Studying in Canada is increasingly becoming the top choice for international students. From an undergraduate degree course in Canada to an MBA in Canada, the traction is in favour of Canadian universities.
Let us first understand the education system in Canada. The North American neighbour of USA, has a complete and well-developed higher education system. You have a host of Bachelor’s degrees to be obtained after which you can proceed to earn your Master’s degree and Doctorate or PhD. These degrees are offered by universities that may be private institutions or state-run public institutions. Needless to say, the tuition costs are lower in state-run public universities than in their privately-run counterparts, as is the case in most countries. The educational institutions, both private and public, enjoy a high level of autonomy though there is constant monitoring by the educational boards to keep the curriculum and modules up-to-date.
Types of Educational Institutions in Canada:
| TYPE OF INSTITUTION | QUALIFICATIONS OFFERED | DESCRIPTION |
|---|---|---|
| University |
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| University College |
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| Community Colleges |
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| Career and Technical Colleges |
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While this is a comprehensive list of the types of institutions, you need to get appropriate guidance from abroad education consultants before making an educated decision.
Study Levels in Canada:
In each of the 13 provinces in Canada, the provincial government holds complete sovereignty of their education system. Thus, there may be a slight variation in the study levels and stages. However, to give you a rough sketch of the same:
| TYPE OF QUALIFICATION | DURATION | DESCRIPTION |
|---|---|---|
| Certificates and Diploma | 1-2 years | Technical courses that prepare you for a career in a technical field |
| Associate Degrees | 2 years | They are equivalent to the first 2 years of the 4-year undergraduate degree programmes |
| Bachelor’s Degrees | 4 years | The undergraduate-level qualification that you can pursue after completing the 12 years of your school. Commonly they are 4-year programmes but some universities offer 3-year programmes too. |
| Bachelor’s Degrees (With Honours) | 4 years | Highly competitive courses that command certain requirements such as a high GPA, a specific major or credits, etc. |
| Postgraduate Diploma | 1-2 years | These Diplomas are essentially to specialise in a particular field after graduating with the Bachelor’s degree |
| Master’s Degrees (Non-Thesis) | 1-2 years | Lecture-based programmes that do not require a thesis submission |
| Master’s Degrees (Thesis) | 1-2 years | A research-intensive course that entails a thesis submission to earn the degree. |
| PhD | 4-7 years | Typically pursued after earning a Master’s degree. Requires completion and effective defence of a dissertation. |
| Post-Doctoral Programmes | No specified duration | Research-intensive programmes |
Additionally, Canada also offers an option of Co-operative Education which involves 50% work experience and 50% academic learning. It is best for people who prefer practical learning over lecture-based education and takes in international students, provided they have a work permit to Canada.
Academic year:
Most universities follow the semester system with two intakes in a year. The main intake (September – January) attracts most applications and processes maximum admissions whereas the summer intake (April – May) is open for a few chosen programmes and has limited seats.
Canadian Pedagogy:
Lectures are delivered in English and their teaching methods also include tutorials and lab works. Tutorials and lab sessions are focused on providing deep comprehension of the concepts and thus, involve smaller groups of students. Students are given assignments and encouraged to pursue research and analysis and make presentations.
Tuition fee:
Canada is not only world-class, but also world’s favourite for higher education; its lower tuition costs is also one of the reasons. Among the top study abroad destinations like the USA, UK, Australia, and New Zealand, Canada has the lowest tuition rates though the fee structures and amounts may vary depending on the university and the programme.
Financial aid:
There are several options for financial aid, especially for foreign students such as Merit-based scholarship, Provincial Government scholarship, Need-based grants and Bursaries by college, Commonwealth scholarship, and Private/Organisational scholarship. Then, you have the Research Associate-ship, Professional Development Award, Fellowships, and Teaching Assistantships for postgraduate students.
The competition for scholarships is high which requires one to apply at least 12 months before the desired intake.
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