Why Study in Canada

S1 Student Visa for Canada

There are more than 150,000 international students who go to Canada every year to study. Canadian universities and colleges are respected worldwide for their high quality of education. Tuition fees for international students in Canada, and the cost of living, are among the lowest in the world. Eligible students can gain valuable Canadian work experience through off-campus employment.

This is because Canada is one of the best countries with one of the best economies in the whole world. In Canada, almost 25 percent of students have an immigrant background; this is a reflection of the country’s openness towards international students.

Every year more than two hundred thousand International students troop into Canada. This is because studying in Canada is an exciting and rewarding experience for many students from around the world. Canadian education reputation is based on quality and is recognized for excellence across the entire education sector and employers of labour all over the world. Over 90 percent of Canada’s University and College graduates are employed in their field of study within six months after graduation and 93 percent of employers are satisfied with the graduates.

Whether you want to just study in Canada for fun or you want to seriously chase a professional qualification in your academic field of study in the country, there are enough Universities and Colleges in Canada to support your findings.

There are graduate programs in Canada, Masters programs in Canada, Undergraduate programs in Canada, College programs in Canada, Business Schools in Canada, Law Schools in Canada, Medical Schools in Canada, Foundation Schools in Canada, Post-Secondary Schools in Canada, Colleges in Canada etc.

Student Visa Assessment Factors

The courseyou wish to study;
The educational institutionyou wish to study at;
Your age;
Your country of citizenship;
Your financial capacity to cover tuition fees, living expenses for yourself and your family in Canada and return transportation for yourself and your family;
Your character;
Your health– a medical examination may be necessary;
Your capacity to satisfy an immigration officer that you will leave Canada when you have completed your studies.

To qualify for this visa you must:

Provide a letter of acceptance from a Canadian education institution;
Prove you have sufficient funds for: tuition fees, living expenses for you and anyone on the visa application (dependent/ guardian), return transportation fees/ Have to provide proof in the form of bank statements, receipts or certificates that you have enough money to pay for your Tuition and Living expenses.
Provide a police check certificate showing a clean criminal record;
Be in good health – you may be required to pass medical examinations;
In-person immigration assessment will determine if you intentions are genuine, and you plan to return to your home country after your course ends.

Work off campus

Study permit holders in Canada may gain work experience by working off campus while completing their studies.

As of June 1, 2014, you may qualify to work off campus without a work permit. If you qualify, your study permit will allow you to:

work up to 20 hours per week during regular academic sessions and
work full-time during scheduled breaks, such as the winter and summer holidays or spring break

To qualify, you must:

have a valid study permit,
be a full-time student,
be enrolled at a designated learning institution at the post-secondary level or, in Quebec, a vocational program at the secondary level, and
be studying in an academic, vocational or professional training program that leads to a degree, diploma or certificate that is at least six months in duration

General Admission Requirements

Undergraduate requirements

Undergraduate requirements depend on the type of institution one chooses, this is usually in form of prerequisites and assessments guiding the processes involved in a certain University or College to offer an academic degree, which varies in different ways depending on if the student is a foreigner or a permanent resident.
For admission into undergraduate level, student must have completed twelve years of academic education, but for postgraduate level it is sixteen years. Below you can find undergraduate requirements for most Canadian Tertiary Institutions.

All applicants into undergraduate programs must submit:

A completedapplication form;
An official high school transcript (or attested copy) (if applicable);
Official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended (if any);
A detailed chronological résumé to demonstrate educational achievements, work experience, progression, community involvement, volunteer experience, and other related experience; and
A Letter of Intent (LOI) that clearly explains why the applicant is applying and outlines the student’s academic intentions.

Applicants who completed high school or any post-secondary study outside Canada must also submit:

Documentation confirming their high school completion was awarded, if not already indicated on official transcripts; and
Proof ofEnglish language proficiency.

Finally it is important for you to know that major languages used in Canada are English and French. But most of the universities offer courses in English language. So you need to show your efficiency by means of English Language tests. IELTS is most widely recognized and accepted English proficiency test in Canada, however, some universities and colleges accept TOEFL. The score that you must obtain in these language tests vary from institution to institution and course of study. Some universities even seek for other medium of English language test assessment. For MBA, students may be asked for two years of work experience before being admitted to the university. In most of the cases GMAT is compulsory for MBA students.

Gain valuable work experience and supplement your spending allowance with part-time student jobs for international students. While you must supply sufficient evidence that you can pay for your tuition and living expenses before you arrive in Canada, there are a number of work permit programs for international students and their spouses/common law partners that make working in Canada possible. Working in Canada can go a long way towards helping you establish business contacts for the future and can even help you immigrate after graduation.

Working off-campus

The Off-Campus Work Permit Program authorizes you to work up to 20 hours per week during regular academic sessions, and full time during scheduled breaks (for example, winter and summer holidays, and spring break).

Co-op/internships

The Co-op/Internship Work Permit Program is available to international students whose intended employment is an essential part of their program of study in Canada as certified by their Canadian academic institution. The work portion of this program can form up to 50 percent of the program of study.

On-campus work opportunities

International students who hold valid study permits and who are studying full time at eligible Canadian public and private universities or colleges may also be eligible to work on-campus at the institution where they study without a work permit.

WORKING AFTER GRADUATION – INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

There are many options available to you once you have completed your studies in Canada. You may choose to:

Return to your home country armed with a globally recognized degree or diploma and invaluable international work experience.
Continue your studies in Canada for advanced credentials.
Gain additional work experience in Canada.

Provincial nominee program

This program allows international students who have graduated from a participating Canadian postsecondary institution to be nominated by a Canadian province or territory to become permanent residents of Canada. In order to qualify, you must have the skills, education and work experience needed to make an immediate economic contribution to the nominating province or territory.