Study in Canada

12-15 minutes

The second largest country in the world in terms of area, Canada is gradually becoming a top
preferred destination for international students in recent years. Currently there are about 400,000
international students in Canada and they are there for reasons.

Nepalese Students should consider Canada for “A Dozen of reasons”

1. 98% of the Canadian Universities are public Universities, which ensures they offer high
quality education.
2. Canadian Universities are consistently ranked in the top 100 universities of the world
including 3 in the top 50.
3. Cost of attendance is lower compared to major study destinations like UK, Australia, and
USA.
4. Canadian Universities focus heavily on practical study and research.
5. English is the most common language used in Canada, making it easier for Nepalese
students.
6. Wide range of options while choosing your courses and programs
7. Scholarship opportunities for deserving students
8. Safe to live and study as Canada is ranked # 8 out of 162 countries on the ranking of the
safest and most dangerous countries.
9. Multi cultural community, open to Internationals. Since July 1 2017 till July 1, 2018,
79.6% population is international
10. Opportunity of Permanent Residence – unlike most countries, Canada wants its
International students to stay due to its huge area and small population size
11. Students are allowed to work off-campus- making sure they reduce the burden on their
family
12. Graduate students can take their dependents once they have reached Canada; the process
takes somewhat around 5 weeks.

Canada’s Education System

The major reason for Canada being a top destination for International students is the “Quality
Education at an Affordable Fees”. The Canadian Government who is heavily investing in higher
education has made this possible. To be more specific, Canada is amongst the top 3 countries per
capita when it comes to investing in higher education.

98% of the Canadian Educational Institutions are public or government funded. However, there
are private colleges and Universities in Canada offering numerous programs.

Types of Education Institutions

 • University: Students seeking for Bachelors, Masters, Post-Graduate certificate, Diploma,
and PhD can apply to different Universities in Canada.
• Colleges & Institutes: Students who plan on taking a more applied or vocational kind of
education basically focused on career can apply for a Diploma, Post-Graduate Certificate,
and Bachelor’s degree holders can apply to these Colleges and Institutions.

Level of Education

There are different levels where a student can plan to enroll in Canadian Institutions for their
higher education:

Level of Duration of
Description
Qualification Study
Diploma and
Job oriented vocational programs (usually technical) 1-2 years
Certificates
Associate degrees are equivalent to the first two years of the
Associate Degrees 2 years
University degree.
120 credit worth of program where one needs to take general
Bachelors Degree education, core and elective courses. Duration varies depending 3-4 years
on the province one studies in.
Bachelors degree A student needs to maintain a high GPA and have extra credits
4 years
with Honors compared to Bachelor’s Degree.
Post-Graduate Post Bachelors Diploma. Engineering students need it if they
1-2 years
Diploma want to study Master’s in Engineering.
Masters Degree Course based Master’s Program, where students will not
1-2 years
(Non-Thesis) conduct any research but focus on Internships.
Masters Degree Research based Master’s, where students have to write a thesis
1-2 years
(Thesis) based on the research they conduct.
Doctorate Programs, where students have to complete
PhD dissertation and have to defend their research in-front of the 4-7 years
panel of their faculty members.
No time
Post Doctorate These are specialized research- based programs and continues
limit

For further details on Universities and programs at different levels you can check the link below:

https://www.universitystudy.ca/search-programs/

Most Popular Majors in Canada

• Business Administration
• Finance
• Economics
• Engineering (Civil, Electrical, Mechanical, Petroleum, Environment)
 • Biology/Biotechnology
• Nursing
• Health Science & Public Health
• Fine Arts
• Hospitality Management
• Environment Science
• Social work/Science
• Psychology
• Computer Science/IT
• Data Science/Business Analytics

Most popular cities amongst International Students in Canada

• Vancouver, BC:
• The Interior, BC:
• Calgary, Alberta:
• Edmonton, Alberta:
• Saskatoon, Saskatchewan:
• Winnipeg, Manitoba:
• Montreal, Quebec:
• Ottawa, Ontario:

Cost of Studying in Canada

One of the most important things that a student needs to know before deciding on studying in
Canada is the cost. Canada is one of the most affordable study destinations compared to the UK,
USA, Australia and New Zealand.

Tuition and Fees

Tuition and fees are different in different provinces and are also dependent on the University one
attends and the major one studies. However, the average tuition for different level is as listed
below:

Undergraduate (Bachelors Degree) $15,000(CAD)

Graduate (Masters Degree) $10,000- 16,000(CAD)

Accommodation

Cost of living varies a lot depending on where you live in Canada. Some major cities could be
really expensive to live in but you can also find Universities and colleges in locations, which are
lot less expensive.

Average cost of living ranges from $3,000 to $7,000 (CAD).

Total Cost of Attendance:

An International student should be prepared to pay a minimum of about (CAD) 30,000 per year
for everything.

Scholarship/Financial Aid

Financial aid is available to International students in different forms such as Merit based
Scholarships, Need based Scholarships, Tuition Waivers, Government or Private scholarships.
On top of these, the Graduate students can also be eligible for Teaching Assistantships, Research
Grants, and Fellowships. The amount of the aid from different scholarships could range up to
100%.

For students to be able to get financial aid, we strongly recommend them to apply early. Though
the deadlines are different based on the program of study and the institution, we recommend that
a student applies at least 6 months prior to the intended intake.

Please check the link below for scholarships provided by the Government of Canada for
International Students:

https://www.scholarships-bourses.gc.ca/scholarships-bourses/non_can/opportunities-
opportunites.aspx?lang=eng

Intake

There are 3 Intakes in Canada. Two of which are major intakes and one is a minor.

Major Intakes: September and January

Minor Intakes: April/May

Language Proficiency Requirements

The proficiency requirement varies with the university and program you intend on studying.
However, in general we can look at the following numbers:

IELTS – Overall Band Score of 6.5 with no band less than 6.0. Mostly Diploma and certificate
level programs may accept a lower score, but it is highly recommended that you score 6.5 or
equivalent.

TOEFL and PTE are also accepted in Canada. We recommend you check with the University
you are applying to or the advisor at Edwise to make sure of the requirements.

Admission Process
Before you can apply for your VISA, you need be admitted to the college or University for
which you can go through the following steps:

• Work closely with your advisor at Edwise to decide what could be right program and
Institution for you.
• Filling and Submitting of the application for the intended major in the targeted
University. Make sure you get it reviewed by your advisor to ensure there are no errors.
• Get your letter of Acceptance from the Education Institution you intend to join.
• Receive the Electronic Confirmation of Enrollment (eCOE)
• Apply for the Visa.

Documents required for getting the offer letter

• Academic Transcripts from all levels of education

• Degree Completion/Provisional certificate
• Individual grade sheet (Depending on the University’s requirement).
• Certificate of test Scores (IELTS/PTE/TOEFL)
• Passport
• Birth Certificate
• Work Experience Letter (if required)
• Passport sized photographs

Applying for a Canadian student visa?

For studying in Canada, Nepalese students will have to obtain a study permit and a Temporary
Resident Visa(TRV)

Study Permit

Study permit is a document issued by the Immigration and Citizenship(CIC) that allowes a
student to study in Canada. Once a student has a study permit he/she needs to be enrolled and
taking courses to insure the completion of their study.

Temporary Resident Visa (TRV)

Every student wanting to study in Canada needs a Temporary Resident Visa to be allowed to
enter Canada. Once you meet someone at Edwise, you can get information in details about the
TRV.

How to get a Study Permit and TRV?

To attain a study permit students will need to apply with the following documents:

1. A Letter of Acceptance from the education Institution the student plans to study in.
2. A valid Passport or Travel Document.
What else is required?

Along with the above mentioned documents, the student needs to prove the following:

1. Official letter of acceptance from the educational institute the student plans on attending.
2. Proof that the student has financial strength to pay for the tuition & fees, living expenses,
and all other expenses the student plans on making in Canada.
3. A police Certificate ensuring that you have been a law-abiding citizen with no criminal
record.
4. Statement of Purpose.
5. Academic Certificates.
6. Medical report to ensure that you are in good health.
7. Fee Payment Receipt from the intended Educational Institution.
8. Other relevant certificates.

How to prove my Financial Strength?

You may be asked to provide evidence of your ability to pay for which the following documents
could be used:

• Documents related to Student Loan from the Financial Institution providing it. Edwise
strictly recommends you to use “A Class” Commercial Banks.
• Bank Statement from the bank where you are holding your savings at.
• A bank draft in Convertable currency to show that you have planned in advance
regarding the payment.
• Proof of payment of your tuition and accommodation fees to the university and home stay
provider if you plan on staying off campus.
• A letter from your sponsor. It could be a person or an organization.

Note: More documents could be needed or come handy, so please make sure you talk to your
advisor at Edwise before making a move.

Working opportunity for Nepalese Students

As an International student, one is allowed to work for 20 hours per week. The earnings will be
enough for covering the living expenses and students are commonly seen involved in various
sectors such as Café, restaurants, clothing stores, travel and tourism, and many more. Though
International students are supposed to maintain the requirements of the visa, they generally do
not have many difficulties in finding a part-time job.

However, every International student needs to have a Social Insurance Number (SIN), which is a
9-digit number that allows the Canadian government to keep track of the student’s earnings as
the employers can post the payrolls and the students will have an access to government programs
and benefits.
International students can apply for Co-op work placement which will allow them to work as an
intern in the related field which will not just ensure earning but will also ensure invaluable
experience which could come handy while applying for full-time jobs after graduation under the
post graduate work permit.

Postgraduate work permit is allowed to students of all levels after the completion of their study.
Students can apply for post-graduation work permit for the duration of two years, and are also
eligible for applying for Permanent Residency after working for 1 year in Canada.

For more information please check the links below:

• For working On-Campus: cic.gc.ca/english/study/work-oncampus.asp

• For working Off-Campus: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/study/work-offcampus.asp
• For Co-Op work placements and Internships: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/study/work-
coop.asp
• For work after Graduation: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/study/work-postgrad.asp.
• For work possibility of Spouse: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/study/work-postgrad.asp.