Study in Canada – Your Comprehensive Guide

Reasons to Study in Canada

Diploma & Degree Courses

Colleges and universities in Canada offer a variety of courses at different levels like UG and PG Diploma, Bachelors degree and Master’s degree. UG and PG diploma courses are practical-oriented and much cheaper than degree programs. Therefore, diploma courses are a popular choice among students who go to Canada for higher studies.

Up to 3 years Post Study Work Visa

After you complete your studies, you can stay in Canada up to 3 years on post-study work visa. See below for more details.

Part-time Work

You can work up to 20 hours per week during the semester and full-time during holidays. Canada offers handsome wages to part-time workers so you can earn money while you study in Canada.

Opportunity for Permanent Resident after studies

This is the main reason that attracts international students to Canada. After completing your studies in Canada, it is very easy to get a Permanent Residency (PR) and eventually citizenship.

Easy to show funds for Visa

Indian applicants can apply for a study visa under Student Direct Stream (SDS Stream) which involves minimum financial documents. Living cost is paid in form of a GIC certificate which ensures that the student does not misuse the money allocated for living expenses.

High Quality of Education

Canada is home to some of the best universities in the world like the University of Toronto, the University of Waterloo, McGill University, and so on.

Easy to Find Job

It is quite easy to find a job in Canada after you finish your studies as you get a generous post-study work visa to stay back and look for jobs.

Cost & Expenses

Tuition Fee varies from course to course and institution to institution, but on average, these are the following expenses:

• Tuition Fees for diploma courses is about 7-9 lakhs/year 
• Average Tuition Fees for degree courses is about 12-15 lakhs/year
• Living cost approx 6-7 lakhs/year (higher in cities like Vancouver and Toronto)

To read more about the cost to study in Canada and the detailed breakup, click here.

Major Intakes

Rules for Part-Time Work in Canada for Students

If you study in Canada, the following restrictions apply to part-time work:

You can only start working in Canada when you start your study program. You can’t work before your studies begin.
During regular school semesters: you can work up to 20 hours
During scheduled breaks in your school year, like during winter and summer holidays:

• you can work full-time
• you can’t work during a break that comes before you start your very first school semester
• If your program doesn’t have scheduled academic breaks, you can’t work more than 20 hours per week.

You can work off-campus, without a work permit, if you meet all of these requirements (generally all students automatically fulfil these criteria):

• you have a valid study permit that includes a condition that says you can work off-campus
• you’re a full-time student at a designated learning institution (DLI)
• you’re enrolled in a post-secondary academic, vocational or professional training program, or secondary-level vocational training program (Quebec only)
• you’ve started studying
• your study program is at least 6 months long, and leads to a degree, diploma or certificate
• you have a Social Insurance Number (SIN)

​If you’re a part-time student, you can work off-campus only if you meet all of the requirements above and you’re only studying part-time, instead of full-time, because:

• you’re in the last semester of your study program
• you were a full-time student in your program in Canada, up until your last semester
  
• ​you don’t need a full course load to complete your program

Can I stay in Canada after I complete my studies?

Admission Requirements in Canada

The eligibility criteria for each course are different. Generally, to study in Canada, Indian students must meet a minimum English language requirement and minimum academic score in Class XII or UG degree depending on the situation. For admission to UG degree, a minimum of 65% (Humanities), 70%-80% (Science/Commerce) in class XII is required but some institutions accept students who have a score of lower than 65%. Foundations and Diploma programs require 50% or above. For enrolling in PG diploma and degree programs, academic eligibility is highly variable and depends on many factors. Some of most important documents required to apply for studying in Canada are:

• Attested copies of mark sheets of Class X, XII, and Bachelors degree (if applicable)
• At least, two academic reference letters from professors who have taught you most recently (only for degree courses)
• Two letters of recommendation from the employer/professor (only for degree courses)
• Statement of Purpose (only for degree courses)
• Resume
• Photocopied score reports of IELTS/TOEFL (English Language) – Click here to see required minimum IELTS Score 
• Portfolio (in case of students applying for art and design courses and architecture programmes)
• Others (Scholarships/ Certificates / achievements at the state and national level and extracurricular activities)
• See- IELTS 5.5 Band Colleges in Canada

Documents Required for Canada Study Visa

A study permit is usually valid for the length of your study program, plus an extra 90 days. If applying for faster visa through Student Direct Stream (SDS) you need following documents (recommended method):

• Valid passport
• Completed Student Visa Application Form
• Application fee payment receipt
• Offer of acceptance from college/ university
• Two passport-sized photographs
• Transcripts, and certificates of your education 
• English Language Test Scores IELTS/ TOEFL
• Proof of payment of Tuition fee for the first year of study
• Upfront Medical Tests (before your apply)
• Police Certificates (before your apply)
• Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) of CAD 10,000

Otherwise for the non-SDS visa you need:

• Valid passport
• Completed Student Visa Application Form
• Application fee payment receipt
• Offer of acceptance
• Health insurance receipt
• Two passport sized photographs
• Transcripts, and certificates of your education 
• English Language Test Scores IELTS/ TOEFL
• Medical Tests (after your apply)
• Police Certificates 
• Proof of funds – a lot of financial documents are required.

To read more about eligibility criteria and required documents – click here.

Dependent Visa for Canada – Spouse & Children

Your spouse or common-law partner may apply for an open work permit if you:

• are a full-time student at a:
  • public post-secondary school, such as a college or university, or CEGEP in Quebec
  • private college-level school in Quebec or
  • Canadian private school that can legally award degrees under provincial law (for example, Bachelors, Masters or Doctorate degree) and
• have a valid study permit.

How long is the open work permit valid for? The work permit for your spouse or common-law partner is valid for the same period of time as your study permit.

How can Road to Abroad Help you?

We are leading overseas education consultants which provide professional guidance to all those who aspire to study abroad. We offer a one-stop solution to all your needs related to studying abroad. Be it admission counseling, study visa assistance, IELTS Preparation, permanent residency visa, post-study work visa, we provide expert counseling from the beginning of the journey to the very end. Our founder and director Dr. Sriyash Mangal is a graduate of University College London (ranked among the top 10 in the world university rankings) and holds a Ph.D. from LMU Munich, Germany (IMPRS Ph.D. Program). Therefore, we understand the value of good education and do everything to get you admitted to a university/college that is perfect for you.

Pre-Departure Checklist for Canada

• Passport
• Book airline tickets
• Arrange accommodation near the University
• Arrange transportation to/from the airport to your new home
• Arrange your banking requirements – consider buying traveler’s currency card
• Check baggage and customs limitations
• Clear all paperwork with your home educational institution
• Travel insurance certificate
• Letter of Acceptance (LOR) by the educational institution
• Important addresses and phone numbers
• A bank statement showing proof of funds
• Prescriptions for any medication you are carrying
• Medical and immunisation records
• Academic history and university transcripts
• All documents submitted for Visa application

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