Education System

Canada is a country of incredible physical beauty. It possesses rich and diverse cultural heritage. Canadians place a high value on their natural environment. Students who come to Canada will witness one of the most beautiful, natural environments in the world.

Canada is also a country of diverse geography, and there is much to experience in its great outdoors: from the lush coastline, the majestic Rocky Mountains, the big skies of the prairies, to the ‘maple sugar country’ in the Great Lakes and rugged hills. Canada’s safe, clean, cosmopolitan cities sit adjacent to spectacular mountains, oceans and lakes. Almost 25% of the world’s fresh water is in Canada. Canadians enjoy 4 distinct climatic seasons, particularly in the more populated regions along the USA border. Daytime summer temperatures can rise to 35° C and higher, while winters can get as low as -25° C. Spring and fall seasons have more moderate temperatures. World-class theater, music, restaurants, cultural and sporting events (including cricket) can be enjoyed here year-round. Canada is a bilingual country with two official languages, English and French. Internationally, it is estimated that some 800 million people speak English and 250 million speak French.

Canada was ranked for nine consecutive years by the United Nations to be among the top 3 countries in the world in which to live and study out of 174 countries. Also, the Human Development Index survey consistently ranked Canada number one for a variety of reasons including its excellent education systems, high quality health care, low incidence of crime and clean environment

Education in Canada is under the complete jurisdiction of the provinces and territories and as such, there is no federal education system in Canada. In keeping with the national commitment to education, public education in Canada is free up to and including secondary school in all the provinces. At the post-secondary level, institutions are divided into community colleges and universities.

The Canadian education system encompasses both publicly funded and private schools, from kindergarten through to university. Education is a provincial responsibility under the Canadian constitution, which means there are significant differences between the education systems of the different provinces. However, standards across the country are uniformly high.

The following are the types of Educational Institute in Canada:

Universities
University Colleges
Community Colleges
Career Colleges
Language Schools

The admission requirements to get into any Canadian Institution include TOEFL with a score of 213 min as prerequisite.

Following are the brief details about general admission requirements:-

Bachelor

A minimum of 70% 12th grade; for Business and Computers program, Maths in 11th and 12th is compulsory.

Masters

Bachelors in the same field that you wish to pursue Masters. It should be 4 years duration. A minimum of 70% in your undergraduate or Bachelors level of study.GRE and references(2-3) required only for some fields and for some institutions.

Ph.D.

A master’s degree with a good academic record; GRE and references in some cases; previous research work, papers published etc.

The total cost on an average is CDN$ 10,000 as tuition fee and CDN$10,000 as living expense per year which varies for different provinces and courses. There is no ranking of any of the institutes recognized by Govt. of Canada.

The basic steps for applying abroad are:

• Identifying universities and the course of your interest
• Request universities for application forms
• Taking various required tests
• Arranging and preparing essays and recommendation letters
• Completing and sending application forms along with required documents
• Applying for VISA after obtaining I-20 from the college

Selecting University

While selecting the right course and University keep in mind the following points –

• Your academic grades (including achievements)
• Test scores (GRE/GMAT/SAT/TOEFL/IELTS)
• Your financial capacity
• Major (Specialization) subjects that you are interested in
• Term of entry (Fall/Summer/Spring)
• The rank and reputation of the University
• The student to faculty ratio of the college
• The location of the school (Big city/Small town/Rural setup)
• The climatic conditions (not to be stressed, unless you have health constraints)

Pre-application

A pre-application is a tentative list of schools that you would like to apply to. On the basis of your academic profile, your probable test scores and financial ability compile a list of universities to which you must send a letter requesting further information. At this stage, you can write to the selected 25-30 universities. You can directly request application materials from the universities. There are three ways to get application forms.

• Requesting Application Forms via email
• Requesting Application Forms via Air Mail
• Downloading from the university website

Documents Required For Admission

• Completed Application form
• Essay/s or writing sample
• Statement of Purpose required for graduates and optional for undergraduates
• Resume for MBA Students
• Official score reports of SAT/TOEFL/GRE/GMAT to be sent by ETS
• Letter from Bank stating – funds available for study
• Affidavit of Financial Support i.e. letter signed from sponsor or parent
• Two/Three Recommendation Letters from Professors or Employer
• Transcripts and Mark sheets from College or University
• Certificates of Extracurricular Activities

Recommendation Letters

Letter of reference or recommendation letter plays a very important role in the admission process especially for Master’s and Doctoral courses. A recommendation letter is a signed statement from a person who knows you well professionally or has taught you in a subject that is related to the course you are applying to. It should list your positive and negative qualities, strengths and weaknesses, your character and integrity and other such information.
The author or teacher must indicate his position, how long he/she has known the applicant and in what capacity. He/she should briefly discuss the need, importance and usefulness of the study the applicant proposes to undertake. Authors are usually asked to rank applicants in their letters of recommendation, which helps admission officers to interpret the academic credentials of foreign students. Students should obtain letters of recommendation (often on the prescribed forms sent by the institutions) from teachers who know them as a person as well as a student. You may like to request your author to give concrete examples that may show your qualities and help your case.

Essays / Statement of Purpose

The personal essays, and/or statement of purpose, also play a very important role in the process of evaluating your application for both admission as well as financial aid because it gives the faculty, assessing your application, information about you as an individual. For MBA candidates this is probably the most important criterion. In the statement of purpose, which must be concise, the student must define his or her academic goals, and/or research plans. It should include justification for choosing the academic program and specialization, and for selecting the particular college as well as the advantages and benefit of studying that particular course.

To study at a Canadian University, you must first be accepted in a program of study by a recognized Canadian university. Once you have determined which universities meet your needs, contact the registrar’s office at each institution to obtain an application for a bachelor’s program or a professional degree. If you wish to pursue postgraduate studies in Canada you may obtain more information by contacting the dean of graduate studies at the universities that interest you. It is important to apply early.

Generally, international students should apply to a Canadian university up to eight months in advance. Some universities have application deadlines as late as June for a September start date. Typical entry points for international students are the September and January semesters. However, many universities have adopted a procedure of “rolling admissions” which means that they consider international students’ applications as they come in throughout the year.

However, for graduate programs in particular, it can take time to ensure you are matched with the right faculty adviser, so give yourself enough lead-time.

Calendars with course descriptions, admission requirements and procedures, costs and scholarships are available from the registrar at each university.

Engineering, optometry, medicine, veterinary medicine, law, and dentistry are fields where the first professional degree is considered an undergraduate program. Limited seats are available contingent on your academic merit. A high level of academic achievement is required for admission. Often at least two years of undergraduate study in a related field are required before you can be admitted to the first professional degree program. Check the university calendar to identify tests such as LSAT (law) or DAT (dentistry) that may also be required.

This listing provides a general outline of requirements for students interested in applying to a university undergraduate program in Canada. There are a wide variety of programs to choose from at this level.

Please note that specific requirements for institutions will vary and students are encouraged to check directly with the institution(s) they are interested in for specific admissions requirements.

• Successful completion of the equivalent of a Canadian secondary school academic program with strong marks.
• Proof of strong proficiency in English (or French if studies in French). Students may be required to provide proof of language proficiency by way of a language proficiency test (For example TOEFL, IELTS).
• Generally, Francophone universities require international students to complete their own test of French proficiency.
• Some institutions have other forms of English or French language assessment; they may offer their own language proficiency test or, may admit students to academic programs on the basis of having successfully completed that institution’s language program.

his listing provides a general outline of requirements for students interested in applying to a university graduate program in Canada. There are a wide variety of programs to choose from at this level.

Please note that specific requirements for institutions will vary and students are encouraged to check directly with the institution(s) they are interested in for specific admissions requirements.

• Completion of an acceptable undergraduate degree from an accredited/recognized university
• High level of academic achievement in previous studies
• Strong reference letters
• Written Statements
• Standardized tests such as the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT)

This listing provides a general outline of admissions requirements for students interested in applying to an engineering program in Canada. Program length for engineering is typically four years of full-time study.

Please note that specific requirements for institutions will vary and students are encouraged to check directly with the institution(s) they are interested in for specific admissions requirements.

Academic

Successful completion of the equivalent of a Canadian secondary school academic program with strong marks.Although some institutions may request above 70% or B average for their academic admission requirement, many engineering programs are highly competitive thus making the standard for entry requirements quite high, above 80% or A average at some institutions. Admission officers are looking for students with exceptionally strong marks in mathematics, chemistry and English.

Language

Strong proficiency in English (or French if studies in French). A TOEFL is required for most institutions, minimum score required ranges from 225-250. Many institutions accept equivalent tests such as IELTS.

This listing provides a general outline of admissions requirements for students interested in applying to a graduate management program in Canada. Program length for an MBA is typically two years of full-time study however, there are other options available such as the part-time MBA, fast track MBA and learning through distance education that can reduce or increase the length of the program.

Please note that specific requirements for institutions will vary and students are encouraged to check directly with the institution(s) they are interested in for specific admissions requirements.

Academic

• Minimum G.P.A. of 3.0 out of a possible 4.0, a B average, or no lower than 70%
• Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) minimum score required ranges from 500-600

Language

Strong proficiency in English (or French if studies in French). A TOEFL is required for most institutions, minimum score required ranges from 225-300. Many institutions accept equivalent tests such as IELTS.

Others

• Previous work experience. Two years work experience is the norm, although some institutions will accept applicants with one year of work experience
• Letters of reference
• Personal essays
• Résumés
• Interviews
• Admissions representatives are looking for students who:
  Demonstrate skills such as motivation, maturity and leadership;
  Have past accomplishments or experience at work or in campus and community activities;
  Have a strong academic background.

e.g. Law, Medicine, Dentistry etc.

• Minimum G.P.A. of 3.5, a B average or no lower than 75%.
• Already successfully completed several years of undergraduate university study
• Specific course prerequisites may be required
• Standardized tests such as the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) or Dentistry Admission Test (DAT) (Possible link or banner advertisement).

Note: Requirements for University Colleges are similar to university and community college requirements. Please see General Requirements for University College studies section. Some community colleges also offer university transfer programs, which means students intending to acquire a degree at a university can complete their first two years of study at a community college or university college and earn credits towards a university degree program. Completion of a university transfer program does not mean automatic admission to a university program. Students must also meet university admission requirements.

A bachelor’s or undergraduate degree takes three to four years to complete. All honours programs require a high level of achievement and concentration in the subject. An honours degree is generally a forerunner for admission into graduate studies. A master’s degree usually requires two years of full-time study and includes a thesis. A postgraduate diploma requires one year of full time study. A doctoral degree, or PhD, requires at least three years of additional full-time study, with at least one year on campus. In most cases, a master’s degree is required before admission into a doctoral program, but some universities will accept students who have completed an honors degree.

Bank Loans are easily available for higher studies anywhere in the world. Loans should be preferably taken from a Nationalised Bank. The term & condition for educational loans may vary from Bank to Bank.

ELIGIBILITY
All Professional/Technical job oriented courses offered by reputed Universities.

LOAN AMOUNT

Maximum Rs.15 Lakhs.

SECURITY

For Loans upto Rs.4 Lakhs, no collateral security is required. For Loans above Rs.4 Lakhs, collateral security is required.

REPAYMENT

Course period + one year or 6 months after getting a job, whichever is earlier. The loan is to be repaid in 5-7 years after commencement of repayment.

RATE OF INTEREST

Upto Rs. 4 Lakhs-PLR
Above Rs. 4 Lakhs-PLR + 1%

DOCUMENTS REQUIRED

• Loan application
• Photograph, Residence proof of borrower and guarantor
• Covering letter stating sources of owned funds
• fee receipts or proof of payments made
• Title Deeds of the ownership property to be mortgaged as security
• copy of passport & Visa, if student is going abroad for higher education and related documents
• Income proof of the applicant in the form of last 3 months salary slip/Certificate or copy of the last 3 years IT returns filed with computation details of personal assets & liabilities.
• Two guarantors with their latest salary Slip / certificate in case gurantor belongs to service class or latest income tax returns filed with the computation of income in case the gurantor is a businessman, professional or self-employed.

Simple interest will be calculated during Repayment Holiday / Moratorium period.

There are limited scholarships available in Canada but 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 is a typical area for which scholarships are awarded. Students should also check within their home country through public and private organisations for any financial assistance they may provide to students looking to study abroad.

The following provinces cover international students under their Provincial Health Care Plans:

Alberta:

Under the Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan, students must register within three months of their arrival. Coverage costs approximately $34 CDN per month and is available for the term stated in the student authorization, which must be valid for more than three months. A letter from the student or educational institution confirming the intent of 12 month residency is required to determine eligibility.

British Columbia:

Under the BC Medical Services Plan (MSP), a student must hold a student authorization upon entering Canada to be eligible for medical coverage. As of January 1st, 1998, new medical regulations state that international students with student authorizations for six months or longer must be covered under the province’s medical service plan. There is a three month waiting period and students should apply immediately upon commencement of studies. The cost is roughly $36 per month. Students should take out private medical insurance for the first three months OR if they will be studying for less than six months in total. Those studying for longer than six months should not acquire private medical insurance for any longer than this time period as it will still be mandatory for them to be covered by MSP.

Saskatchewan:

Under Saskatchewan’s medical plan, students must register immediately upon arrival. Coverage, which is free, is available for students and their dependants for the duration of the student authorization or visa.

The following provinces do not cover international students under their Provincial Health Care Plans:

• Manitoba
• New Brunswick
• Newfoundland Nova Scotia
• Ontario
• Prince Edward Island
• Québec

International students studying in these provinces must arrange for private medical coverage through private insurance companies. Please note however that international students attending an Ontario university or affiliated college are required to purchase the compulsory University Health Insurance Plan (UHIP).