Study in Canada at Top Canadian Colleges
Studying at a Canadian university is great! But so are Canadian colleges. And one of the reasons for this is what they offer the international student. Why should you study at a college? What are the benefits of a college degree or diploma in Canada? Which colleges are the best?
Top 7 Colleges in Canada
According to Transit Abroad, Seneca College holds 1st place followed by George Brown College and Douglas College, a business focused campus. The following chart lists the top 7 colleges in Canada. Ranking criteria includes 1) location, 2) infrastructure, 3) faculty, 4) job placements, and 5) student satisfaction.
Top 7 Colleges in Canada
What Kind of Education Does a Canadian College Give?
Although some Canadian colleges can be classified as a community or local school, they operate differently than in the United States or Pakistan.
Many colleges offer limited undergraduate degrees, but the system was developed to provide technical training and practical skills as part of their diplomas programs and even their degrees. They are much more flexible at responding to labour trends and employment requirements. Colleges in Canada are career-focused which means they are in tune with Canada’s employment and economic conditions and respond accordingly. That also means there is an emphasis on in-class practical applications and paid Co-op Work Experience programs. Universities offer co-op work experience programs too along side theoretical knowledge but the college is really the hands-on place to study. So if you are a hands-on kind of person, college might be the place for you.
“Colleges have historically had a mandate to serve local communities and had good success launching innovative employment services while designing programs of study based on labor market trends and needs of employers.”
Colleges are not necessarily smaller than a university, in fact they can be as large if not larger. For example, NAIT (Northern Alberta Institute of Technology) is the 3rd largest institution in Alberta, surpassing the University of Calgary in student population.
An additional point is that colleges are government authorised to grant degrees, diplomas, and certificates. When you graduate, you will obtain a certificate from them; the exception to this is Fanshawe College and King’s University College where graduates walk away with a degree from Western University, one of Canada’s leading research-intensive universities. So if you want a college education at an affordable price resulting in a university degree, these are two colleges to consider. Colleges operate independently from universities, although there are often agreements in place, so colleges students have a pathway to a university degree. For example, Seneca College has over 60 pathways to Ontario and global universities.
Benefits of Studying at a Canadian College
When considering a Canadian institution, benefits to consider are:
Affordability - Colleges tend to be cheaper than university. The average college cost is around $18,000 to 20,000 CAD whereas some of Canada’s top universities are twice the cost. For international students on a limited budget, college is a viable consideration.
Multiple Start Dates - Colleges are more likely to have at least 3 start dates, September, January and May. The shorter gaps or intake options should be considered if you need to write a supplemental exam for admission purposes. Note that some universities have multiple start dates too, but most will have only 1 or maybe just September and January start dates.
Smaller Classrooms – While some colleges have huge study populations, the majority have smaller classrooms where the instructor student ratio might be 1:20. This means more one-on-one mentorship and networking with your instructor. If you are an international student who struggles with English or you are still learning Canada’s teaching and learning methodologies, this can be a boon to getting high marks.
Practical Experience – Nowadays universities also offer paid Co-op work experience programs, but colleges are career-focused and opportunities to work while studying are premium.
Technological Skills – especially if you are going into a technical program, hands-on learning is not limited to your work term, but is also provided in the classroom and labs.
Shorter Programs – While many colleges offer degrees, their focus is on 2 and 3-year diplomas and post-graduate diplomas and certificates. Shorter programs means less tuition costs - something every international student needs.
Employment opportunities – graduates from top colleges have high opportunities to be employed soon after graduation. Overall Seneca College reports over 70% of their graduates are employed 6 months after graduation. For programs related to high-demand industries such as technology, engineering and business, the employment rate will be higher. NAIT reports for some of their programs, 100% of their students are employed just a few months after graduating. If your main goal is to get a job when you graduate, these statistics suggest to choose your program according to industry demands.
Cons of Studying at a Canadian College
While colleges have their advantages, one must also consider the disadvantages too.
Starting salary upon graduation may be less than that of a university graduate although salary increases and promotions can compensate for that and your initial study investment may be less than university costs.
Theoretical knowledge isn’t emphasised as much as at university – colleges are hands-on institutions.
If you wish to go on and pursue a degree, especially a master’s degree, you might be limited in your options.
While tuition is generally affordable, colleges tend to give fewer and smaller scholarships. But for the athlete, Douglas College has a sports scholarship to make your study in Canada even more affordable.
One point to remember when choosing a Canadian college or university is that Canada offers one of the best education systems in the world. Therefore, whether you pursue a university degree or a college one, or even a diploma, you can’t go wrong. Please contact us for more information about studying at some of Canada’s best colleges. Or leave a comment for a reply.