Study in Canada Overview

Secondary education

Secondary education in Canada is divided into two school sectors: public schools and private schools. Public secondary schools in Canada mostly consist of school council members, and mainly provide education for local students while private school’s students come from many regions domestically and internationally. Therefore, residence halls are available in most private institutions. International students have access to standard secondary program or tertiary preparation programs in private schools or they can also enroll in a public school as they like.

College

Colleges in Canada offer programs in many tertiary levels: Associate, Undergraduate, Postgraduate as well as short-term vocational training. There are various field of study which provides a wide range of program options. In addition, students whose English proficiency level is below the minimum entry requirements can sign up for English as a Second Language (ESL) courses before their admission. Colleges in Canada are well-known with good student support services, appropriate class size, state-of-the-art facilities, accessible entry requirement as well as many term dates available.

+ Post-secondary education in Quebec begins with college following graduation from Grade 11. Students complete a two-year or three-year general program leading to admission to a university, or a professional program leading directly into the labor force. In most cases, bachelor's degree programs in Quebec are three years instead of the usual four; however, in many cases, students attending a university in Quebec that did not graduate from college must complete an additional year of coursework.

+ Colleges that combine the features of a college and a university program altogether, based on the foundation of university studies. They are authorized to grant both associate degrees and bachelor’s degrees. Highlighted features of these colleges are small class sizes, university-like environment, well-equipped laboratories and easily-achieved entry requirements. College graduates are awarded Associate Degrees, which helps transfer directly to an undergraduate program. In addition, these schools also offer homestay accommodation for international students.

+ Career colleges focus on training essential skills for a specific career in a short amount of time. The programs of these schools mainly focus on practical skills.

University

Universities in Canada are famous for their world-class quality in training and researching. Degrees awarded by Canadian universities can be equivalent to world’s top universities in the world as if in the United States or the United Kingdom. These institutions provide various degrees, certificates and diplomas from Associate to Bachelor’s, Master’s and PhD.

Master’s programs

Canadian Universities usually offer two types of master's degrees: the Coursework Program which requires having completed a specific study program, and the Research Program which requires having completed a postgraduate program and conduct a graduation dissertation.

To enroll in a master's program in a Canadian university, international students have to have excellent academic record (at least 7.5) for undergraduate programs; some universities also require advanced English proficiency and at least 1.5 year of work experience.

There are very few entry scholarships for Canadian schools, and often you will get scholarships once you study at the school for a year. Some Canadian schools offer scholarships and awards to outstanding students. Value and form of scholarship at each school varies. The scholarship is highly competitive and all procedures are directly considered by the school.

Canada provides good conditions for international students who want to work in a certain field to accumulate more life experiences or to simply earn extra income:

- Some schools in Canada have 8-month study programs, 4-month paid internships.

- International students can work on the campus they are studying without a work permit.

- In order to work outside of the campus, you must get a Work Permit. Work Permit allows you to work up to 20 hours a week during the main and full-time periods during planned holidays: winter breaks, summer holidays and mid-term holidays in the spring.

- Income from extra work of students ranges from 800 - 1.600 CAD/month.

- International high school students are not allowed to work.

Co-op Program: Co-op Program is an acronym of Co-operative Education Programs, which is considered a credit-based course in which students need to complete the program to gain credit before graduation. Co-op is the most popular program and attracts thousands of students to go to Canadian universities and colleges.

It is also a great opportunity for outstanding students who can work at corporations or organizations in Canada after graduation. In addition, students will receive a salary worthy of their ability, and help them improve their income to cover the upcoming plans of the students.

It is believed that education has always been a priority of all Canadians, which explains why the Canadian education has always been national’s main focus of development. Canada investment in education is considered moderately high comparing to other countries within the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the highest within the G8 countries. Degrees accredited by Canadian schools are globally recognized and are highly rated in many areas.