International Students
Preparing to Come to Canada

For international students, Canada offers an education system of outstanding quality and academic degrees that are internationally recognized. With some careful planning and research on issues like academic programs, eligibility and funding, earning a Canadian degree can become a reality.

Canada welcomes more than 130,000 international students every year. Foreign-student enrollment was up more than 15 percent across the country in 2003, with many provinces showing jumps of 20 percent or greater. Achieving diversity within the student population turns Canadian lecture halls into places for sharing a range of experiences, languages, customs and ideas - a benefit to all of us who increasingly learn and work in a global context.

Canadian universities are educational institutions that one attends after completing 12 years of school for studies that lead to a degree and research. All 92 members of the Association of Universities and Colleges offer three or four-year bachelor degree programs; most offer master's and doctoral (PhD) programs as well.

Qualifications for Acceptance
Each university has its own entrance requirements and determines the equivalency of your academic experience. It is usually the registrar's office of each university that provides details about the application procedure.

Process for Applying
First, you must apply for acceptance to the academic program at the institution in which you are interested. If you meet the criteria for admittance, you must then apply for student authorization at the nearest Canadian diplomatic post in your home country. You may also need a visitor's visa, which will be issued at the same time as your student authorization. If you plan to study in the province of Quebec, you must pay another $100 Cdn for a "certificat d'acceptation du Québec." Canadian universities normally admit students to commence studies in September or January. And although it may not be necessary in all cases, it is generally recommended that an international student apply to a Canadian university eight months prior to the expected program start date.

Costs
Tuition fees for international students are different at every school and vary depending upon the program you want to study. Costs for tuition can range from about $5,000 to $15,000 (Canadian dollars) for undergraduate degrees. Keep in mind that you must also budget for books, equipment, student activities, food, housing, travel, local transportation, health care, clothing, laundry and entertainment. When estimating costs, ensure that you factor in any sudden fluctuations in exchange rates with your home currency.

Financial Aid
There are a growing number of Canadian universities that offer entrance scholarships for international students. You can get scholarship information by contacting the financial aid office at the university. You should also contact the ministry of education in your home country for information on scholarships for study in Canada.

Languages
Canada has two official languages - English and French. You do not have to speak both to study at a Canadian university - however, you will have to show proficiency in one depending upon where you apply. Most English universities require a score of at least 550-600 on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or a score of 60 on the Canadian Academic English Language (CAEL) Assessment. Canadian French-language universities usually assess applicants on a case-by-case basis. The registrar's office at each university can provide you with specific language requirements.

Housing
Most universities offer the option to live on-campus in residences. However, acceptance at a Canadian school does not automatically secure accommodation in a residence. Students need to apply separately for on-campus housing. Information on housing, for both on-campus and off-campus, is available from the university's housing office or the international student advisor.

Medical Insurance
The provinces of Alberta, British Columbia and Saskatchewan cover international students under their provincial health care plans. Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island and Quebec do not cover international students under their provincial health care plans. International students planning to study in one of these provinces must arrange for medical coverage through a private insurance company.

Editorial content from the Directory of Canadian Universities (2006 edition), published by the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada.