Every year, thousands of international students seek admission into Canadian Universities, and there is no doubt these numbers keep growing. However, while it is always an opportunity to join some of the world’s best learning institutions in a country that is ranked among the best in educational terms; there are all sorts of misconceptions regarding international studentship. From visa applications, facts about Canada, college admission to life in the country, misinformation is often costly. It means without fact-checking, one would end up wasting a lot of time and family effort trying to cope with everything that contributes to a successful study in this part of the world.
This post puts into perspective, ten things every international student who wishes to study in Canada must know beforehand.
- Canadians speak two official languages
Even with the help of a good writing service in Canada such as PapersOwl Canada when writing an English admission essay, French is also a national language spoken by Canadians. However, learning it will depend on whether you are going to study in the country’s East Coast cities such as Quebec where it is predominant.
Canada is a commonwealth Nation
Commonwealth nations, as most people know is, have strong historical links with Britain. Canada is part of this association. The country ascribes to parliamentary democracy, and it would come as a surprise to learn that the country is also a constitutional monarchy, a sovereign under Queen Elizabeth II.It is the second largest country in the world
Surprised? Huh! Well, after Russia, Canada happens to be the world’s second largest country with most of its population living within its 200km border stretch with the United States of America.International students pay more tuition fees
Even with up to $20,000 scholarship, students studying abroad in Canada pay more tuition fees, which may go up to $30,000 depending on the University or province. Ontario happens to be the second most expensive city in matters education for international students.Season Affective Disorder (SAD) during winter
Being one of the coldest countries during winter, thanks to its closeness to the North Pole, a student setting foot in this part of the world for the first time is always likely to feel lonely, homesick, unmotivated and moody during winter. An evening out with friends might help, and for those studying in cities like Toronto, a visit to greenhouses like Allan Gardens may be enlightening. Sometimes, a movie night on a chilly Friday when winter temperatures plummet to -22 degrees Celsius may relieve one from SAD.International students and work study
Whether it is on-campus or off-campus stay, Canada’s Department of Citizenship and Immigration allow students from other countries to pursue work-study, post-study employment opportunities. And that is not all ‒ you can work as an intern or a co-op student.Many affordable options for accommodation
Compared to other countries, accommodation options for international students in Canada are relatively cheap whether it is on-campus, home-stays, shared rooms or private. In Cities like Vancouver, it ranges between $700 and $800.Scholarship programs
Whether merit-based or education grant, there are many scholarship opportunities worth exploring if you intend to study in Canada. They include Ontario Graduate Scholarship which is merit-based and capped at $5000 per term, Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships, Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships, Canadian Commonwealth Scholarship Program, and Trudeau Scholarships.Best student cities
Cities like Toronto and Montreal rank among the best places for students worldwide, and that is not only due to the norms of academia and admission requirements. The parameters by which this indexing is done are quality of life, safety, and pollution rate.Cheap Health Insurance plans
It is not only mandatory to acquire basic health insurance coverage once you land in Canada to study, but also buy the right policy. Universities have preferred plans such as Medical Services plan (MSP) applicable at University of British Columbia and University Health Insurance Plan (UHIP) in Toronto University.
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