The most popular undergraduate courses are engineering and administrative studies. Postgraduate courses that are popular among international students are management, finance, MBA/MIM, MS, and LLB degrees.
A Canada study visa allows you to travel to and study in Canada. This visa also allows you to work part-time to bear your expenses and qualify for student facilities.
According to The Times Higher Education’s World University Rankings 2022, Canada is home to 30 of the world’s top 500 universities. The number of international students opting to study in Canada keeps growing every year. A sizable number of these students stay back in Canada after finishing their studies.
Canada’s universities and community colleges provide some of the best international study programs alongside the best research facilities for foreign students. Canada should be at the top of your list if you are planning to study abroad.
The fall, winter, and summer are the three academic intakes at the institutions in Canada.
Some colleges offer a winter intake. Fall is the primary intake season for most institutions. International students should follow a typical application deadline, which would be 6 to 9 months before the start of the session.
Deadlines are usually not flexible except for diploma and PG diploma courses. Some institutions accept students for bachelor’s and master’s degree courses past the given deadline, if seats are available.
The most popular undergraduate courses are engineering and administrative studies. Postgraduate courses that are popular among international students are management, finance, MBA/MIM, MS, and LLB degrees.
The higher education system in Canada is no different from the American education system.
There are three main types of Canadian institutions for education:
The eligibility criteria for obtaining a Canadian study permit are listed below.
It is important to note that a study permit is not the same as a study visa. Here are some scenarios where a foreign national will not require a study permit for education in Canada.
Short Term Studies
You will however have to obtain a study permit even if the course is less than 6 months long if you are taking a prerequisite course. You may otherwise have to apply for a study permit before you begin the full study program.
Other conditions for exemption of study permit for your education in Canada:
The following documents are required:
Documents must be scanned and uploaded. Later, you need to carry the original documents to your visa interview, if you are called for one. It is important to make sure the documents are valid and in order. Kansas can help you with this.
International students have to submit the following documents for the first stage:
International students can begin studying after immigration officers assess their applications and issue pre-approval when eligible.
International students will need to submit the following documents to go to Canada:
Step 4: Finance your studies
Living in a foreign country can be expensive, especially when you factor in the exchange rate. There is rent, tuition fees and several expenses that can add up in the long run. You need to have a solid financial plan, and cannot depend on funding it with a part-time job when you get there.
The government needs to see that you have sufficient funds in your account for them to move forward with your application. Therefore make sure you have evidence that you have the funds, be it a bank statement or an accepted loan application.
Step 5: Apply to the university
Apply to the universities well before the deadline to avoid unwarranted mistakes. Speaking to university delegates is a great idea, as they can help you out with information that you may not find on their websites. Canadian universities are very intuitive and applying is easy. However, to know how to make your application stand out, contact us.
Once a prospective student has selected a Canadian university or college, he or she may refer to that institution’s website or contact the office of admissions for information on how to apply. Many institutions receive applications electronically online.
In general, an applicant may receive a decision on an application within four to six months after the application deadline. Successful applicants will receive a Letter of Acceptance, which may be used in the application for a Canada Study Permit.
Step 6: Letter of Acceptance to a Canadian Designated Learning Institution
The Letter of Acceptance is mandatory in the application for a Canada study permit. To obtain a Letter of Acceptance, a potential student may first submit an application to a Designated Learning Institution (DLI). If he or she is successful, the institution may issue a Letter of Acceptance.
The universities will email you acceptance letters when you get in. You must respond to your desired university within a stipulated period of time. Once you have accepted their offer, there are several things to take care of. If there are scholarships that you have in mind, now would be the time to apply to them.
You also need to apply for your study permit and find a place to live. If choosing to live in university dorms, applying early is advisable as they fill up fast. It is also important to keep track of dates so that you know exactly when to make your way to Canada.
The country does not entertain students coming in earlier than required for their courses, and you will be sent back. You also do not want to arrive too late and miss important events like orientation.
Step 7: Get your Student Visa
Once you get admission confirmation done, you can apply for your student visa. It is important to do this at the earliest. You will not be able to travel to Canada without one even if your session has started. This is also why it is important to apply for your study permit as this enables you to apply for your visa. There is also a question of not getting through your interview the very first time, so make sure you start the procedure well before your program starts to date.
Choosing where to apply is the next logical step in the process of applying. Narrowing down the best option can be daunting.
Apart from your area of study, consider these factors while choosing the right college or Canadian university :
Yes, you can study in Canada without IELTS. This English skill test is not required in 2022. There are several Canadian institutions offering study programs without IELTS. They adopt different measures to check your language capability. These universities accept other forms of English language credentials apart from IELTS.
Yes, your spouse, common-law partner, and dependent children are eligible to enter Canada with you on a work or study permit. Your ability to bring along your family while you study is a great benefit.
The following conditions depending on your case may be listed on your study permit –
If an applicant is applying to a study program offered by more than one institution, the Letter of Acceptance should state this clearly. Both institutions must be DLIs. The Letter of Acceptance should be issued by the concerned DLI. If the degree is issued by more than one DLI, the Letter of Acceptance should be issued by the DLI where the student intends to begin his or her study program.
In this situation, the Letter of Acceptance should clearly state:
Canadian student visa applicants can reapply after being rejected. Evaluate why the earlier application was rejected and ensure that the same mistake is not repeated again. Your Canada Student Visa can take up to a maximum of 45 business days as per new guidelines issued under the SDS program.
Costs Involved for a Canadian Student Visa
The Canadian student visa requirements state that you must have $10,000 CAD or above to study in Canada and $11,000 CAD in Quebec, on top of tuition fees.
Living costs in Canada depend on your spending habits and location. Living in large cities is generally more expensive
Application Fees for a Canadian Student Visa
Study Permit Application Fees | CA$150 |
Work Permit Including Extensions | CA$155 |
Visitor Visa(Single or Multiple Entry) | CA$100 |
Average Costs for International Students Studying in Canada
Undergraduate Degree | $29,714 per year |
Engineering & Medicine | $21,717 per year |
Dentistry | $14,162 per year |
Business & Management | $6,827 per year |
Postgraduate Courses | $17,744 per year |
Executive MBA Program | $56,328 per year |
Regular MBA Program | $27,397 per year |
Your Canada Student Visa can take up to a maximum of 45 business days as per new guidelines issued under the SDS program.
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There is a rise in rejection with an increase in the number of student visa applications. On average, about 39% of total study permit visas are rejected each year. Several factors influence the steep rise in Canadian student visa rejection.
There is a multitude of opportunities for international students to apply for permanent residency after studying in Canada.
Most common reasons for rejection of Canada Student Visa include –
You must abide by these while studying in Canada :
Prospective international students can study either French or English as a second language in Canada. The programs are of good quality, as can be seen on the Languages Canada website. This organization provides a quality assessment of the language schools across Canada and offers lists of approved programs and members.
The immigration officer examining an application for a study permit renewal has the right to request proof that the applicant has met the requirements of the original study permit. This may manifest as a letter from the institution clarifying that the student has been actively pursuing his or her studies. The second Letter of Acceptance is not generally required for the renewal of a study permit.
As an international student in Canada, you can work for 20 hours every week during sessions, and full-time on breaks.
In order to be eligible to work off-campus during his or her studies, an international student must:
If an international student’s situation changes and he or she no longer meets any of the above eligibility requirements, he or she must stop working off-campus.
Sometimes a student who is no longer studying full-time may be able to continue working off-campus if he/she is now studying part-time because it is the last semester of his or her study program and a full-time course schedule is no longer required to complete the program of study.
Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) considers a student’s full-time status based on the number of hours and credits allocated towards the completion of a degree.
If a student gets a job working for an employer based on campus, it is considered on-campus work.
An on-campus employer includes the school, a faculty member, a student organization, a private business (located within the boundaries of the campus), a private contractor that provides services to the school, and being self-employed on-campus.
International students pursuing a study program at a DLI in Canada that requires a mandatory work placement or internship can apply for a co-op or intern work permit in addition to a valid study permit.
Learn more about Co-op Work Permits in Canada.
Once the international student graduates, a Post-Graduation Work Permit may be obtained.
In some cases, spouses or common-law partners of international students studying full-time may be eligible for an open work permit. Visit our dedicated page for information on the advantages of an open work permit.
If you have any questions about applying for Canadian permanent residence, please contact us.
Program/category | Aligned with Express Entry? | Is a job offer required? | Additional information |
Canadian Experience Class | Yes | No | Graduates must have a Post-Graduation Work Permit. They earn more Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points because of this. |
Federal Skilled Worker Program | Yes | No | Graduates earn additional Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points. |
Federal Skilled Trades Program | Yes | No | Graduates earn additional Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points. |
The Atlantic Immigration Pilot (AIP)Atlantic International Graduate Program (AIGP) | No | Yes | Post-secondary institution graduates in the Atlantic provinces can apply. Work experience is not required. A two-year post-secondary diploma from a publicly funded learning institution in the Atlantic region is required. Has to submit an application within 24 months of earning the diploma. |
Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot | No | No | If they meet qualifying education requirements, graduates are exempt from the program’s work experience criteria. |
AlbertaAlberta Opportunity Stream | No | Yes | Eligible if they have completed their studies at an approved Alberta post-secondary institution and are employed in Alberta on a Post-Graduation Work Permit. |
British ColumbiaBC PNP Skills Immigration: International Graduate | No | Yes | Post-secondary education completed in BC is worth 8 SIRS points, while post-secondary education completed in Canada (outside BC) is worth 6 SIRS points. |
British ColumbiaBC PNP Express Entry: International Graduate | Yes | Yes | Graduates of institutions across Canada may apply, Post-secondary education completed in BC is worth 8 SIRS points while Post-secondary education completed in Canada (outside BC) is worth 6 SIRS points. |
British ColumbiaBC PNP Skills Immigration: International Post-Graduate | No | No | Applicants with a master’s or doctoral degree in the natural, applied or health sciences from a BC institution are eligible |
British ColumbiaBC PNP Express Entry: International Post-Graduate | Yes | No | Applicants with a master’s or doctoral degree in the natural, applied or health sciences from a BC institution are eligible |
ManitobaMPNP Skilled Worker in Manitoba | No | Yes | Must have a Manitoba qualification (language programs are excluded), except for graduates from a post-secondary program in another province who have been working for a Manitoba employer for at least one year. |
ManitobaInternational Education Stream (IES) – Career Employment Pathway | No | Yes | Candidates must have a full-time job offer from an eligible employer in Manitoba. |
ManitobaInternational Education Stream – Graduate Internship Pathway | No | No | A master or doctoral degree program in Manitoba within the past 3 years is mandatory. |
ManitobaInternational Education Stream – International Student Entrepreneur Pilot | No | No | For at least 6 months, applicants must operate a business as a senior manager on a daily basis in Manitoba, before nomination while on a valid work permit. |
fF | Yes | No | Must have completed at least two academic years of full-time study at a secondary or post-secondary school in New Brunswick. |
New Brunswick NJ Skilled Worker Stream | No | Yes | Must have graduated from a post-secondary institution in New Brunswick with at least six months of work experience in the province. |
Newfoundland & LabradorNLPNP International Graduate Category | No | Yes | Must have a job or job offer from a Newfoundland & Labrador employer, and must apply while they still have at least 6 months validity on their Post-Graduation Work Permit. |
Newfoundland & LabradorNLPNP Express Entry Skilled Worker | Yes | Yes | Increased score if the applicant has study experience in Newfoundland & Labrador. |
Newfoundland & LabradorNLPNP International Graduate Entrepreneur | No | No | For graduates of Memorial University or College of the North Atlantic. Must have bought or started a local business and run operations for at least one year. |
Nova ScotiaNSNP Skilled Worker Stream | No | yes | Helps employers recruit foreign workers and graduated international students whose skills are needed in Nova Scotia. |
Nova ScotiaNSNP Nova Scotia Experience: Express Entry | Yes | No | Must have at least 12 months full-time (or an equal amount in part-time) paid skilled work experience in Nova Scotia within three years before the application is made. |
Nova ScotiaNSNP International Graduate Entrepreneur Stream | No | No | Recent graduates of Nova Scotia post-secondary institutions who have already started or purchased a business in the province are eligible. |
Ontario Ontario Employer Job Offer: International Student Stream | No | Yes | A full-time degree or diploma program at an eligible publicly-funded Canadian college or university that is at least 2 years in length, or a 1-year post-graduate certificate program that requires a previous degree is mandatory. |
OntarioOINP International Masters Graduate Stream | No | No | Graduates of a full-time Master’s course at an eligible institution in Ontario that is 1 year at the minimum are eligible. |
OntarioOINP International Student PhD Graduate Stream | No | No | At least two years of Ph.D. studies at a university in Ontario is mandatory. |
Prince Edward IslandPEI PNP Labour Impact Category: International Graduate | No | Yes | Recent graduates with a related field of study from recognized PEI universities and colleges are eligible. |
QuebecQuebec Experience Class (PEQ) | No | No | French-speaking individuals may apply at any time from 6 months before graduation, up to 36 months after graduation. |
Quebec Quebec Skilled Worker Program | No | No | Completed higher education is a plus. |
SaskatchewanSINP Experience Category for Students | No | Yes | Graduates with a degree from a recognized post-secondary educational institution in Saskatchewan are eligible. |
SaskatchewanSINP International Graduate Entrepreneur Category | No | No | Must operate and manage a business in Saskatchewan for at least one year and own at least one-third of the equity in order to be considered. |
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