Study in Canada

Just dreaming won’t do.You need to take practical and necessary steps at appropriate time to realize your aspiration. Studying in Canada is a crucial decision of your life

Studying in Canada is a crucial decision of your life. Millions of international students endeavor to study in Canada every year. In a situation where the competition is too high, giving an early start to your application process becomes imperative. Just dreaming won’t do. It is essential that you take practical and necessary steps at the appropriate time to realize your aspiration of study in Canada.

Why study in Canada?

Canada is the second largest country in the world by land mass, only behind Russia, with a population density that runs at about four inhabitants per square kilometres.

Student intake and admissions: Canada welcomes over 1,30,000 international students every year and allows them to study in Canada. A student must have a Study Permit granted by the Canadian government for the purpose of study in Canada. There are currently close to 200,000 international students taking on their PhDs in Canada, which can take anywhere from three to six years to complete. Students around the world prefer Canada as their first study destination for quality higher education. Canada being the most favourite especially for Pakistani students is recognized worldwide for its high academic standards. The very high standard of education that Canada offers is recognized around the world. According to a recent survey conducted in Canada in 2021 some 71 per cent of people surveyed believe they are looking to study in Canada in 2022.

Canada is also home to over 150 colleges that offer short courses and diplomas. You may find one that works perfectly for your aspirations. While you would have to go through the same process of obtaining a student visa, you may save some money on overall tuition.

Canadian people: The Canadian people are known to be a very friendly bunch. Moreover, along with a plethora of incentives to study in Canada as an international, the country is constantly on the brink of social systems and technology, making it very accommodating to the open-minded nature of students studying abroad.

Top 10 Candadian universities: Queen’s University, University of Calgary, Western University, University of Waterloo, Université de Montréal, McMaster University, University of Alberta, University of British Columbia, McGill University, University of Toronto.

Canada wouldn’t be host to some 572,000 international students every year, if there wasn’t a wide range of courses to study – from Computer Science & IT to Media & Journalism, Agricultural Science & Forestry to Business & Finance. You are sure to find the right degree for you.

Master’s programmes: Most Master’s programs take 1-2 years to complete, and come in the form of a Master of Science (MSc) or a Master of Arts (MA). If you’d like to whittle down your postgraduate degree even more, you can also choose between a Master of Business Administration (MBA), Master of Engineering (MEng), or Master of Fine Arts (MFA).

PhDs: Want to take your postgraduate studies another step forward? Whether you have already completed your Master’s degree elsewhere, or you are currently chipping away, finding the right PhD program in Canada will come with a wealth of benefits. Upon completion of your PhD, you are entitled to a 3 year work permit, which could eventually lead to permanent residence or citizenship.

Study Insurance: Another huge plus for studying in Canada is that some provinces offer some form of health insurance for free to international students. The important thing to check would be the health insurance cover as this varies significantly between provinces. If you will be studying in a province that not provide free health insurance, you will need to make your own arrangements while applying for you student visa. Be aware also that whether you purchase health insurance or apply for the free health insurance that timing is very important! Some coverage is not applicable as soon as you touch down in Canada. Be sure to check this out in your research.

Canadian Study Permit – Requirements and new rules

The perfect time to apply to universities is January 2022 to February 2022. You are likely to get the response by March-end 2022. The student must have a letter of acceptance from a recognized educational institute in Canada. The student must have proof of his financial stability to manage his expenses while residing and studying in Canada. The expenses include tuition fees, accommodation costs, and other primary expenses. The student must be free from health issues. The student must not have a criminal record.

When applying for most universities, you will need to choose your major. If you are unsure exactly what this may be, don’t fret. Canadian universities are generally quite flexible with changing majors later.

The following documents are required to apply for a study permit:

• Proof of Acceptance – the acceptance letter you received from your university.
• Proof of Identity – a valid passport will serve this purpose.
• Proof of Sufficient Funds – CA$10,000/year + $833 for each additional month.
• The application costs CA$150, and the process is substantially less of a headache than most other countries.
• Providing a letter of explanation is also a good idea. This could hasten your approval, as it will help the visa officer understand your aspirations and responsibilities as a foreigner in Canada.

Your visa application: After you receive the Acceptance Letter from a Canadian university, it is time to apply for your Canada Student Visa. You can raise an online application for your Canada student visa using the Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) website. The documents you require to apply for your Canada Student Visa successfully include the Acceptance Letter (you have received from the designated learning institute) in Canada, proof of adequate funds to manage your tuition fees and other expenses during your study in Canada, proof of your clean criminal record, health certificates demonstrating your good health, proof of the English language proficiency (such as IELTS score card) and etc.

The processing time

Which universities and colleges are the best that accept Pakistani students without IELTS?

Here’s is a list of the top universities that do not require students from Pakistan to have the IELTS scores: University of Winnipeg, Brock University, University of Saskatchewan, Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador, University of Regina, Carleton University, Memorial University, and Concordia University.

The application process: Here are some of the points to keep in mind before you finalise your plans:

1. Valid passport
2. Proof of acceptance by the institution
3. Proof of funds
4. Passport size photographs
5. Immigration Medical Examination
6. Credit Card
7. Look for the admission time;
8. Statement of Purpose
9. The language proficiency;
10. Your credit scores for eligibility;
11. Admission letter from the university;
12. Submission of documents;
13. Proof of sufficient funds;
14. Medical Certificate; and
15. Police clearance.

YOUR STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE:

Step 1: Explore your options

As mentioned, the summer intake in Canada presents a restricted number of colleges and universities. Hence, determining the university that offers the course of your choice is important. After shortlisting the universities, matching your requirements, the next important step is checking their deadlines and the application process. The course choice should be made on the basis of your background, interests and preferences. The factors like contacts in the basecity, cost of living, scope of settlement, etc. can be considered while making the university selection.

Step 2 – Take the required tests

Your selected university/universities may ask you to present the scorecard of a few tests. Taking these tests is pivotal to secure a seat in your aspired university. These tests may include SAT, ACT, GMAT, GRE and a language proficiency test (such as IELTS or TOEFL). The preparation of these tests need time and efforts. Hence, take adequate time to prepare and to deal with the challenge easily. The most suitable time to appear of these tests if you are aiming at applying for the 2022 intake.

Step 3 – Apply to your desired university

Now, after you are done with the prior steps, here comes a significant step – raise application for enrolment to your shortlisted universities. The documents you will require to perform the task include:

1. Statement of Purpose.
2. Letter of Recommendations.
3. Academic records.
4. A CV
5. Scorecards of the required tests.

Step 4 – Wait for an answer from your university: You cannot proceed with the next step until the university confirms your admission. The May intake receives fewer applications than the Fall and Winter intakes, hence your chances of getting an admission are higher. Universities generally respond within two to three weeks of making the application, so you have to be patient while waiting for the answer.

Step 5 – Arrange funds: Once your admission gets confirmed, it’s time to figure out how much money you will require to study in Canada. If you are unable to arrange the required funds, ample scholarship and education loan options are also available that you can leverage. Don’t forget to check your eligibility before applying for any of them.

Step 6 – Apply for Canada Study Permit: You cannot study in Canada unless you have a Canada study visa. Hence, a very important step on your way to study in Canada is applying for Canada study visa. You may find the process long and confusing if you deal with it at your own. Taking assistance from reliable Study Visa consultants is a great way to making the process effortless and acquire your Canada Study Permit without hassle. Usually, the processing time for Canada study visa lies around three to five weeks. Ensure to apply on time to avoid unwanted difficulties and delays.