CANADA

Capital
Ottawa
Calgary
Vancouver
Montreal

Toronto
Average Air-Travel Time
20 HOUR 16 HOUR
(with one stopover) (Non-stop)

National Currency Currency Conversion Rate

Canadian Dollar $1 = 54-56 (INR)

Total Canadian Total Student Total Indian Numbers of

Population Population Population Indian students

34.88 million 1.06 million 1.17 million 17,530

(2012) (2010) (2012) (2010)

Top Ranking Provinces with most

University Indian population
. University of Toronto
. University of British columbia
. University of Alberta British
Columbia
. Simon Fraser University
. McGill University
. University of Waterloo
. York University Alberta Quebec
. Queen’s University Ontario

. University of Calgary Summertime

Weather

Average Temperature
. University of Victoria o
18 C to 26 C
o

Wintertime
Average
o
Temperature
o
-6 C to 0 C

Time difference from IST

Pacific Time Zone Central Time Zone
-12.30 HOURS -10.30 HOURS
(from IST) (from IST)
 About Canada:

Education System:

The school systems in Canada are different from each other, depending on the province or territory. Education is available in both English and in
French in most places, provided there are enough students in that area speaking the secondary language. High school is typically till grades nine to
12. In Québec, high school ends in grade eleven and is followed by a program that prepares the student for university or a technical field called CEGEP.

Beyond this, students can attend either vocational schools or enter a university. At a university they will first earn a Bachelor's degree, and can
continue studies to receive a Master's or a Doctorate degree. Vocational students will earn certificates and diplomas that will help improve their skills
in the various trades.

Popular student destinations:

Popular choices for pursuing a full time academic degree are.
• McGill University,
• The University of British Columbia,
• University of Alberta,
• Simon Fraser University,
are popular choices if you want to pursue a full time academic degree. Most of the best colleges in the country are situated in cities like Toronto, British
Columbia and Montreal. The number of Canadian student visas issued to Indian students jumped to more than 12,000 in 2010 from 3,152 in 2008.

Canada is the preferred destination for vocational studies rather than degree courses as these result in better employment opportunities. Canada is a
good choice for immigration as the country offers immense scope for working owing to its low population density.

The most popular degree courses in Canada would be postgraduate diploma in areas like Business Management,Media,Engineering, Computer Science
and Hospitality.

Safety in Canada:

Canada is one of the safest countries, with one of the highest standards of living in the world. Canada is a free country where people are, by and large,
judged on their actions and character, rather than their appearance or country of origin.

Weather: Weather in Canada varies widely depending on where you are. Canada stretches from the Pacific to Atlantic Ocean, covering five
time zones. Weather: Weather in Canada varies widely depending on where you are. Canada stretches from the Pacific to Atlantic Ocean, covering
five time zones.

Montreal Weather Toronto Weather Vancouver Weather

The weather in winter is cold and snowy. The cold in The weather in winter is milder than most Can- The weather remains wet, yet mild throughout
Montreal can be especially biting because of the wind- adian cities, yet cold and snowy. Summer temp- the year. Summer in Vancouver is pleasantly

chill factor. Snowfall usually begins in November and
continues through March. During winter months,
the daytime temperatures are between -6°C to -
15°C. Summer temperatures range from 15°C to
25°C
eratures range from 15°C to 25°C. During wint- warm with an average temperature of 22°C.
er months, the daytime temperatures are betwe- Winters are wet, but snow is rare. Average
en 12°C to -10°C daily temperatures in winters range from 3°C
to 7°C.

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 Lifestyle tips

Canadians are open-minded and proud of their multicultural and diverse population. Like any other country, Canadians have
certain expectations of appropriate behaviour. Here are a few tips:
Be on time for both professional and social occasions
. . . .

Be respectful in conversation and behaviour

Canadians believe in equality between genders, so show respect to the opposite sex
Don't crack jokes or make comments that are insulting to people's race, religion, gender, disability, sexual orientation or
appearance
Avoid personal questions about things like age, salary, marital status, relationships, and the cost of personal items until you
.

are well-acquainted with people.

Language problems: Living in a society where you have to use English or occasionally French on a daily basis can be
challenging at first. Some language problems you may intially encounter there are:
You may not understand the local accent right away. Regional accents vary greatly in Canada. Give yourself time to get
.

used to the local accent.

Canadians might not understand you right away. You will also have your own accent. Speak slowly and don't be shy about
.

asking others to speak slowly if you are having a hard time understanding them.

Canadians use a lot of slang in their speech and it might take you some time before you understand all of it.
. . .

Humour is an integral part of Canadian English. This should be interpreted as a sign of friendliness, not disrespect.

Canadians use lots of abbreviation in their speech (for example, TA for Teachers Assistant or Poli Sci for Political Science).
If you don't understand something, simply ask the meaning of it.

Participation: It is necessary to participate in all activities during your classes. You may be asked to participate in class dis-
cussions, group work or other activities. It is very important to participate outside of the classroom as well.This will provide you
with many opportunities to practice your English skills in many different settings.

Making friends: Try not to be shy. Remember that making friends is important to everyone in their first year of university.
Saying "please" and "thank you" are important Canadian customs, and your relationships will improve if you express your grat-
itude and appreciation to those around you.

Indians living in Canada: Most Indians choose to live at larger urban centres like Toronto, and Vancouver, where more
than 70% of Indians live. Smaller communities are also growing in Calgary, Edmonton, and Montreal. Indians in Vancouver are
from different parts of India. A place called Little India exists in Vancouver and a section of Gerrard Street in Toronto. Indians in
Vancouver mainly live in the suburb of Surrey, or nearby Abbotsford and also in other parts of Vancouver.

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 Student life :

Accommodation: Firstly, you need to decide whether Activities: Along with sports, colleges offer extra - curricu-
you want to live in university managed accommodation, or lar activities that provide students a wide range of experiences.
with a private landlord. Choosing university managed acc- Music, drama, science and literary societies offer opportunities
ommodation can also give you a catered or self - catered for outdoor education and other leisure activities. Visits to theat-
option. Catered accommodation offers the benefits of your res and concerts,to places relevant to the courses of study such
meals being cooked for you and a degree of certainty with as art galleries and museums, religious centres or historical
meal costs. sites, scientific companies and projects are all part of college
life.
If you have an idea about what you prefer, the accommod-
ation office at your university will be able to tell you what
accommodation they have available - so that’s the place
to start. If you are thinking of renting from a private landlord
or if your chosen university can’t offer you anything in its
own residential facility, the accommodation office should be
able to provide you with a list of private properties and landl-
ords in the area.

Wherever you choose to live, you should make sure that

you know your contractual rights and responsibilities.In most
cases you will be asked to enter into a tenancy agreement,
which you should read thoroughly before you sign it.

Orientation: Orientation week is mandatory for internati-

onal students so you want to be sure and arrive before it
starts.This is the time where you will be introduced to the
university and its services, as well as enroll in your classes.
It is essential that you read your guidebook, which is provid-
ed by the college. The guide explains each part of the admi-
ssion process.

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 Admission process
Requirements: These vary between study programs and Application fee: All colleges require that you pay an appli-
levels. For each course, Indian students will need to meet a cation fee while applying. The fee amount will differ depending
minimum English language requirement. Along with that a upon the college and course being applied to, so check with in-
minimum academic record of 65% and above for humanities dividual colleges about their application fee.
stream in class XIIth, and 70 - 80% and above for Science/ Steps: The common steps to applying for admission are as
Commerce stream in class XII will also be required. Found- follows:
ations and Diploma programs are available for students who
have secured below 60%. The student should have comple- Search for colleges and courses
ted 18 years of age before joining a degree program. Contact schools and visit websites for information
It is important to note that these numbers are just for refere- Narrow down your list of schools
nce purpose, the actual numbers may differ from university Take the entrance exams like SAT, GMAT, GRE, TOEFL,
to university. IELTS
Write SOPs and ask for LORs
The following documents also need to be submitted -
Attested copies of mark sheets of Standard X, XII, and the Apply to the colleges which fit your interests
Bachelors degree (if applicable) Appear for video interviews of the colleges that shortlisted
At least, two academic reference letters from professors who you
have taught you most recently If accepted, apply for student visa
If you have work experience then two letters of recommend-
ation from the employer/manager who knows you well and SOP: A Statement of Purpose (SOP) is your introduction to
can comment on your professional abilities the college and admission officers. It is always written in first
Statement of Purpose (SOP)
person and describes the reason for applying to a particular
Resume
college. It needs to highlight why you are a perfect fit for the
Photocopies of score reports of GMAT / IELTS / TOEFL
college and why t he college should accept you. The style of
Portfolio (in case of Students applying for art and design
writing could differ from formal to casual, but it is important to
courses & architecture programs)
remember that it should reflect your personality as well.
Others (certificates / achievements at the state and national
level and extracurricular activities) Essay: Essays are also required to be submitted by a prosp-
Proof of funds ective student. Essays are an important part of the university
Medical Tests admissions process. Students may be required to write one or
Timeline: Most Canadian colleges accept online applicat- two essays, along with a few optional essays. Common topics
ions. You will have to visit each college's website to apply. In include career aspirations, strengths and weaknesses, skills,
most cases, you will have to make an account on the college experiences, and reasons for considering a particular school.
website to provide your basic information, submit the scann- LOR: A letter of recommendation (LOR) is a reference letter
ed version of your documents and pay application fees. You written by a third party describing the qualities, characteristics,
will be informed about the application process and stages and capabilities of the prospective student to recommend him
through this account. to the college in terms of that individual’s ability to perform a
particular task or function. The third party could be a professor,
Please refer to the website of the colleges of your choice to
direct manager etc.
know the process of applying as it may differ from institute to
institute.

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 Intake seasons: The session starts mainly in September The main intake season for top colleges and courses is the
and January but some institutions have intakes in May, July fall season i.e. September. It depends on what course you
and October as well. The Major intake season for the top are looking to pursue, because many courses don’t have the
courses in Canada is September, while the minor intake sea- January intakes.
son is January, which is meant for a fairly small number of If you are looking to get admission into vocational courses,
courses. then some courses may have admissions open in January
You should start your admission process around six months and perhaps even May or July.
before the application deadline. Typically, most universities
have three deadlines,from October to January. It is up to the
convenience of the students, which deadline to aim for. You
should be done with your language and aptitude tests three
months before the deadline. The last three months should
be dedicated to filling out the application form properly.

It is essential to ensure that the ‘complete application proce-

dure’ along with appearing for interviews and visa application
procedure should be complete by June or July for the Septe-
mber intake.

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 Exams
Language exams: International English Language Testing
System (IELTS),Test of English as Foreign Language (TOEFL) and
Pearson Test of English (PTE) are all standardized language tests,
which are required to be taken for the purpose of getting admission
to colleges. These both follow different formats, structure and result
bands. These tests are all different in various ways but many colleg
es ask for any one of the results. So it's up to the student to decide
which exam to appear for.
Repetition of exams: IELTS can be taken unlimited number
of times. TOEFL can be retaken as many times as wished, but can-
not be taken more than once in a 12-day period. Same with PTE, it
can be taken as many times as wished. You must wait to receive
your scores before you can book your next test.
Fee: The fee for these exams is Rs. 9,300 for IELTS, Rs. 10,000
for TOEFL and Rs. 9,350 for PTE.
Time to apply: Ideally, if you are aiming at the September
Average Scores: The average GMAT score accepted across
intake you should appear for these exams by November,so that you
universities is 520. Average GRE score is 145 for Verbal, 160 for
can apply before the 1st deadline.The universities you will be apply-
Quantitative and 4.0 for Writing.
ing to will mention which exam results they will accept. But if they
give a choice to go for either of these, then the choice depends on
you. The time required to prepare for IELTS/TOEFL/PTE would de-
pend on the existing English language proficiency. You may require
2 to 4 months of prep before the exam date.
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General exams
GMAT - GMAT is used to measure the abilities of the potential
MBA aspirant to undertake higher education in the field of business
or management. It measures mathematical, english, reasoning skills
of the student.
GRE - GRE is another test required to be taken by students appl-
ying to graduate schools to pursue MA or MS. Increasingly many
business schools are also accepting GRE scores for the purpose
of granting admission for MBA.
Repetition and Fee: You can give GMAT any number of times,
subject to 5 time a year and a gap of 30 days between two tests.
You can take these tests with a gap of 30 days from the first time.
The cost of GMAT is Rs. 16,000 and GRE is Rs. 12,000.
Ideally, if you are aiming at the September intake you should appear
for these exams by November, so that you can apply before the 1st
deadline. The preparatory duration generally ranges from 4 to 6 mo-
nths.
It is important to note that these numbers are just for reference pur-
pose, the actual numbers may differ from university to university.
7
 Cost of living
The cost of living depends heavily on what part of Canada will
you be living in along with how much you will socialise. Some
of the basic elements for living as an international student in
Canada are:
Accommodation rent ( on campus or off campus )
Utilities like power, water, gas, internet
Airfare for traveling back to India
Text and reference books
Groceries and food
Phone bills
Other elements which may differ from person to person would
be:
• Dinning out
• Travel and Vacation
• Car rent and Car insurance
• Cable TV connection
School expenses: The tuition fee varies according to diff-
erent universities,courses and the city. The tuition expenses in
Canada might be up to CDN $10,000-$30,000 per year for an
under graduate course. And if you are thinking of applying for
a post graduate course, the cost would be $15,000-$55,000
per year.
Living expenses: On an average, a student spends app-
roximately CDN $10,000–$12,000 per year. But the expenses
also depend on the place where a student stays. If a student
stays in metropolitan city like Toronto or Vancouver the expen-
ses could go up to CDN $15,000 in comparison to a student
studying in the suburbs where the expenses would be around
CDN $8,000-$10,000 each year.
www.worldwidecollege.in
Health insurance: Insurance Policy for international stu-
dents is mandatory, as students have to stay abroad for a long
period of time. Before getting an insurance make sure that it
covers medical expenses, personal accident, dental treatment,
study interruption, passport loss etc. Insurance is basically
cashless so a student does not need to pay money at the time
of hospitalisation.
Scholarships: Merit and need based fee waivers are awa-
rded to international students. Candidate with strong academi-
cs, good performance in standardised exams and extracurric-
ular achievements would be eligible for scholarship awards
and financial assistance. To benefit from these opportunities,
one ha s to make sure to send all the required documents by
particular deadlines. In addition to this, the presentation of the
application is also important because one is judged by the im-
age one projects.
Documents required: The documents usually needed
for a scholarship application are as follows, although the requi-
rements may differ:
• Academic records and photocopies
• A recent CV
• A letter of intent, which acts as a cover page
• Certificate of language Proficiency (TOEFL or IELTS
scores)
• Letters of reference
8
 Loans
Student eligibility criteria: The first thing is to be
aware whether you are eligible to apply for the loan or not.
The general eligibility criteria that are followed by all the
banks are –
• You should be an Indian national
• You must have a strong academic record
• You must be seeking admission to a professional,
technical or other course of studies. Most banks maintain
that the selected course should be job oriented
• You must have secured admission to foreign university
institutions
• You must be above the age of 18 years or else your
parents can avail the loan
Eligibility of course: You may not get a loan on every
course. Here are the kinds of courses that qualify for the
education loan.
For Graduation: Job oriented professional or technical
courses offered by reputed universities
For Post Graduation: MCA, MBA, MS or even diplom-
as
Documentation required: You will have to provide the
acceptance letter sent by the university reflecting that you
have been selected for the course and the schedule of fees.
You will also need to show the mark sheet of the last qualify-
ing examination to show your academic record.
All banks have different requirement for documentation, so
you need to confirm with the bank first.
Repayment: : Repayment starts only after the course
period. If the student got employed within one year after com-
pletion of the course, the repayment should start immediately
after the expiry of one month from the date of employment.
If you do not secure a job within a year of completing the cou-
rse, then repayment starts irrespective of whether or not you
are employed. The loan is generally to be repaid in 5-7 years
after commencement of repayment. If the student is not able
to complete the course within the scheduled time, extension
for completion of course, may be permitted for a maximum
period of two years. Generally, you will get up to a maximum
number of 10 years to repay the loan.

These courses could be from foreign universities or institutes

approved by the state and central government.

Loan amount: If your total fee is Rs 10 lakh, the bank

may offe r to give a loan of 80% of the amount and you will
have to put in the balance 20%. This is called the margin
amount. The maximum loan amount offered by banks for
studies abroad is generally around Rs 20 lakh by the bank.
If your tuition fee is Rs 30 lakh, you’ll have to manage the
rest of the funds by yourself. Some banks charge a process-
ing fee, while others don’t; it may be a fixed amount or a per-
centage of the total loan amount. So if the bank charges you
a 1% processing fee, that will be an additional cost you’ll
have to cover.

www.worldwidecollege.in 9
 Loans
Student eligibility criteria: The first thing is to be
aware whether you are eligible to apply for the loan or not.
The general eligibility criteria that are followed by all the
banks are –
• You should be an Indian national
• You must have a strong academic record
• You must be seeking admission to a professional,
technical or other course of studies. Most banks maintain
that the selected course should be job oriented
• You must have secured admission to foreign university
institutions
• You must be above the age of 18 years or else your
parents can avail the loan
Eligibility of course: You may not get a loan on every
course. Here are the kinds of courses that qualify for the
education loan.
For Graduation: Job oriented professional or technical
courses offered by reputed universities
For Post Graduation: MCA, MBA, MS or even diplom-
as
Documentation required: You will have to provide the
acceptance letter sent by the university reflecting that you
have been selected for the course and the schedule of fees.
You will also need to show the mark sheet of the last qualify-
ing examination to show your academic record.
All banks have different requirement for documentation, so
you need to confirm with the bank first.
Repayment: : Repayment starts only after the course
period. If the student got employed within one year after com-
pletion of the course, the repayment should start immediately
after the expiry of one month from the date of employment.
If you do not secure a job within a year of completing the cou-
rse, then repayment starts irrespective of whether or not you
are employed. The loan is generally to be repaid in 5-7 years
after commencement of repayment. If the student is not able
to complete the course within the scheduled time, extension
for completion of course, may be permitted for a maximum
period of two years. Generally, you will get up to a maximum
number of 10 years to repay the loan.

These courses could be from foreign universities or institutes

approved by the state and central government.

Loan amount: If your total fee is Rs 10 lakh, the bank

may offe r to give a loan of 80% of the amount and you will
have to put in the balance 20%. This is called the margin
amount. The maximum loan amount offered by banks for
studies abroad is generally around Rs 20 lakh by the bank.
If your tuition fee is Rs 30 lakh, you’ll have to manage the
rest of the funds by yourself. Some banks charge a process-
ing fee, while others don’t; it may be a fixed amount or a per-
centage of the total loan amount. So if the bank charges you
a 1% processing fee, that will be an additional cost you’ll
have to cover.

www.worldwidecollege.in 10
 Loans
Submit your application and supporting Visa for spouse: Spouses can accompany full time stud-
documents: Since you need to give your biometrics, you ents on a Dependent visa. You only need to show that adequ-
can’t mail in your application.You’ll either have to apply online ate funds are available for their support. Spouses can also
or submit your application in person at a VFS office. In either work full time if his/her stay is for a year or more.
case, you will need to go to a VAC to give your biometrics. Things to check after submitting application
Medical Exam: The visa application process to Canada Pre-departure list
requires a compulsory medical test for Indian applicants.Your . Book airline tickets
own docto r cannot perform the medical exam. You must see . Buy travel and health insurance
a doctor on the list of panel physicians, which is provided on . Arrange accommodation in Canada
the official Canada immigration website http://www.cic.gc.ca/. . Arrange transportation to/from the airport to home in
Once your exam has been completed, the physician will send Canada
the results to CIC. You can choose to get the test done either .
Arrange your banking – consider buying traveler’s
before or after submitting the visa application
cheques
Work permit: The eligibility criteria to get a Post Study . Check baggage and customs limitations
Work permit are as follows: . Clear all paperwork with your home educational institution
• You should have pursued a full-time course in Canada. Get your documents in order and make photocopies to store
• The length of your course should have been more than 8 in your baggage and keep at home, including:
months. . Passport
• You must have graduated from either a public post-seco- . Airline tickets
ndary institution or a private post-secondary institution or . Travel insurance certificate
• You should apply for work permit within three months (90 . Letter of Acceptance by the educational institution;
days) after receiving official letter saying that you have . Key addresses and phone numbers
successfully completed your education from the institute. . A bank statement showing proof of funds
• You will be given the work permit only if you have a stud- . Prescriptions for any medication you are carrying
ent visa. . Traveler’s cheques—if applicable
. Medical and immunization records
You cannot get a work permit longer than your course durati- . Academic history and university transcripts
on. If your course duration was eight months, then you will
receive work permit for eight months. If your course duration
was more than two years, then you may receive work permit
for three years.

www.worldwidecollege.in 11
 Once you land
Homesickness: Homesickness is a predictable problem
faced by most students at one point or another. It may occur
at the beginning or even well into your first year. Homesickn-
ess will pass. Be patient. Give it at least two weeks. If you are
feeling sad, share your feelings with friends. Do not hide in
your room; if you do,the homesickness will only worsen. Find
your counselor on staff with whom you can talk about home-
sickness or other problems. Homesickness might be made
worse by frequent, long telephone calls home. Most homesick
students feel more homesick after a call home than they did
before they picked up the phone. Try to limit yourself to one
call home every week. The sooner you integrate into the uni-
versity experience, the sooner your homesickness will pass.
Get your student identification card: it will be your passport
around the campus. (if applicable)
Take advantage of the student services on offer: use the fitn-
ess facilities at the recreation centre, find the student bookst-
ore and browse in the library
Learning basic cooking: Cooking for yourself will save
you money. Indian food is expensive in Canada. Making it on
your own will satisfy your urge to eat‘your food’during moments
of homesickness. Indian spices are not commonly available in
smaller cities, but you may find shops on campus where you
can get ingredients used in most Indian cuisine.

Your first few weeks in Canada: The first weeks of

the first semester are a busy time for every new international
(and Canadian) student during which everyone is learning
about the campus and classes while making new friends. You
should take time to get to know your University:
Explore campus to familiarize yourself with where you need
to go when registering for your program, attending classes,
getting your meals and visiting new friends

Join the International Student Club

Find out what learning resources and workshops are availa-
ble for international students

www.worldwidecollege.in 12
 Post Studies options

Placements: Indian students are used to the concept of Eligibility criteria: To be eligible for a work permit, you
Campus placements and on-campus recruitment for getting must meet the following conditions:
jobs. There is no concept of placements Canada. Most Cana- . You must have a valid study visa
dian University have a cell called a Career Services Center,
which helps you get jobs and help you prepare for interviews. . Your intended employment must be related to your program
The on - campus recruitment is always driven by student inte- of study in Canada.
rest.Companies that recruit through the university do not offer . Your employment must be part of your academic program,
a job directly. What they offer is an internship or co-op. Comp- certified by a letter from a responsible academic official of
anies like to see your work for few months before they hire the institution.
you full time.
Co-Op Education Program: In a Cooperative program,
period of study alternates with work. The Student Co-Op Pro-
gram is a formally structured program where the intent is to
recruit students, while still in school, to fill permanent positions
upon graduation.Co-op programs are generally undertaken at
colleges and universities. Indian students who wish to partici-
pate in a co - op or internship program must apply for a work
permit as well as a study permit.

To explore more study options in Canda,

MBA in Canada B.E./B.Tech in Canada MS in Canada

Did you find this guide useful? We would love to hear

from you. Write to us at
info@worldwidecollege.in

www.worldwidecollege.in 13