About Canada
If you are one of those who seek a high quality of life above anything else, Canada is the place for you. It has been consistently ranked by the UN as the number one country in the world to live in. Having a large Asian population of students, Canada offers a truly international educational experience.
Furthermore, the Canadian degree or diploma is instantly recognized around the world as being of the highest standard. And you get all this at a remarkably low cost – .both in terms of cost of education and the cost of living. Tuition fees for international students in Canada are much lower than other countries.
More than 130,000 students come to study in Canada every year. In addition to this number are many more that come to Canada to learn English or French. Foreign students bring a rich culture to Canada’s classrooms. The provinces regulate education and schools in Canada. Canada spends more per capita on education than any other country in the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
Canada is an incredible country - a land of immense geography, extreme climate, vast resources, and a small but ethnically diverse population. Canada is a country occupying most of northern North America. It is the world's second-largest country by total area, and extends from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean. Canada shares land borders with the United States to the northwest and south.
Population
A 2007 estimate puts population of Canada to 32,884,200.
Climate
Average winter and summer high temperatures across Canada vary depending on the location. Winters can be harsh in many regions of the country, particularly in the Prairie provinces. On the east and west coast average high temperatures are generally in the low 20°C (68 to 74°F), while between the coasts the average summer high temperature range between 25°C to 30°C (78 to 86°F) with occasional extreme heat in some interior locations exceeding 40°C (104°F).
Provinces and Territories
Canada is composed of ten provinces and three territories. The provinces have a large degree of autonomy from the federal government, the territories somewhat less. Each has its own provincial or territorial symbols.
The provinces are responsible for most of Canada's social programs (such as health care, education, and welfare) and together collect more revenue than the federal government, an almost unique structure among federations in the world.
Main Cities
Ottawa is the capital of Canada and home for the Governor-General of Canada, the Prime Minister of Canada.
Toronto is the largest city in Canada and the fifth most populous city in North America.
Montreal is the largest French speaking city in the Western Hemisphere and the second largest city by population in Canada.
The other big cities are - Vancouver, Edmonton, Winnipeg.
Culture & Multiculturism
Canadian culture has been influenced by American culture because of its proximity and migration between the two countries. It has historically been influenced by British, French, and Aboriginal cultures and traditions. American media and entertainment are popular if not dominant in Canada; conversely, many Canadian cultural products and entertainers are successful in the US and worldwide. Many cultural products are marketed toward a unified North American or global market.
Canada is a geographically vast and ethnically diverse country. There are cultural variations and distinctions from province to province and region to region. Canadian culture has also been greatly influenced by immigration from all over the world. Many Canadians value multiculturalism, and see Canadian culture as being inherently multicultural.
The United Nations ranked Canada as the best place in the world to live!
This assessment was based upon Canada's achievements in terms of educational attainment, life expectancy, national income and general quality of life. It also included Canada's abundance of fresh water, comfortable population density, low incidence of violent crime and a health care system that is a model for the world.
Canada's education system is excellent and ranks among the best in the world
Moreover Canadian tuition fees are among the lowest in English-speaking countries.
Internationally recognized degrees
Canada boasts a wide range of quality educational institutions for both degrees and diplomas in technical and professional disciplines. Over 106,000 international students attend Canadian colleges and universities. This means that you can meet people from around the world as well as people from your own country.
Possibility to work in Canada after study
International students who have graduated from a Canadian university or college have the opportunity to work in Canada for up to one year after they receive their degree or diploma. International students can work on campus without a work permit. Plans are being made to allow international students to work off-campus, too.
A safe, stable country
Canada is a peaceful, politically stable, and safe country. There are laws that protect the rights of the citizens and the country is relatively unaffected by natural disasters. Almost 65 per cent of international students involved in a 1999 CBIE survey cited Canada's reputation as a safe country as an important reason for deciding to study here.
Excellent health care
Compared to other countries, medical insurance is inexpensive in Canada yet the services that Canadian hospitals provide are among some of the most advanced and accessible in the world.
Learn or improve another language!
For over a century, Canada's two official languages (English and French) have been taught as second a language. International students often choose to take language courses before beginning a regular academic program.
A multicultural country
Canada has a national policy for multiculturalism and works to ensure that people's customs and traditions are preserved and respected.
Welcoming to International Students
Canadians can be reserved with newcomers but are generally very welcoming and respectful of differences. Educational institutions encourage new students from abroad and many have targets to increase their numbers of international students. One thing is for sure--your time in Canada will be something that you will never forget!
Canada offers a wide choice of over 90 universities and 150 colleges and technical institutes, featuring virtually every program imaginable.
Education in Canada is provided, funded and overseen by federal, provincial, and local governments. Education is within provinicial jurisdiction and the curriculum is overseen by the province, without a ministry of education at the federal or national level. Education in Canada is generally divided by Elementary (Primary School, Public School), followed by Secondary (High School) and Post Secondary (University, College). Within the provinces under the department of education, there are district school boards administering the educational programs.[2] Education is compulsory up to an age of 16.
There are significant differences between the education systems of the different provinces of Canada. Secondary schooling in Canada could go up to Grade 11, 12 or 13, depending on the province unlike in India, where Grade 12 is standard all over the country.
Pre-University
Pre-University and secondary education combined are sometimes referred to as K-12 (Kindergarten through Grade 12).
Post Secondary Education
Post secondary education is offered by four types of educational institutions...
Universities
Canadian universities are largely public funded, and, as a result, offer consistently high quality education at lower tuition rates for international students than their counterparts in competing countries. They offer a broad range of courses and degrees from Undergraduate to Doctorate and also Certificate and Professional Degrees.
University Colleges
As a component of the Canadian university system, University Colleges offer students a choice of either academic oriented University Degree programmes or the more practical-oriented College Diplomas and Certificates. As a part of the Canadian college system, university colleges are distinguished by their strong student support services, small classes and strong campus environments. They also offer combined degree/diploma programmes and university transfer programmes.
Community Colleges and Technical Institutes
They typically have a more vocational-related curricula, with small classes, off-campus course offerings, a greater ratio of laboratory space to class room space, and an interactive teaching style. The uniqueness of Canadian colleges lies in the combination of employer-centered curricula. These institutes have the primary function of responding to the training needs of business, industry, and public service sectors. Most colleges and technical institutes offer diplomas and certificates rather than degrees, however, more and more now grant degrees and applied degrees.
Technical / Career College
This 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 career colleges is on practical skills over a broad range of programmes. They specialize in such areas as business, computers, and secretarial skills. Although privately owned, these institutes are provincially approved and regulated, ensuring that programmes standards and quality are maintained.
The average range of fees is as below...
Level |
Cost in CDN $ |
Bachelors |
4,500 - 16,000 |
Graduate |
4,000 - 19,000 |
The living expenses range from CDN $ 7,200-11,000 per year. The expenses are high in big cities like Montreal and Vancouver
There are various organisations within Canada that administer scholarship programs but they are usually for graduate students and professors who are studying or researching a specific subject; Canadian studies is a typical area for which scholarships are awarded. Limited financial assistance is available for international students coming from abroad. However, some schools may offer scholarships (based on academic merit) specifically for foreign students. |
