDS is that the student must have an unconditional offer letter from any universities and colleges under this scheme. Apart from that, all applying students must fulfill the other requirements of the Canadian Immigration Act and Regulations. Canada has a reputation of having an efficient, transparent and standardized application process, which further simplifies the submission and fee payment process.

Unlike most of the other popular study destinations, visa interviews are not mandatory for Study Permit applications, but there have been rare cases where applicants were called in for an interview at certain visa offices.

Steps of visa application

• Obtain an unconditional offer letter from the education institution
• Pay the 1^st year tuition fees
• Provide the proof of purchase of Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) from any of the participating financial institution to cover the cost of living for the first year
• Visit any panel physician and complete the medical examination prior to submitting the study permit application
• Submit the visa application with all the required documents

Life in Canada

Being one of the developed nations, it has all the benefits of being a high-quality modern country but at the same time, compared to several European countries and the USA, the cost of living is lesser. As a matter of fact, it is ranked number one in the world for Quality of Life for the 4th year in a row. The parameters on which Canada was ranked number one for Quality of Life were economic stability, good job market, affordability, safety, political stability, family-friendliness, the standard of the public education system, public health system and income equality. Canada’s overall score in all of these is a whopping 10 out of 10.

When it comes to Canada’s attitude towards immigration, Canada is known for being a welcoming nation and the people are warm & friendly in nature. Canada has a large Indian Diaspora with Toronto being the center of the Indo-Canadian population. As per a study, over 50% of the population in this capital province of Ontario is of Indian origin. Apart from the statistics, Canada is a beautiful country with a perfect balance between scenic beauty and a modern cityscape.

So, do you plan to study in Canada? WE ARE HERE TO HELP.