How to Apply For College in Canada. Before taking off to Canada for tertiary education in any college or university, you should simply take a look at all the available programs and pick whichever fits your academic ambitions. The easiest way to do so is to visit the websites of the universities or colleges that include that specific program and consult responsible people for any possible special requirements. Once you have decided on one of the 10th provinces and territories of Canada to pursue your degree, this process becomes even more entertaining since colleges that are part of any domain show the unique rules of admission.
How to Apply For College in Canada
After having considered all the above information, this phase can be concluded by filling out the application form which is found either on the colleges’ website or in their physical office. It is foreseen that the application process should be completed at least six months before the start of the academic year. To do so, you should gather information based on the university you have chosen to enroll in, i.e. how much does it cost to apply, the tuition fees, living expenses, medical insurance, as well as if you are required to take a language proficiency test.
After the successful completion of the application, accepted students are commonly notified via email by receiving a letter of acceptance. This letter will be useful for the upcoming step which is the application for a study visa.
Entry Requirements for Canada Universities
Depending on the province and the program one has picked, there are some special entry requirements that should be followed. Generally, the following documents are required for entering any Canadian university and for any degree:
- Copy of Passport
- Language Proficiency Test
- Either CV or Resume
- Letter of Recommendation
However, there are some specific requirements that differ between Bachelor of Arts, Master of Arts, and Doctor of Philosophy.
Bachelor’s Degree Requirements in Canada
Although high school students are in competition to enroll in undergraduate programs, there are a bunch of criterias that should be met by everyone, regardless of the students’ application status. Overall, universities pay close attention to the marks that were assigned to high schoolers and their total GPA. This criteria might change from one province to another, and that’s why it is always suggested to straightforwardly consult the universities’ websites.
Here are the requirements for admission to bachelor programs in Canada:
- High-School Certificate
- Permanent Academic Report – Transcripts
- Copy of Passport
- Certificate of Proficiency, either TOEFL or IELTS
- Proof of Funding
- Letters of Recommendation, up to 3
- CV or Resume
- A folder with writing samples
Depending on preferences, students can apply for many subcategories, major, minor, as well as honors of either Art, Science, or Business programs. Moreover, each of these programs will lead students to many specializations. Nonetheless, students should not let the opportunity of receiving a scholarship slip away, therefore a path to get informed about this issue is to visit their chosen university’s website.
Master’s Degree Requirements in Canada
It is inevitable for any students to not submit their graduate degree before proceeding with their future studies at the master level, since this constitutes the first and most important document for getting accepted in Canadian universities. The master level is considered more advanced, therefore it requires a lot of independent research and scientific work, but it also needs a kind of supporter to state that the candidate for master studies possess all the required qualities and academic skills. This is usually done through an interview, where the student who aims to study in a particular program holds a discourse towards many supervisors who relate to that particular field study.
Here are the requirements for admission to master’s programs in Canada:
- Proof of Funds
- Statement of Purpose
- A Valid Passport
- Language Exams – TOEFL or IELTS
- Letter of Recommendation
- CV/Resume
- Academic Transcripts
PhD Degree Requirements in Canada
To conduct your PhD studies in Canadian universities you should of course, be more than qualified to do research considering the fact that the majority of research is done at the master level. Apart from the entry requirements and the documents that are asked for PhD studies, the quality of being devoted to research is crucial since it takes up to 6 years to complete this degree.
Here are the requirements for admission to PhD programs in Canada:
- Master Degree from a noble university
- Proof of Funds
- Statement of Purpose
- A Valid Passport
- Proof of Language Proficiency – TOEFL or IELTS
- Academic Transcripts
- Graduate Admission Test – GMAT or GRE
- Letter of Recommendation
- CV/Resume
- Published Research
Apart from these general requirements for PhD studies, some Canadian universities might require extra evidence, which is why it is important to check the requirements of the university you are applying to. However, in extraordinary cases, one can study PhD with accelerated admission, which means to jump to this level without a master degree. This is possible if you have received high grades in your last two years of bachelor studies, as well as other accomplishments which show your academic potential.
Tuition Costs for Canada Universities
Canada has become an important study destination for many international students. Reason being that it has many renowned universities, well-performed cities and affordable tuition fees. Most of its universities are globally recognized and ranked on top positions for decades. For the majority of international students the tuition costs of Canadian universities are reasonable, since they differ from one province to another, which makes it easier for students to find what best fits their finances.
The most affordable universities cost around 30,000 CA$ per year. Opposite to this, the most expensive ones go up to 100,000 CA$. However, they may differ depending on the programs and degrees which are offered in specific universities. To have a clearer image about the average tuition costs of Canadian universities we have divided them by degree.
Bachelor’s Degrees
| Bachelor in Engineering and Computer science | 1,400 – 55,000 CA$ |
| Bachelor in Business and Management | 700 – 57,000 CA$ |
| Bachelor in Medicine and Health | 2,100 – 58,000 CA$ |
| Bachelor in Visual Arts | 3,300 – 70,000 CA$ |
| Bachelor in Social Science | 1,100 – 55,000 CA$ |
| Bachelor in Law | 9,800 – 36,600 CA$ |
Master’s Degrees
| Master in Engineering and Computer Science | 2,400 – 53,00 CA$ |
| Master in Business and Management | 2,000 – 53,000 CA$ |
| Master in Medicine and Health | 3,000 – 59,000 CA$ |
| Master in Visual Arts | 5,000 – 10,00CA$ |
| Master in Social Science | 2,100 – 40,00 CA$ |
| Master in Law | 9,800 -36,600 CA$ |
Such costs are usually presented for the top universities of Canada, as listed below:
- University of Toronto
- University of British Columbia
- Alberta University
- University of McGill
- Université de Montréal
- York University
- Thompson University
- University Saskatchewan
Will I Need a Student Visa?
A lot of international students are not sure whether they should apply for a study permit or not. To remove these doubts it is important to know who can study visa-free. If you’re coming to Canada with the aim to study but you belong to one of these categories then you don’t really need a study permit.
- Member of a foreign armed force for a designated state under the Visiting Forces Act.
- Belong to another nation but have an Indian status registered in Canada.
- A family or a staff member of a foreign representative, who is accredited by Global Affairs Canada.
What people refer to “student visa” actually means study permit and this can be acquired once you have completed those steps:
- Start your application at a Canadian university and get your acceptance letter.
- Along with the letter of acceptance, attach the proof of funds, proof of no criminal record, as well as the clinical records.
- Apply online for a study permit on the website of Citizenship and Immigration Canada or if you have electrical problems you can always choose to apply on paper, but make sure you have read the Instruction Guide 5269.
How to Choose a Degree?
Deciding on your future career might not always be easy, but if you have explored your inner ambitions and deepest passions then the phase of choosing a degree is easy peasy lemon squeezy. Narrowing down the specter in which major you want to focus will simply lead you to the process of picking a university which provides the relevant degree and has all the necessary facilities for your development and your future professionalism.
Don’t let yourself get influenced by peoples’ opinions, because you surely wouldn’t like to end up changing degrees right in the middle of your studies. Always consider your future and what you would like to do once you wake up. Although you have found the degree of your dreams, try to consider the reputation of the university and the courses it offers, since they are a great indicator for employability.
Canada has some of the best degrees and there are plenty of universities in which one can pursue their studies. For those who want to study law, business, computer science and psychology, these are the best universities in Canada:
- University of Calgary
- University of Waterloo
- Alberta University
- University of Toronto
- University of British Columbia