Canada can best be understood not as a nation state in the traditional sense but as a kind of empire. The 35 million people who live in Canada are as racially various as those of any great empire of history; some 9.9 million square kilometers and 4 times larger the area of India and the second largest country in the world, it has a vast opportunities for young educated Indian students.
In Canada the great life supporting illusion is the dream of multiculturalism, the idea of a mosaic of races and cultures living together in harmony. According to the United Nations (UN) and the Economist Intelligence Unit, Canada has continually ranked as one of the top ten places to live in the world since 1994. In the UN survey Canada earned particularly high marks for its access to education, high life expectancy due to universal health care system; and low crime and violence rates which is what is really needed for students. Canada is a country of incredible physical beauty. Safe, clean, cosmopolitan cities sit adjacent to spectacular mountains, oceans and great lakes. Almost 25% of the world’s fresh water is in Canada itself.
Canada is a world leader in software development, telecommunications, aerospace engineering, automobile engineering, biotechnology, mining technology, and environmental industry. It also has a reputation for excellence in sectors such as agriculture, transportation waterways and roadways, microelectronics, medical devices, advanced software’s, hydroelectric and nuclear power, lasers and optic-electronics, food and beverage processing, geomatics; and ocean and environmental industries. The Film and Animation schools of Canada created your favorite movies such as the Lion King, Jurassic Park, The Terminator, The Flintstones, Forrest Gump, etc. Canada is also among the first in the world to recognize the need to connect schools and libraries to the Internet, and its SchoolNet program is being copied around the world.
Canadians place a great importance on learning, and have developed a first-rate education system with high standards over the years. The country spends more on education as a percentage of GDP compared to the OECD average, and is the second highest among G-8 countries. That is one of the foremost reasons why it is less expensive then compared to other English speaking countries and students are encouraged to apply for Diploma’s, Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees and Research fellowships. Comparison studies with countries as the USA, UK, Australia, and New Zealand show foreign students can save considerably on their tuition by studying in Canada; in fact, fees in US public universities were almost 1/3rd higher than fees for Bachelor Degrees in Canada and more than double to study at a US private universities. The high standards of the Canadian educational system and outstanding quality of Canadian schools are acknowledged globally.
Have you ever considered an international education? There are so many opportunities to study in Canada that you should seriously contemplate taking advantage of the huge variety of locations open to you and the varied choices of courses and programs available for less than what you can think over.
Under the terms of the Canadian Constitution, the education in Canada is a provincial responsibility. Each province in Canada has a government department with exclusive jurisdiction over all education in that particular province. Admission to a Canadian University/ College/ University-College or Technical Institute is decided solely by the individual institution.
Canadian university degrees and college diplomas are recognized as equivalent to those from other Commonwealth countries. There is no official rating of Canadian universities, as all provide the same high quality of education. Differences between institutions are on the basis of course options, fee structure, facilities available, etc.
At the undergraduate and college level there is very little financial assistance / scholarships available however check with the individual educational institution you are applying to. At the graduate level some scholarships are available with the individual universities, based on the student’s academic achievement. Postgraduate students may be eligible for research or technical assistant’s positions within their faculty.
Effective immediately, and for the first time, international students would be able to obtain an open work permit under the Post-Graduation Work Permit Program, with no restrictions on the type of employment and no requirement for a job offer. In addition, the duration of the work permit has been extended for up to three years across the country. Previously, the program only allowed international students to work for one or two years, depending on location.
“The Government of Canada wants more foreign students to choose Canada and we want to help them succeed,” said Canadian Minister of Immigration and Citizenship Diane Finley. “Open and longer work permits provide international students with more opportunities for Canadian work experience and skills development. This will, in turn, help make Canada a destination of choice, and help us keep international students already studying in Canada.”
The increased flexibility offered by the expanded program will benefit graduates and employers alike as the program will help international students get important work experience while responding to Canada’s labour market needs. Canada will benefit in the long run as the professional experience gained will help graduates meet the requirements to stay permanently in Canada. One can gain Canadian work experience while studying by working part-time on or off campus without a work permit from the very same day you land in Canada. In Co-op and Internship Programs, where work experience is part of the curriculum, with a Work Permit Post-graduate work permits upto 3 years upon completion of studies and related to field of study will help you obtain higher score for Immigration to Canada.
A student get an opportunity to apply for immigration after applying for work permit and to get Nomination for Immigration to Canada under Provincial Nominee Programs and Canadian Experience Class and chance to stay in Canada while your permanent resident application is in process. Spouses/common-law partners of international students are eligible to work in Canada while their partners study.
In most of Canadian universities/ colleges/ university-colleges the academic year is divided into two semesters: the fall semester (Sept-Dec) and the winter semester (Jan-May). Many colleges also offer a summer semester beginning in May. Deadlines for the September session vary from mid Dec. to the end of April. Certain institutions may have a rolling admission policy and will accept applications while processing time still permits. All Canadian Universities / Colleges require evidence of proficiency in the language of instruction, either English or French. Students should ask each institution they apply to if an English test score is required and what should be the score.
Chalo!! Let’s go Canada!!
Deepali Singh – Varghese
Director, NovaEdu, the Canadian Education Specialist.
Disclaimer: the information included on this article is intended to be of a general nature and does not constitute legal advice.