Study in Canada: Complete Guide for Indian Students

Canada is considered to be one of the most popular study destinations among international students especially from India. High quality education with affordable tuition fees is one of the reason for its popularity among study abroad aspirants. Some of the More than 700,500 international students came to study in Canada in 2021 out of which 215,720 were from India. Although, they have various options to choose from, most of them prefer to study management and science courses at universities of Canada. 

Other reason why international studentss prefer to study in Canada as it has vastly different culture and welcomes citizens across the world with no discrimination. Perhaps thats why QS News Best Student Cities 2022 included 5 cities of this country among top study abroad destinations including Montreal at #9 and Toronto at #13 place. Easy PR policies is another major factor contributing to its popularity among international students. 

Top Universities to Study in Canada

Students have the option of choosing among many popular universities to study in Canada. According to QS News World University Ranking of 2022, 26 universities of this country were included in the list of the top-ranking universities of the world.

Similarly, THE World University Ranking of 2022 included 35 universities of Canada amongst the total institutions included in the list. Out of these 35 universities, 7 were in the top 100. 

University	THE Ranking 2022	Average Annual Fees (in INR)
University of Toronto		UG: 34.3 Lakhs PG: 51.4 Lakhs
University of British Columbia	37	UG: 27.6 Lakhs PG: 48.9 Lakhs
McGill University	44	UG & PG: 13.4-37.4 Lakhs
McMaster University	80	UG: 27.8 Lakhs
University of Montreal	88	UG: 7.8 Lakhs PG: 5.3 Lakhs
University of Alberta	125	UG: 20.5 Lakhs PG: 15.9 Lakhs
University of Ottawa	162	UG & PG: 15.1 Lakhs
University of Waterloo	201 – 250	UG: 30.6 Lakhs PG: 13 Lakhs
Western University	201 – 250	UG: 25.1 Lakhs PG: 17.4 Lakhs
University of Calgary	201 – 250	UG: 7.1 Lakhs
Simon Fraser University	201-250	UG: 8.9 Lakhs PG: 23.7 Lakhs
Dalhousie University	251-300	UG & PG: 22.6- 32.1 Lakhs
Queen’s University	251-300	UG: 20.8 Lakhs
University of Manitoba	301-350	UG: 13.7 Lakhs PG: 28.1 Lakhs
University of Victoria	301-350	UG: 15.6 Lakhs PG: 12.9 Lakhs

Admission Process to Study in Canada

A master's program in this country can be completed within 1.5 to 2 years while a bachelor's degree has a duration of 3 to 4 years. Some of the popular programs are business, engineering & technology, medicine, and arts. Short courses in Canada are also in-demand among international students. 

Depending upon the type of program, the admission process, and requirements to study in Canada varies. However, a general criterion is followed by all popular institutions. 

Where to Apply

• Universities and colleges located in Quebec, Ontario, and Alberta can apply via SRAM, ontariocolleges.ca, and ApplyAlberta respectively.
• Students applying to a Canadian university not associated with any of the above portals can submit the application directly via the institute’s official website.

When to Apply

• Most universities accept the application for the fall and winter semesters. 
• Application for bachelor's and master's programs in universities of Canada are accepted mostly in December -March for the fall semester and September – November for the winter semester. 
• Diploma programs accept applications all around the year. 

Admission Requirements to Study in Canada

• Secondary school certificate (for bachelors program)
• 3-4 year bachelors degree (for masters program)
• Certified translation of non-English transcripts
• Resume
• Letter of intent or Statement of Purpose
• Evidence of financial support
• Reference letters
• Proof of English proficiency

Admission Requirements for Popular Programs in Canada

Specific admission requirements for some of the popular programs of Canada are tabulated as follows: 

To know how to select a course to study in Canada, Click below! 

Visa policy to Study in Canada

Canada Student Visa policy is not as complicated as it is in other countries. This country has a transparent and accessible visa policy.

• The processing time of the visa application for an Indian student is 11 weeks.
• It is valid for the duration of the program and an additional 90 days. 
• The processing fees of the visa application is 150 CAD.

Documents required to apply for study permit are:

• Acceptance letter from Designated Learning Institute (DSI)
• A valid passport
• 2 recent passport size photograph
• Proof of financial support of upto 11,000 CAD per annum
• Statement of Purpose

Recently, with the changes in the Student Partnership Program (SPP), the Canadian government has opened doors wide enough for students from the target countries, i.e., China, India, Vietnam, and the Philippines. The introduction of SDS brings along lesser hassle in terms of financial documentation and processing time. 

Cost of Studying in Canada

A student planning to study in a foreign country has to bear three major types of expenses. These include the pre-arrival cost and post-arrival cost. Pre-arrival cost is a one-time expense and comprises of application fees of the university, registration fees of tests required to study in Canada, visa application fees, etc. However, the major portion of the expense comes from the post-arrival cost which includes tuition fees and cost of living, 

Tuition Fees to Study in Canada

Tuition fees largely depend upon the type of program, level of study, and university to which you are applying for. It is to be noted here that Canada is considered a cheaper country than the USA and UK when it comes to tuition charges.

According to Educanada, following are the estimated tuition fees of various programs in this country: 

Program Fees to Study in Canada

The above mentioned fees is determined by calculating the average of tuition fees charged by universities in Canada. Actual cost varies vastly with university and program. Tabulated below are the program-wise fees charged by top universities of Canada:

Cost of Living in Canada

The average cost of living in Canada is estimated to be around 12,000 CAD per year for an international student. This includes the cost of accommodation, transportation, books, and various other utilities. The housing comprises 25% of the total living cost in Canada. On-campus housing is obviously cheaper and more convenient than off-campus housing. 

The table given below provides an average cost of off-campus or private housing in Canada:

Cost of living is Canada is approximately 135% higher than that of India. However, it majorly depends upon the province and city in which your university is situated. Some cities like Lethbridge and Kingston are less costly than others such as Toronto, Vancouver, etc.

Monthly cost of living at some of the popular cities to study Canada are tabulated as follows:

Study in Canada with Scholarships

To encourage the participation of international students in Canadian Universities, its government has already initiated tie-ups with many countries and introduced various types of fundings. Apart from this, universities and third-party agencies also offer scholarships and bursaries to ease the financial burden on students.

Some of the scholarships available for international students in Canada are:

Apart from the above scholarships, Indian students can also apply for education loan to study in Canada. Some of the top providers are SBI, Punjab National Bank, Bank of Baroda, and Axis Bank. They offer upto 85% of course fees as loan amount and charge an interest rate of about 10% to 15%. Following are the basic eligibility required to apply for education loan in India:

• A co-signer (must be an Indian citizen)
• Documents to proof relationship between co-signer and applicant
• Acceptance letter from a foreign institute

Work Permit in Canada

After completion of studies, Indian students can apply for a work permit to find suitable employment and continue staying in Canada. They also lead to a path towards Permanent Residency after getting a suitable amount of work experience.

Various types of work-permits available in Canada are:

• Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP): Students from only Designated Learning Institutes (DLI) can apply for this work-permit within 180 days of getting their final result. It takes 85 days to process and validity depends upon the duration of the program.
• Other Work Permits: If you were not a graduate of DSI, you can apply for Open Work Permit or Employer-specific work permit. Open Work Permit allows a person to work for any employer in Canada whereas Employer-specific work permit requires an offer letter from a specific employer or organization. 

Job Scope in Canada

With an unemployment rate of only 6.0% in 2020, Canada has a flourishing economy with ample job opportunities for international students. On average, a person earns 120,000 CAD per annum in Canada. The annual salary offered at entry-level is 30,200 CAD which can go as high as 534,000 CAD. 

According to emolument.com, following sectors offer the highest paying jobs in Canada:

Although the above-mentioned sectors offer the highest salary, the annual increment is maximum in Information Technology (6%), Healthcare (8%), and Education (5%) field. 

PR after Study in Canada

Permanent Residency and Immigration become easy once you obtain a degree from a prestigious Canadian university. The government has many programs dedicated to the transition of an international student into a permanent resident. For recent graduates, the option of Post-Graduate Work Permit (PGWP) is available to gain some working experience within the industry.

Some of the other options for international students to obtain Permanent Residency in Canada include:

• Canadian Experience Class: For this, students ought to have completed 2 years of education and work experience after graduation of 1 year.
• Quebec Experience Class: Students must have proficiency in the French language and must have completed a CEGEP program from an institution in Quebec.
• Provincial Nomination Program: Students undertaking this program can get PR faster.

Canada has a rich cultural and the social life it offers is worth exploring. As far as diversity is concerned, the country is representative of different ethnic groups. These groups bring along new perspectives to culinary delights to exciting recreational activities. There are chances that you may bump into people from your country or community.

Canada is the hub of technology with a plethora of opportunities in the field. Technology and innovation are the prime focus of the industrial sphere. Hence, those with a knack of innovative thinking can explore their career in this country.

FAQs