Study In Canada

Introduction

Education System

Admission Requirements

Application Procedure

Cost of Education

List of Colleges & Universities In Canada

Introduction

Canada is a huge country of diverse peoples, lifestyles and landscapes. It offers a multiplicity of top quality education programs of interest to international students. Canadian educational institutions welcomes over 100,000 international students a year to study in Canada. Many provide special services for international students, designed to assist them to integrate into the academic community and to help them throughout their stay.

International Student Reception Service is run from mid-August to mid-September at the international airports in Vancouver, Toronto, Montréal and Halifax. This service assists students in making connections for onward travel to other Canadian cities, and helps them in their initial contact with their institutions.

Education System       ^ TOP

Canada is a confederation of ten provinces and three territories and under the Canadian constitution each of the provinces and territories have their own responsibility for education. As a result, Canada has no national or federal department of education. Public education is under the jurisdiction of each of the ten provinces and three territories. Although there are many similarities in the 13 education systems across Canada, each reflects the diversity of its own regional history, culture, and geography. Admission requirements, program and course offerings, and fees vary from one institution to another. However, standards across the country are uniformly high. It is advisable that the student directly contacts the institution for more details.

The Canadian education system encompasses both publicly funded and private schools, from kindergarten through to university. The academic year generally runs from September to April.

The following sections provide an overview of the Canadian Education System.

1)   Universities & University Colleges:

Canada has a large selection of universities and university colleges. Canadian universities are largely publicly funded; as a result they are of a consistently high quality, regardless of location or area of study. As well, they all retain a high degree of academic autonomy. They offer a broad range of courses and a full range of degrees from undergraduate to doctorates, and can also offer certificates and professional degrees. The university year usually runs from September to May. Some universities are on a semester or trimester system, with all courses available even in the summer. University Colleges offers university degrees as well as college diploma and certificate programs. Students get a wide range of program choices at university colleges, including English as a Second Language (ESL) programs. 

2)   Community Colleges: The Community Colleges offer certificate and diploma programs in career and vocational training. College-level institutions may also be known as colleges of applied arts and technology, technology institutes. There are about 150 Community Colleges in Canada. 

3)   Career Colleges: A technical/career college is a privately owned and operated school with the main objective of preparing students for the job market after a short period of instruction. The emphasis at technical/career colleges is on practical skills over a broad range of programs. They may specialize in specific areas such as business, computers and secretarial skills. Although privately owned, these schools are provincially approved and regulated, ensuring that program standards and quality are maintained. Career colleges have highly competitive fee structures.

4)   Language Schools: International students can come to Canada to study either English as a Second Language (ESL) or French as a Second Language (FSL). Many people choose to study ESL in Canada because of the many excellent ESL schools across the country. International students can study ESL for general, business or specific purposes. Students can receive training in the teaching of ESL. Almost all universities and community colleges have ESL programs. In general, most private ESL schools are very flexible in terms of program requirements and intake dates.
FSL programs are offered both through private and public institutes. Most, of the FSL schools are located in the province of Québec. Students can usually enter a FSL school program at any time of the year for any length of study.

5)   Elementary / Secondary Education (K - 12): Preschool programs or Kindergartens, operated by local school authorities, provide pre-elementary education for 4-5 year-olds. Kindergarten programs are offered in elementary schools in all provinces and territories. The Grade organization varies among the ministries / departments of education. In some areas, it involves Kindergarten to grade 8 (elementary grades) and grades 9-12 (secondary level). Most school systems have an intermediate level of school - junior high school or middle school. Following elementary or middle level grades, school children proceed to secondary school, high school, or senior high school, where they continue to grade 12 (grade 11 in Quebec). Curriculum at the secondary level includes both academic and vocational programs. Secondary school diplomas are granted to students who pass the compulsory and optional courses of their programs.  
 

Information can be obtained from the chosen institution’s Office of the Registrar (for undergraduate studies), the Dean of Graduate Studies, or from the International Student Adviser on campus. In the case of secondary study, information can be obtained from your selected school board’s international student office, for private schools, from the school principal or director.

Admission Requirements        ^ TOP

Admission Requirements vary from Institution to Institution, therefore for specific requirements students are encouraged to check directly with the institution(s) they are interested in.

The following list provides a general outline of requirements for students interested in applying to a university undergraduate program in Canada.

w    Successful completion of the equivalent of a Canadian secondary school academic program with strong marks.

w    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- Test of English as a Foreign Language administered by Educational Testing Service in USA, IELTS - International English Language Testing System administered by the British Council). Generally, Francophone universities require international students to complete their own test of French proficiency.

w    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

There is no Canada wide entrance test as each university sets its own admission standards and assesses the qualifications of each applicant individually.
 

There are Canadian Education Centers (CEC) in India which can provide valuable information on English examination tests acceptable to Canadian universities. CEC staff can also advise students on whether they may qualify for an exemption from English examinations. In addition, CECs have extensive materials on Canadian schools and can also provide counseling to students on finding the appropriate institution and applying for study in Canada.

The address of CEC in Delhi:

Jawaharlal Nehru University

Centre for Canadian Studies, New Delhi 110067

Tel: [91] (11) 667-676 or 667-557, Fax: [91] (11) 686-5886

Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute

5, Bhai Vir Singh Marg, New Delhi 110001

Tel: [91] (11) 374-6417, Fax: [91] (11) 374-6416, e-mail: pnmalik@sici.delnet.ernet.in

University of Delhi

Centre for Canadian Studies, South Campus, Benito Juarez Marg, New Delhi 110021.
Tel: [91] (11) 601-955, Fax: [91] (11) 688-6427, e-mail: krgnayar@yahoo.com

Application Procedure        ^ TOP

Due to different type of education systems, application procedures vary. Therefore, students should check directly with the Institution in which they are interested in pursuing the program

Cost Of Education        ^ TOP

Fees for universities differ depending on the province, institution and program of study. Therefore the students must request precise tuition amounts from the institution they wish to attend. For Schools consult the individual school boards for precise information.