Top Reasons to Study in Canada’s Prairie Provinces
Today I would like to introduce you to Canada’s Prairie Provinces. As a prairie girl (born in a place called Grande Prairie), I can give you many reasons why Canada’s prairies should be your study abroad in Canada destination. But I will focus on the 5 top reasons why studying in Alberta, Saskatchewan or Manitoba will give you the best “bang for your dollar”. What you get here is superior to others at the same price. Within these provinces you have world ranking universities like the University of Alberta and Canada’s top universities like the University of Calgary, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and top polyethnic colleges like NAIT this is 3rd among Canada’s top research colleges.
Canadian Prairie Universities are in Canada’s Top 20
Within these provinces you have top ranking universities like the University of Alberta, Calgary, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and top polyethnic colleges like NAIT and SAIT which are 3rd and 17th respectively among Canada’s top research colleges. Let’s look at the Universities of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and MacEwan University
The University of Manitoba
The University of Manitoba is a member of the prestigious U15 group of Canadian research universities. US News & World Report ranks the university’s Agriculture Sciences in the top 200 of the world, along with Immunology, Microbiology and Pharmacology and other medical sciences. The university has 16 faculties and has professional schools that offer architecture, engineering, law, and pharmacy degrees, among others. It is Western Canada’s oldest university and offers more than 100 programs and even some rare or unique programs. Going to U of Manitoba means you are going to one of Canada’s best universities.
The University of Saskatchewan
The University of Saskatchewan is in the peaceful urban setting of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. It is a top research-intensive university and among the top medical colleges in Canada, ranking 11th according to EduCanada. It is strong in areas of water and food security and infectious diseases. USask offers undergraduate degree, diploma, and certificate programs in more than 100 fields of study. It also offers masters and PhD programs in all disciplines including agriculture, medical sciences and the humanities, sciences, and business.
The University of Alberta
The University of Alberta is one of Canada’s top research-intensive universities and is ranked in the top 150 worldwide according to QS and THE and 3rd in Canada according to EduCanada. It offers over 200 undergraduate programs and over 500 graduate ones. Students can add a certificate to their undergraduate degree to increase their knowledge and skills thus making their resumes stand out to employers. The University of Alberta has the 2nd largest paid Work Experience program in Canada which means students who opt for the Co-op program combine practical experience with theory and can add to their resumes Canadian work experience which is what Canadian employers are looking for. Graduates from the University of Alberta are sought by Canadian employers, and they quickly find employment.
MacEwan University
MacEwan University is in Edmonton, Alberta and offers students 5 faculties, a university preparation program, a foundation program and two university transfer pathways to the University of Alberta: one in Engineering and the other in Physical Education. If you have your heart set on applying to the University of Alberta’s Engineering program but your marks are a little low, then consider doing your first year at MacEwan and then transferring to U of Alberta for your 2nd year. International students can apply to any MacEwan University degree, diploma, or certificate program. MacEwan in one of Canada’s top undergraduate universities.
Quality Education at an Affordable Price
Living in Canada’s prairies is cheaper than living in Ontario or British Columbia. Cost of living is less. While cost of living, accommodation and food is less in Manitoba and Saskatchewan, Alberta residents pay only GST not a Provincial Sales Tax (PST) and full-time international students in both Alberta and Saskatchewan are eligible for the provincial medical insurance plan. Basic health coverage is free in these two provinces. International students at the University of Manitoba pay into the provincial Manitoba International Student Health Plan for a cost that is parallel or slightly better than buying into a private health care insurance plan.
Tuition is very affordable. The University of Alberta, a top world ranked university, still offers programs as low as $27,000 CAD per year. They offer a guaranteed tuition rate which means that the tuition rate remains the same for the 4 years of a student’s program. A student knows exactly how much he or she pays for their full program. Tuition at the Universities of Saskatchewan and Manitoba and MacEwan hover around $24,000 CAD.
To top this off, each university has international student scholarships. International students at all universities in the Prairie provinces can receive scholarships based on merit and extracurricular activities, ranging from the highest at $120,000 to a lesser amount of $10,000. Along with this, students can work part-time or opt for a paid Co-op Work Experience program as part of their degree. An international student gets value for their investment, a bang for their dollar. You get a world recognised degree at a budget price.
Employment & Immigration Incentives
As an international student, you may think that all the jobs are in Ontario or BC where the population is larger. But that isn’t necessarily so. Canada’s Prairie Provinces’ industries are technology, agriculturally and energy based and provide a platform for graduates from universities and polytechnic institutions.
Manitoba aerospace industry is the largest in Western Canada, employing over 5300 people. Over 250 agribusiness manufacturing and technology firms produce equipment and provide services for crop and livestock production. Winnipeg is at the heart of North America making it the ideal geographic path for transportation from Mexico to the Arctic. It is the transportation hub of the prairies. With these industries, in-demand jobs are managers, financial advisors, administrators, engineers, and technicians among others. Manitoba encourages recent international student graduates to remain in the province through their International Education Stream.
Saskatchewan is rich in minerals, energy and has a diverse agricultural and agri-food sector. Mining, gas production, agriculture and forestry require workers at all levels from the engineer, manager, financial advisor to trades personnel. The Saskatchewan government has both the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program and the Saskatchewan Experience stream which targets international students who have recently graduated from a Canadian university or institution and have 6 months of work experience in Saskatchewan.
Alberta has historically been the oil and gas giant of Canada with oil reserves next to Saudi Arabia and Venezuela. With the recent higher than expected oil prices, Alberta’s economy is slated for growth. Additionally, Alberta has technology, renewable resources, and agri-foods industries. There is also a thrust for entrepreneurship activities. The University of Alberta has many spin-off companies set up in Edmonton’s Research Park. This means Alberta needs scientists, medical technicians, finance and business graduates, managers, engineers and software and Information technology analysts and consultants. To meet Alberta’s growing demand for qualified workers, Alberta encourages international students to take advantage of their Immigration Nominee program and the Canadian Experience Class program
If you are looking at Canada as the place to study, work and stay, then Canada’s Prairies might be just the place for you to start.
Diverse Landscape
The prairies offer a diverse lifestyle, as diverse as its natural landscape. Alberta has the Rocky Mountains, rolling foothills, valleys, rivers, and flat prairies where crops are grown. It has the Badlands, a place called Buffalo Jump and National Parks that line the Rockies, Banff, Jasper (a 4-hour drive from Edmonton) and Waterton National Park. Each city has hiking trails along the rivers that flow through the heart of the city. Edmonton is Alberta’s festival city with Heritage Days (a 3-day multicultural event), the Fringe and other festivals. Calgary has the Calgary Stampede, and each smaller centre holds a rodeo or country fair each summer. Edmonton boasts the largest mall in North America, the West Edmonton Mall. And there is food galore with restaurants of almost every ethnicity – Ethiopian, Lebanese, Pakistani, Indian, Korean, Chinese, the list goes on.
Heritage Days, Edmonton, Alberta
Winnipeg is a cultural centre that is home to the Royal Winnipeg Ballet company and offers its residents drama, theatre, and opera. It is also home to the Canadian Museum of Human Rights that exhibits human rights in Canada and around the world. Students can shop, eat at an outdoor café, or enjoy parks and Lake Winnipeg’s shoreline. For the more adventurous, a trip to Churchill along the Arctic’s Hudson Bay means a chance to see polar bears. There are a diversity of activities for international students to engage in.
Saskatchewan is divided between flat, treeless prairies in the south where fields of wheat and lentils can be seen for miles and miles. The northern part is made up of beautiful lakes, rivers, forest and rolling hills and don’t forget their astounding sunsets. Saskatoon, home to the University of Saskatchewan is a quiet city with warm and friendly people where you can enjoy a walk along the South Saskatchewan River or dine with friends over steaks or burgers. Granted, you might not find the nightlife that some larger cities hold, but life is very enjoyable and if you have come for a new experience, then leave the large population behind and enjoy the prairies.
But its Cold There!!
Now I know that most of you are saying, but it’s cold there. We have heard the stories of how cold it is in Edmonton or Winnipeg. Yes, it is cold, sometimes, but the prairies boast of more sunshine than any of the other provinces in Canada. Edmonton gets 325 sunny days per year. Also, the weather in the prairies is generally drier. I come from Edmonton, but I get cold in Lahore in the winter. You might laugh but the humidity makes the cold that much colder. We don’t have that problem in Alberta. Secondly many institutions have pedways where classrooms are connected so no need of freezing as you run between classes. Houses are centrally heated and malls, buses, cars and even bus stops are heated. We might not have air conditioning but everything, but everything has a heater. You will soon come to enjoy a Canadian winter.
You might have figured out that I am a prairie girl at heart, and I hope that you enjoy studying in one of these provinces where life is not only enjoyable, but you get the best education at an affordable rate. It really is the best deal in town. To learn more about these universities and all the universities we represent, contact us for assistance.