The factors that help decide which University you would like to attend are the same whether you would like to stay in your home country or travel abroad for University; everything is just more amplified and there are a few more steps.
There are 5 factors that should be weighed: location, reputation, programs, future aspirations and cost. When choosing a school to study abroad, you need to decide what country would be a good fit for you; the overall climate, the language and social customs all come into play. The reputation of the University, in the country where it’s located as well as abroad, is important to weigh when thinking of where you plan to live post graduation. You need to compare the choice of programs to your future professional and personal goals, because higher education is a very big investment. Finally, the cost factor is very important to consider, because tuition is always more expensive for international students.
When all the decisions have been weighed and they lead you to Canada, you’ll see that you have have made an excellent choice!
Canada is consistently ranked in the top ten in various world measurements of education quality. However, not the hard part begins. You have decided to come to Canada, but what do you do now? Figuring out how to study in Canada requires a few more steps. To be able to attend the school of your choice, you will have to apply for a Canada student visa.
Here is a step by step guide for getting a student visa for Canada.
- Get accepted
- To be eligible for a student visa Canada, you need to have already been accepted to a Canadian university. Check the individual deadlines and requirements for the universities and send in your application.
- Before applying
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Yay! You have been accepted to the school of your choice and now you need to apply for the Canada student visa. Before applying, you need to know what types of documents you will need to provide. Lack of criminal record, proof of funds and of identity as well as proof of acceptance are always required (passport or identity card and 2 passport size photos; bank statements for 4 months, proof of loans and scholarships among other things). There is also a list of countries where health records are required.
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If you are only going to be studying in Canada for a semester, 6 terms or less, you are not required to apply for a student visa.
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Also, there is a list of countries that do not require a student visa, so check to see if your country is on the list.
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The application process
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Now is when the process actually begins. You will first need to figure out how long the entire visa processing time will take. It can take anywhere from a week to a couple of months, so be prepared and allow yourself plenty of time.
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Find and print off the visa application package which can be found on the Canadian government website.
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Fill out the application and provide the required documents (of which some have been listed above). If you are applying to a university in Quebec, find the specific documents needed because Quebec requirements are slightly different.
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Pay the processing fees. The fee is roughly $125 and in most countries, the application fee can be paid in your country’s currency.
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After carefully completing your application and verifying that you have all the correct documents, you will need to find the Canadian visa office where the forms should be submitted.
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What happens next?
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Depending on your country of origin, it may take a couple of weeks or months for everything to be processed. If your application is accepted, you will receive a letter as well as your temporary resident visa in the mail. However, if you are not approved to receive a Canada student visa, it means that there were errors with your application and a letter will be sent indicating the things that need to be fixed.
These are the basic answers to the question of how to study in Canada when you are an international student. However, you should also check you government as well as the Canadian government’s website for specific details. Good Luck!
