Studying in Canada

Studying in a post-secondary institution within Canada is a dream held by countless immigrants every year. Regardless of your area of study, you will more than likely find a Canadian university, college, or trade school that help you meet your long-term career aspirations. This article is written specifically for those who are planning to earn a post-secondary education. Studying in Canada can provide you with a path to a promising future, and we want to help you get there.

How to Apply

After you have decided on which path of education you want to work towards, research which Canadian university, college, or trade school will best fit your needs. Once you have decided where you want to attend, you must apply, and every school has different application requirements. We suggest that you apply at least 1 year before you plan to study in Canada. Then contact the school, and ask about their application process. The school will provide you with the cost to apply, tuition fees, health insurance (because the Government of Canada does not pay for insurance for foreign students in many provinces, with the exception of British Columbia), language test requirements, and what to expect for rent in the city you are searching in.

Culture Shock

Regardless of where you are coming from, you will more than likely experience some form of culture shock when you first move to Canada. Culture shock is caused by you being removed from who, and what you find familiar – rest assured that this is normal, and everyone experiences it. Click here for another great article on culture shock, and how to overcome to it.

Scholarships and Bursaries

Studying in Canada as a foreign student is oftentimes a life changing, and wonderfully positive experience, but it can also be financially expensive. There are countless scholarships offered by the Government of Canada, along with more specific scholarships offered by your university, college, or trade school. Many of these scholarships are easy to apply to and can help reduce the financial toll that studying in Canada may have on you and your family. Click here for a list of scholarships offered by the Government of Canada for international students. Scholarships offered by the post-secondary institution can be accessed by simply researching online or contacting a dedicated admission counsellor for that school.

Working as a Student

While studying in Canada, you will have the option to work either on, or off-campus; in both cases, your studies must begin before you can work legally. You can work on campus without a work permit if you are a full-time post-secondary student, have a valid study permit, and a Canadian Social Insurance Number (SIN). Working on-campus can be defined as any building within the specific school campus that you are studying in, only while you are studying. Working off-campus is much more complex, where if you begin working off-campus, and don’t meet the requirements, you may be forced to leave Canada. You may work off-campus if you are actively studying at a post-secondary designated learning institution (DLI – click here for more information), if your program is at least 6 months, it leads to a degree, diploma, or certificate, and have a SIN number.

Studying During the COVID-19 Pandemic

The Government of Canada has recently released a new set of rules, restrictions and guidelines for those who are planning to study in Canada during COVID-19. Thankfully, AbelWay Immigration is up to date on everything you need to know before you come to study. Click here to book a free 30-minute consultation with us to learn more.

Written by: Abdollah “Abel” Fathi Nejad