Studying in Canada? It’s Time to Plan
If you are planning on studying in Canada, the prospect can be a time of exciting anticipation of a new adventure. But along with the excitement comes a time of planning and budgeting to determine the cost of studying in Canada and what you need to do to cover costs, to determine where you want to study, and any exams or paperwork that needs to be done, etc. It will benefit you to put together a timeline and budget.
1 Year Before Studying in Canada
Budget for your Studies in Canada
You will need to account for tuition and other academic fees, books and supplies, cost of living, food, travel, phone calls, entertainment and more. To help you towards this end, most universities and colleges have a budget calculator that you can avail. The University of Alberta takes you through a tuition and cost of living budget and Western University has a budget planner that is quite extensive, including a Personal Budgeting Table that is worth checking out. The nice thing about this table is you can use it for any other college or university you are considering.
Included in that budget, you will need to consider all the avenues to help balance your budget. This could include parental support, scholarships, work terms, etc. You should also consider the tuition rates at different Canadian universities and colleges. Ms. Khan from Go 2 Canada Education Services recommends students to consider applying to 3 or 4 universities, maybe two that have a large scholarship and at least one or two institutions that you can afford without a scholarship. Not everyone gets those large scholarships as they are very competitive, so you need to be ready to accept an offer from the more affordable university. While many students get merit scholarships, getting a prestigious application-based scholarship is not always possible. For example, the University of Alberta offers 25 scholarships to international students valued at $120,000 CAD. It is a nice scholarship but if there are only 25 scholarships and 1000 applicants, even if you are a deserving student, you might not get it. So it’s best to plan on not getting it and if you do get it, well MUBARAK!
For example, you might want to do a comparison something like the table below. This looks only at application-based scholarships and not merit-based. Suppose your budget is $20,000 CAD per year for tuition and you want to take Computer Science.
Based on tuition in the Faculty of Science
Table does not include non-instructional fees.
The table shows what options are best for you based on your budget. For further assistance on budgeting and learning about the cost at different Canadian universities and colleges, make sure to contact Ms. Khan for assistance. All her services are free of cost so you don’t have to include her services in your budget.
Choose the Right Program
There are several factors to consider when determining a program.
What is your Ultimate Goal?
If you ultimate goal is to make lots of money then you will not choose English Literature, rather you will go for Business or Engineering. But if you want to take what you are interested in and you are interested in English Literature, then that is the program for you.
Do You Qualify for the Program?
Do you meet admission requirements for your desired program? Do you have the correct subjects in high school? Is your GPA sufficient for a Master’s degree? Should you consider a Post-Graduate Diploma instead? Is there another Canadian university or college where you can take a similar program and your previous education meets their admission requirements?
Getting a Study Permit
The program you choose is more important than the institution. Canada has excellent public colleges and universities so if you are choosing a public institution in Canada, then you can’t go wrong. Whether it is the University of Toronto or the University of Manitoba, all our universities rank well. Canada has one of the best education systems in the world so it’s the program not the institution that counts as public institutions will have a DLI number.
Visa officers are more likely to approve your study permit if your desired program aligns with your previous education and work experience. Your program should be a logical next step to your previous work and education. For example, if you have a Arts degree but have worked in HR for several years, you could study a Masters of Management or Masters in Arts. But if you have an MBA, have worked in Business and then decide to take a Bachelor of Psychology, the likelihood of having your study permit approved plummets to almost zero. If you are planning on making a major shift, you will need to do a very good job of explaining yourself in your Statement of Purpose.
But understanding the best program for you and the perplexities of getting both an admission offer, and your study permit approved is best handled by consulting experts in the field. Make sure to contact Go 2 Canada Education Services for assistance. They have over 35 years experience in Canada’s post-secondary education sector.
Take an Approved Language Exam
This can be a breaking point in getting an admission offer and a study permit, especially if you are planning for graduate studies. Many universities and colleges ask for an ELP exam and will not accept previous education or Letters of English Language Proficiency. Many Canadian colleges do not accept O level English. One prime example is Canada’s #1 college, Seneca College. An English Language Proficiency exam is a must admission requirement. Students will not even be given a conditional offer while the college waits for exam results. Taking an ELP exam simply expands your options when applying to Canadian institutions.
And if you are planning on applying for your Study Permit through the SDS route, then an English language exam is required. Preferred exams that will meet both admission and study permit requirements are IELTS, TOEFL and PTE. These added exams to IELTS are new to the study permit application effective August 10, 2023.
Apply to University
Most universities open about 1 year before the start date. And if you are considering graduate studies, sometimes that window is only a few months, between September of the year before the start date and January of the current year. For example, the applications may start on October 2023 and end in January 2024 for a September 2024 start date.
Check your Passport Expiry Date
Make sure there is plenty of time left on your passport. If it expires soon, have it renewed so your study permit will be the full length of your program. If your passport expires within a year of applying for your study permit, then your study permit will not extend beyond that time. So make sure you have a valid passport for the duration of your studies.
6 Months Before Studying in Canada
Once you have your Letter of Admission (LOA) it is not too early to start your study permit application. IRCC Canada advises students to apply as soon as they get their LOA. It can take anywhere from 3 to 6 months to get a study permit approved and delivered. So don’t delay. Even the SDS route takes more than the 21 days stated on the IRCC website.
Accept Your admission offer and confirm it with finances. Whether you decide to pay only the confirmation deposit the university requires to secure your offer, or if you decide to pay one or more terms, this is the time to do it, before you apply for your study permit. You will want the receipt to accompany your visa application. A piece of advice here: students who apply through SDS have a greater chance of visa approvals than those who apply through the regular route. This is because you have shown all your finances upfront and they are in Canada. Visa officers are more likely to approve a visa where you have paid your tuition and living costs upfront.
Pakistani students are eligible to apply for their study permit through SDS which means they can will need to do these 3 basics plus follow all other requirements set out by IRCC.
Pay 1 year’s tuition
Purchase a GIC (Guaranteed Investment Certificate) from select Canadian banks. This is done online and the best banks for Pakistani students to use are Scotiabank, CIBC and Simplifii Financial.
Gather all documents and forms for your visa application. Check it against the IRCC Checklist IMM5483e. Pakistani students must include a Police Certificate and the Letter of Intent (SOP) as per the Annex A guidelines set out by IRCC.
Apply and wait for an approval to your study permit application.
3 Months Before Studying in Canada
Driver’s license extract – if you plan on driving in Canada (and at some point you will), get a driver’s license extract from your local authority. This verifies that you have a driver’s license and how many years you have been driving. If you have more than 2 years of experience, then it is easier to get a Canadian driver’s license.
Gather other documents such as copies or originals of transcripts, medical records, professional or employment letters, letters of reference, identity documents, etc. You may need them at some time during your stay.
Open a Canadian bank account - Although it is very easy to open a bank close to campus or even on campus once you arrive, some students prefer to open it before going. Some banks have international student online bank opening options. Ms. Khan recommends waiting until you arrive but the choice is yours.
1 Month Before Studying In Canada
Decide what to pack – many Canadian universities and colleges provide lots of advice on what you should bring with you. Usually the university or college will send their admitted students an email about what to bring with them, but if not, the International Student Services at the university or college will have a page dedicated to what to bring, such as the one at the University of Waterloo. For clothes, pack some warm clothing but not a winter coat unless you come from a cold climate. Go to Canada Education Services states, “if you come from a country like Pakistan or Nigeria, then buy that winter coat in Canada. And you don’t need to buy brand names. You can get a warm, good quality winter coat at a reasonable price from Walmart, Costco, or other superstores in Canada. And don’t forget to buy your winter boots, toque, and mitts in Canada too.”
Do you need to take care of any financials before you leave? Do you need to close a local bank account?
Purchase your plane tickets – if you haven’t booked your airplane ticket for Canada, now is the time to do it. But don’t confirm your ticket until you have had your study permit approved. In fact it’s better to have the visa in hand, in your passport.
Port of Entry Documents – make sure you know what the Canada Border Services Agency requires from you once you arrive at the Canadian border. Check the border requirements and have them available when you arrive and need to go through Canadian Customs.
2 Weeks Before Studying in Canada
Purchase travel insurance – Some Canadian provinces include international students studying in the province under their health insurance plans. So if you are studying at the University of Alberta, NAIT or MacEwan University, basic health care is provided free under the Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan with no premiums required from international students. But the institituion will have a health and dental insurance plan to top-up what the provincial insurance plan doesn’t cover.The Health Insurance at MacEwan University is a good example of what universities provide for their students. Other provinces have similar plans so you don’t need insurance beyond travel insurance.
Some provinces like Ontario require students to purchase medical insurance but these are often included in their non-instructional fees that are paid to the university. For example, Trent University includes a TCSA insurance amount in their fees. Full-time students at Trent are automatically enrolled in and billed for Health and Dental plans. Make sure to check with Ms. Khan about medical insurance requirements for the university or college you will be attending.
Pack your bags – take enough clothing as per guidelines set out at the university you will attend. While you will want to pack some warmer clothes, it is best to purchase winter gear in Canada. If you are planning on doing your own cooking, Canada is a multicultural country, and most spices will be available at large superstores like Superstore, Costco, or Walmart. Larger cities will also have ethnic grocery shops. For Pakistani students, even a tawa to make rotis is available at Amazon.ca. Everything is available, especially in larger cities.
Visit family and friends – enjoy your time with them.
The time will come quickly to fly out to Canada. BON VOYAGE!
Photo courtesy of Andre Furtado at Pexels