Canada as study abroad destination

Study in Canada:
Canada is the second largest country by size in the world, is a tenth largest economy & developed nation and has fifteenth highest per capita of income in the world. It stretches from the Pacific Ocean on the west, and to the Atlantic Ocean on the east. Northern Canada reaches into the Arctic Circle, while southern Canada stretches below the northern points of the United States (with which it shares the longest border in the world). The capital city is Ottawa (in the province of Ontario).
There are a variety of educational institutions in Canada which include colleges, technical and arts schools and universities. Colleges often grant certificates, diplomas and associate degrees, whereas universities, which are typically more research intensive, grant both undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, such as bachelors and master’s degrees. There are slight differences in the educational system from province to province as higher education institutions in Canada are managed by their respective provincial governments.

Benefits of studying in Canada:
● High quality education system recognized world over and one of the top destination for higher studies after USA and UK.
● Canada is one of the most educated nations of the world, spends about 5.3% of its GDP on education and invests heavily on tertiary education.
● Research and Development is heavily focused in Canada and in 2015 spent around 31.5 Billion on domestic research.
● Achieving an undergraduate degree in Canada takes anywhere between three to four years to complete depending on the program and university. A postgraduate degree takes between one to three years to complete, depending on the type of postgraduate degree you plan to earn.
● Excellent of study, work and settle programs available for international students wishing to make Canada as their home.

Academic culture in Canada:
Though academic culture in Canadian universities and colleges is quite similar to those of American and British education system, yet there are some distinguishing features also; for example, competition is expected among students but being helpful to those with whom you compete is encouraged. Canadian universities bear more similarity to UK universities than they do to schools in the US. Canadians place a great amount of importance on learning, and standards in education in Canada are uniformly high. There are almost 100 universities in Canada, five of which—the University of Toronto, McGill University, University of British Columbia, Université de Montréal, and University of Alberta—are ranked among the top 100 in the world. The school systems in Canada are different from each other, depending on the province or territory. Education is available in both English and in French in most places, provided there are enough students in that area speaking the secondary language. High school is typically till grades nine to 12. In Québec, high school ends in grade eleven and is followed by a program that prepares the student for university or a technical field called CEGEP.Beyond this, students can attend either vocational schools or enter a university. At a university they will first earn a Bachelor’s degree, and can continue studies to receive a Master’s or a Doctorate degree. Vocational students will earn certificates and diplomas that will help improve their skills in the various trades.It is necessary to participate in all activities during your classes. You may be asked to participate in class discussions, group work or other activities. It is very important to participate outside of the classroom as well. This will provide you with many opportunities to practice your English skills in many different settings.

Accommodation:
As an international student, there are several accommodations options available to a student in Canada. Student halls of residence are broadly divided into catered and self-catered accommodations. In catered accommodation one does not have to bother about meals as they are provided by the university kitchen services while in case of self-catered one has to arrange for food themselves. Also there are a wide variety of restaurants and cafes in and around university campuses if a student wishes to eat outside.Another accommodation option is to live in a privately rented accommodation. Most of the universities help international students if one wishes to stay in a separate private rented accommodation or stay with a local family. One important thing is to know contractual rights and responsibilities. In most of the cases the student has to enter into tenancy agreement which the student should thoroughly go through.

Living in the Canada:
Living in Canada is similar in many respects to living in other Western countries, however there are some aspects of daily life that are unique to our nation. Canada has four very distinct seasons: spring (March-May); summer (June-August); fall (September-October); and winter (November-February). While temperatures in the far north climb above 0°C only a few months of the year, most Canadians live within 300 kilometers of the country’s southern border, where warm springs, hot summers and pleasantly crisp autumns prevail for at least seven months before winter sets in. Some Indian students find it difficult to cope up with these extreme winter conditions.Canadians are proud of their multicultural and diverse population. The majority of Canadians are of European ancestry, primarily descendants of the early French and British colonists, as well as later immigrants from eastern and southern Europe.However, as patterns of immigration have shifted over the years so has the ethnic mix. The second half of the 20th century saw a great influx of people from Asia, the Caribbean and Africa. In the 2011 census, there were more than 260 different ethnic origins reported across Canada. Canada also has a diverse aboriginal population, which consists of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples.Many religions are practiced in Canada, while over 20 percent of Canadians claim no religious affiliation.
Canada has two official languages, English and French. In 2011, approximately 5.8 million Canadians reported being able to conduct a conversation in both of Canada’s official languages, making up about 17.5 percent of the Canadian population. All federal government institutions and many businesses offer bilingual services.

Food and Entertainment:
Indian students especially from north India find it easy to adjust to food habits as there are a good number of Indians living in Canada. Every halls of residence have a self-sufficient catering services providing rich, hygiene and nutritious food to the students. Besides there are a good number of Indian restaurants and cafes offering food. Also student has the option of cooking own food if living in a private accommodation with kitchen facility.Canada’s population contains a variety of ethnicities and nationalities and are represented in the population and blend to form a common culture. Social and cultural events are regularly organized by student groups and independent artists and bands. Apart from this one can visit to museums, exhibitions, monumental places and art galleries. 

Leisure and Sports:
Like all large metropolitan areas around the world, Canadian cities offer a range of entertainment options. Canadian movie theaters are typically large and modern, featuring stadium-style seating. Given the close proximity to the United States, Canada tends to receive new movies immediately following their release dates. Most Canadian cities have wonderful theaters showing a range of musicals and theatrical performances. Broadway shows, such as Cats, Phantom of the Opera and Mamma Mia! circulate through the larger cities such as Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal. Canadians love playing and watching sports. Popular sports include hockey, cross-country and alpine skiing, snowboarding, swimming, baseball, tennis, basketball, golf, soccer and curling. Canada has a number of high-profile sports teams competing in various Canadian and North American leagues. Going to see a live sporting event is a popular pastime for many Canadians. Skiing and snowboarding are both popular Canadian pastimes—give it a try!Canadian ski resorts are renowned worldwide for their quality and beauty and are generally quite accessible from major cities. For example, there are three local mountains within a half-hour drive from Vancouver—Mount Cypress, Grouse and Seymour, while world-famous Whistler-Blackcomb is about two hours away. Quebec boasts excellent skiing at Mont Tremblant, Mont Sainte Anne and others. Collingwood’s slopes are popular in Ontario, just a three-hour drive from Toronto.Hiking is a popular sport in Canada, particularly in the southwest of British Columbia where the climate is conducive to this activity virtually year-round.

Working in Canada:
The post-graduation work program enables graduating students to gain Canadian work experience in their fields of study for up to three years after graduation. The work permit is valid for only the length of time the student studied in Canada. For example, students graduating from an eight-month certificate program would be eligible for a work permit of eight months.

To be eligible, you must have:
● graduated from a Canadian public post-secondary institution; some private institutions also qualify
● studied full-time for at least eight months preceding the completion of your program of study
● applied for a work permit within 90 days of receiving written confirmation that all completion requirements for your academic program are met, e.g. transcript, official letter from the institution, etc.
● a valid study permit when you apply for the work permit
As an international student in Canada, one is allowed to work part time to support ones finances. The students are protected by the minimum wage law and student is ensured of potential earnings. As an international student, one can work legally for 20 hours in a week during study term and can work full time during vacations.