Top Places To Study In Canada
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Colleges Ranking 2023
| University | The 2023 | QS 2023 | US World 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
 University of Toronto - U of T | 18 | 34 | 18 |
 The University of British Columbia - UBC | 40 | 47 | 35 |
 McGill University | 46 | 31 | 54 |
 University of Montreal - U de M | 111 | 116 | 156 |
 University of Alberta - UAlberta | 118 | 110 | 136 |
 McMaster University | 85 | 152 | 138 |
 University of Calgary - UCalgary | 201-250 | 242 | 175 |
 University of Waterloo - UWaterloo | 201-250 | 154 | 191 |
 Western University - UWO | 201-250 | 172 | 300 |
 Dalhousie University - Dal | 301-350 | 308 | 314 |
 Laval University | 251-300 | 433 | 397 |
 Simon Fraser University - SFU | 251-300 | 328 | 317 |
 University of Manitoba - U of M | 351-400 | 651-700 | 372 |
 University of Victoria - UVic | 301-350 | 359 | 324 |
 University of Ottawa - uOttawa | 137 | 237 | 215 |
 University of Saskatchewan - US | 501-600 | 473 | 441 |
 York University | 401-500 | 456 | 426 |
Study in Canada Guide
Why Study in Canada?
Indian students can choose to study in Canada after 12th across the universities or colleges offering education in English. Post graduate courses in Canada are more popular among international students as majority of these courses are offered in English. Some of the factors influencing the increase in international students pursuing higher education in Canada are discussed below:
- Canada’s International Education Strategy (2019-2024): The education strategy of Canada is aiming to promote global ties and diversify the education sector. The country has spent 49.46 billion CAD on postsecondary education of international students.
- Easy Visa Policy: Canada welcomes the international student population with open arms. The immigration-friendly policies and multi-cultural cities make it easier for students to live abroad.
- Cost-effective Academic Quality: Considered a better study location as compared to the USA, Canada ensures that its students receive a quality education at affordable prices. The cost of studying in Canada is relatively lower and the scholarship opportunities available are relatively more.
- Surplus of Job Opportunities: The Canadian job sector offers both natives and immigrants with plenty of high paying job opportunities in Canada. International students earn an equivalent salary as compared to the native workers across various sectors.
- Declining International Acceptance Rates in USA: The acceptance rate of US F1 visa has seen a decline which opens doors for Canada as the next popular study destination.
With burgeoning middle-class income aspirants in the developing countries, reduced costs of education and living expenses have played a vital role in the rising demand for studying in Canada. Canadian universities are expected to see a large part of incoming foreign students in the future due to the uncertainties surrounding visa approval in the US.Despite all the pros of studying in Canada, adjusting to extreme cold weather can be a little difficult for international students.
What to Study in Canada?
Education in Canada is cheaper and recognized globally. The flexibility and variety of programs offered by the education system in Canada is the foremost reason why the number of international students studying in Canada has grown by nearly 400% since the last decade. The education system of Canada is divided into three levels:
- Elementary Education
- Secondary Education
- Post-secondary Education
The Hierarchy: After completing their elementary and secondary education for up to the age of 16-18, students move on to their Post-secondary Education. Listed are the post-secondary programs and their duration in the Canadian higher education system.
| Post-Secondary Programs | Duration |
|---|---|
| Certificate | 1 year |
| Diploma | 1 to 2 years |
| Advanced Diploma | 2 to 3 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years full-time study |
| Post-Graduate Diploma or Certificates | 1 or 2 years |
| Master’s Degree | 1 to 2 years |
| Doctorate or Ph.D. | 4 to 7 years |
With a huge number of short-term courses in Canada open for international students, you can find many designated colleges offering only short-term courses like diploma and certificate programs for a specific level of education.
Language Requirements: Out of the two official languages of Canada i.e. English and French, students need to be well acquainted with any one of these languages compulsorily. One can also opt for language courses offered at some of the universities and colleges in Canada.
Application Cycle
When should you apply for the Canada study permit?
Planning is the most important part when deciding to study abroad in Canada. Students aspiring to study in Canada are advised to apply for their study permit 4 to 6 months prior to the beginning of their classes.
What are the documents required to apply for the student permit?
- A letter of acceptance from the designated learning institution (DLI) is mandatory to apply for a Canada student visa.
- Valid passport or travel document
- Identity proof, authorized by the resident’s government.
- A financial statement in support of the candidate’s eligibility to meet living costs and fees is also required.
- Medical information
- A letter defining your statement of intent and how will you add to the pool of resources there.
Apply: Application for Canada Student Permit can be made online and offline via:
- Government of Canada Key, log in at GCKey
- Visit the nearest VAC (Visa Application Centre) or apply at the entry port
You can restore your status as a student if you are planning to extend your stay in Canada by renewing the study permit for 350 CAD (Restoring status – 200 CAD & new study permit – 150 CAD)
How should you prepare for the visa interview?
After the visa application process, students are called for an interview. This process is a bit strenuous and requires a lot of preparation. Students are advised to go through a student guide for tips to crack visa interviews.
If you are accepted at a Quebec based institution, produce the following documents additionally:
- Letter of explanation/ SOP
- Quebec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ)
Canada study permit takes 6 weeks’ time for processing. However, with the introduction of the SDS Program, students from China, India, Vietnam, and the Philippines can get their visas within 45 days.
How students immigrate to Canada?
Migrating to Canada becomes easy after obtaining a degree from a Canadian university. The Canadian government has many programs dedicated to the transition of an international student into a permanent resident.
For recent graduates, Post-Graduate Work Permit (PGWP) is open to gain some working experience within the Canadian industry.
Some of the other offers for international students include:
- Canadian Experience Class: For students who have completed 2 years of education and have work experience of 1 year.
- Quebec Experience Class: Students must have proficiency in the French language and completion of the CEGEP program from an institution in Quebec.
- Provincial Nomination Program: Eligible candidates apply via a paper-based process or express entry after getting nominated by the province officials.
Scholarships to Study in Canada
To reduce the financial burden, prospective students can apply for scholarships in Canada for international students initiated by the Government of Canada and external organizations.
| Scholarship | Eligibility | Award | Application |
|---|---|---|---|
| Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships | Canadian and Foreign citizens | $54,219 per year (taxable) | Registration at Canadian Common CV and ResearchNet Account |
| Canada-CARICOM Leadership Scholarships Program | Students from Caribbean Countries pursuing undergraduate and graduate programs | 4 months: $5,576 | 5-6 months: $7,513 | 8 months: $11,386 | Canadian institutes register at ‘International Scholarships Canada Application Tool’ for eligible students |
| Canada-ASEAN Scholarships and Educational Exchanges for Development (SEED) | Students from ASEAN countries | 5-6 months: $8,675 | 8 months: $11,153 | Scholarships Canada Application Tool’ for eligible students |
| Queen’s University International Scholarship India | Indian applicants with 80% or more | $15,314 | No application required |
| Queen’s University International Scholarships | For international students with higher academic grades | $6,969 | No application required |
| UBC International Major Entrance Scholarship | UG applicant for UBC with high academic grades | Variable | No application required |
Jobs after Studying in Canada
Jobs in Canada are available for students of all levels, graduates, and professionals alike. Plenty of work-study in Canada options is available for international students. You can work either on-campus or off-campus, you can work as a co-op student or as an intern. You also have the option to stay and work in Canada after your graduation. You will need a work permit (PGWP) to work in Canada. Application for Post-graduation Work Permit costs $255 CAD.
Job opportunities for graduates in Canada from the high-demanding fields and their respective mid-career salaries are as follows:
The Canadian universities with the highest employability rate are:
- Concordia University
- University of British Columbia
- University of Toronto
- University of Waterloo
Study in Canada: ROI for Top Universities
| University | Fees in INR | Average Salary of Graduates (INR) |
|---|---|---|
| U of T | 24.51 lakhs | 64 to 98 lakhs |
| UBC | 20.83 lakhs | 58 lakhs to 1. Cr |
| McGill | 16.54 lakhs | 52 to 90 lakhs |
| McMaster | 27.57 lakhs | 41 to 89 lakhs |
| UAlberta | 12.87 lakhs | 42 to 53 lakhs |
| UOttawa | 18.38 lakhs | 37 to 96 lakhs |
| University of Calgary | 22.67 lakhs | 41 lakhs to 1.1 Cr |
| University of Waterloo | 24.51 lakhs | 49 lakhs to 1.4 Cr |
Here are some important things to take away with you, if you are planning to study in Canada:
How much does it cost to study in Canada?
The cost of studying in Canada vary depending on the university of choice or level of study. However, the basic costs for certain programs and at a certain levels of study are:
- Undergraduate programs: 7,700 to 23,200 CAD (annual)
- Some of the popular bachelor’s programs costs in Canada:
- Btech in Canada: 158,000 to 323,000 CAD (total)
- Postgraduate Programs: 11,600 to 27,000 CAD (annual)
- Some of the popular masters programs to study in Canada:
- Masters in Canada: 20,000 to 30,000 CAD (annual)
- MBA in Canada: 21,000 to 105,000 CAD (overall costs)
- Masters in Data Science in Canada: 22,000 to 44,000 CAD (overall costs)
- Masters in Business Analytics in Canada: 26,000 to 56,000 CAD (overall costs).
Canadian Student Visa
- Eligibility: Register to DLI, show minimum funds, obtain a medical certificate, proof that you will leave Canada after completion of studies.
- Application Fees: 150 CAD (9,200 INR)
- Minimum Funds Required: 10,000 to 11,000 CAD (6.13 to 6.74 lakhs INR) for the applicant.
Immigration & Residence
- Immigrant friendly nation
- PR is comparatively easier to obtain
- For immigrating to Canada, the initial and most important step is to complete the Express Entry Profile. The invitation to apply for a PR is based on the individual score and rank in the express entry profile.
- You can find out more on the Canadian Immigration website.
If you have made your decision to study in Canada, vastly different natural and cultural experiences await you in the friendly, tolerant, and globally recognized powers. Your education standards will be comparable to those at Ivy League institutions and studying in Canada will offer you all this at a cheaper price than other international education destinations.
Exams For Canada
International English Language Testing System [IELTS]
International English Language Testing System(IELTS) is an international standardized test that measures the level.
Test of English as a Foreign Language [TOEFL]
Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is an international standardised test conducted to assess the level of English.
Pearson Test of English [PTE]
PTE (Pearson Test of English) is an English language proficiency test conducted by Pearson PCL group in association with Edexcel.
Graduate Record Examination [GRE]
Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is an international standardized test required for admission into Graduate schools.
Graduate Management Admission Test [GMAT]
Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) is conducted by GMAC for admission to nearly 5400 management courses.
Scholastic Aptitude Test [SAT]
SAT is an international standardized test required for admission into most of the colleges in the United States. It is also accepted.
Study In Canada FAQs
Ans. In Canada, international students are generally accepted in the Fall, Winter and Spring/Summer. A majority of the international students in Canada are accepted through the Fall intake.
Ans. International students mostly prefer Fall intakes while studying in Canada. The top universities in Canada accept the majority of the students through the Fall intake. This allows the students to acclimatise with the weather of the country before the arrival of winter season. Winter is the second most preferred intake in the country for international students.
Ans. The application deadlines for Fall intake in Canada ranges between September of the previous year to July of the year of enrollment. International students are advised to apply to their desired programs at the earliest to increase their chance of getting selected. This is because several universities offer admission on a first-come-first-serve basis.
Ans. The admission requirements for graduate programs at the Canadian universities are course-specific. Generally students need a bachelor's degree in a relevant field with 70% aggregate, 1-3 years of work experience, GRE score of 300 or GMAT score of 580-600.
Ans. International students need a 12th grade certificate or equivalent for admission to undergraduate programs in Canada. Students need an overall aggregate of 70% in class 12 for admission to the top universities in Canada. Students need an IELTS score of 6.0 overall and 5.5 in each section for admission to the program.
Ans. Students need to demonstrate a 500 word Statement of Purpose, multiple LORs from academic and/or professional supervisors as supporting documents. Some universities might ask for samples or copies of published work/ portfolio. Graduate applicants in Canada need an IELTS score of 6.5 overall with band scores of 6.0.
Ans. International students need a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale (83-86%) for admission to the top universities in Canada. Students also get admission across some of the universities in Canada with a lesser GPA but a good GPA makes your application strong.
Ans. IELTS is the majorly accepted standardised test score in Canada. International students with an IELTS score of 6.0 to 6.5 are commonly accepted by the top universities in Canada. The universities also alternatively accepts TOEFL iBT scores of 80 or above for admission to the program. Other English proficiency test scores accepted by the top universities in Canada include TOEFL PBT, Duolingo, PTE among others.
Ans. The cost of undergraduate programs in Canada ranges from 1,800 to 20,000 CAD (1.09 to 12.14 lakhs INR) per annum. The cost of graduate programs in Canada depends on the university, program type and degree type. In general, you can estimate spending between 15,000 to 20,000 CAD (9.10 to 12.13 lakhs INR) per annum.
Ans. The average cost of living in Canada for an international student is around 12,000 CAD per year. For an Indian student, this cost is equivalent to 7.28 lakhs INR per year. This cost includes rent, meals, travel, personal expenses and academic miscellaneous expenses.
The amount of funds required to avail Canada student visa are provided in the following table:
| Individual Visiting Canada | Fund Required Per Year (CAD) | Fund Equivalent for Indian Students (INR) |
|---|---|---|
| Student | 10,000 | 60,690 |
| First family member | 4,000 | 2.42 lakhs |
| Any additional family member accompanying the student | 3,000 | 1.82 lakhs |
Ans. As an international student, you might avail full ride scholarships for various programs and academic levels in Canada. The scholarships to study in Canada are generally offered by the universities, external donors, or home country. The university scholarships are merit based and need based and might need separate application at the time of admission. Meritorious students unable to avail the fully funded scholarships might avail partial scholarships.
Ans. International students can avail a variety of scholarships in Canada for undergraduate and graduate degree/diploma/certificate courses. The types of scholarships available for students based on source are as follows:
Ans. The eligibility criteria for the popular scholarships to study in Canada are dependent on factors like scholarship type, level of study, fund availability and more. Some of the common factors considered for the merit based and need based scholarships to study in Canada are as follows:
- Academic Achievement: Excellent academic performance is the key to availing the merit based scholarships across all universities in Canada.
- Demonstrated Need: Needful students need to provide proof of family income, bank statement and related documents to avail the need based scholarships in Canada for international students.
Ans. Some of the top universities/colleges in Canada and their respective QS World University Rankings, 2023 are as follows:
| University | QS Rankings, 2023 |
|---|---|
| McGill University | #31 |
| University of Toronto | #34 |
| University of British Columbia | #47 |
| University of Alberta | #110 |
| University of Montreal | #116 |
Ans. The top Engineering colleges in Canada according to subject scores of US News and World Report, 2023 are as follows:
| University | Subject Score |
|---|---|
| University of Waterloo | 77.6 |
| University of Toronto | 74.5 |
| University of British Columbia | 71.4 |
| University of Alberta | 70.1 |
| McGill University | 64.2 |
| Concordia University - Canada | 61.9 |
Ans. Canada is a centre for business and technology programs for international students. A list of the top universities for MBA in Canada are as follows:
- University of Toronto
Ans. Some of the top PG diploma colleges in Canada are listed below:
- Algonquin College
Ans. Executive MBA in Canada is reportedly the highest paying degree for international students with an average salary of 159,000 CAD (96.63 lakhs INR) per year. Students with Doctorate degrees in Canada earn the second highest with an average salary of 150,000 CAD (91.16 lakhs INR) per year. Following are some of the highest paying degrees in Canada for international students:
| Profession | Average Salary (CAD) | Average Salary (INR) |
|---|---|---|
| PhD | 126,000 | 76.58 lakhs |
| LLM | 114,000 | 69.29 lakhs |
| MBA | 110,000 | 66.85 lakhs |
| Masters in Finance | 106,000 | 64.42 lakhs |
Ans. The top universities in Canada with excellent placement records according to Times Higher Education are listed below:
| University | THE Employability Rank 2022 |
|---|---|
| University of Toronto | #11 |
| McGill University | #29 |
| University of British Columbia | #36 |
| University of Montreal/HEC | #63 |
| McMaster University | #81 |
| University of Alberta | #172 |
| University of Ottawa | #175 |
Ans. Graduates in Canada mostly work across sectors like trade, technology, science, education, mining, construction, public administration among others. The top employers in Canada include Goldman Sachs,McKinsey & Company, L’Oreal, Ford, KPMG LLP, Citi Canada and numerous other companies.
