Canada is a huge country that stretches from the Pacific to the Atlantic to deep into the Arctic and with so many places to take courses, this really is one of the most popular study abroad destinations.
Reasons to Study in Canada
Canada has a lot to offer: from bustling cosmopolitan cities to rugged mountains and soft sandy beaches. Canada is made for exploring: from innovative and delightful attractions to the immense wilderness and mountains: all provide excellent opportunities for exploration.
If mountains could be built out of molehills, then Canada is an appropriate example of it. Canada has been catapulted to a position where it has become, not only the second largest country in the world, after Russia, but also attained a superlative stature among the top destinations for study abroad with its excellent study abroad programs.
Over 100,000 foreign students choose to study in Canada every year! Canada’s universities offer excellent opportunities for summer, high school, degree and academic year programs.
Another reason to include Canada in your option list for study abroad is that the cost of study is the cheapest among other top destinations like England, USA, and Australia. This should not make you doubt the quality of education imparted in the Canadian Universities because they maintain an exceptionally high standard of secondary education despite the comparatively lower cost.
Why Canada is Ideal for U.S. Students
If you have lived in the U.S. for your entire life, you may be asking yourself, “Why study in Canada?”
Here are a few reasons:
Besides the many beautiful natural wonders to explore and bustling cities to meet smiling citizens, Canada is one of the most affordable places to live.
Not only will you be close to your home in the U.S., but you’ll also experience a totally different country with many positive things to offer.
If you decide to study in Canada for a summer study abroad program, you can visit the breathtaking attraction of Prince Edward Island, a small island that is the perfect place to relax on the beach or to go for a hike. You can also see the massive waterfalls of Niagara Falls, which are located in the province of Ontario.
A semester abroad in early September can include a trip to Toronto’s International Film Festival, one of the biggest film festivals in the world. Or you can enjoy some first-class alpine skiing or mountain biking at the Canadian ski resort Whistler, which is located in British Columbia.
Any place that you visit in Canada will be fun and exciting, so just take full advantage of your visit to this country.
Best Universities in Canada for International Students
Canada is the second largest country in the world, and it’s much more than just the country located north of the United States. With its heavy influence of French, British, Irish and English cultures, Canada also offers many unique study abroad programs.
If you want to study English in Canada or learn quality French, then the A.L.I. Montreal Language Academy in the perfect place to visit. The school has a reputation for providing some of the best French and English language programs in Canada. The school gets international students from all around the world, and also offers classes in creative writing and business communication. Best of all, the school provides free internet access, will find you accommodations and will even organize social events.
You can also visit the University of Quebec at Montreal (UQAM), where you can choose from a variety of programs, including communication, education, science and management. The school offers both summer and semester abroad programs, and even offers scholarships to international students.
Other major cities where you can find study abroad universities include Ottawa, Ontario and Quebec.
Summer Study Programs
The summer is peak time in Canada for students planning summer study abroad and courses get filled up quickly. Keeping these conditions in mind, Canadian universities suggest that you apply for admission at least one year in advance from the projected time of arrival in the country.
Studying in Canada will stand you in good stead to learn more about the country’s multi cultural society as well as the climate and tourist attractions. Despite the extreme cold weather in winter, this really one of the best countries to study.
Scholarships
Students hailing from Commonwealth countries have the chance of getting study abroad scholarships. These scholarships are however limited to very few students of high intellectual promise and restricted to Commonwealth countries. Canada is also one of the few countries that provide foreign students on a student visa to several convenient entitlements including the right to work in Canada. This is a very convenient provision that enables you to pay for your own high school study abroad and your pocket money as well.
Visa
Depending upon your nationality you may not need a visa if you are visiting for less than 90 days. If the period of study extends beyond 6 months a study permit must be obtained.
For other full academic study abroad programs you will be asked to file some simple documents along with a fee. Apart from the usual photographs and passport, some of the important documents that you should keep ready on applying include an acceptance letter from the institution you are joining, proof of funds up to ten thousand Canadian dollars to support you for one year of study abroad and a transcript of the last program studied.
The province of Quebec has an additional requirement mandatory for visa. If you plan to study in that province you will have to procure and submit a Certificat d’ Acceptation du Québec from the Service d’Immigration du Québec. Visa applications are processed quickly in Canada and if the documentation is in order, it is usually granted in 5 weeks.
Travel and Free Time
Canada has a highly-developed transportation system because it has over 1.4 million kilometers of roads.
The most common way to travel between cities is by train. There are six urban rapid transit systems, as well as a variety of light rail, metro and commuter train systems that shuttle people back and forth between the major cities of Montreal, Vancouver and Toronto.
There are also bus systems like Greyhound and Coach Canada that offer tours of the city and take you anywhere that you need to go.
Just like in the U.S., there are taxis and car rental services that will help you get to your destination. You can find a complete listing of taxi companies here, and you can use a Canadian service like Discount Car and Truck Rentals to find an affordable car rental in Canada.