International Student and Exchanges in Canada

International Student and Exchanges

Studying abroad is not only cost effective (you will continue paying your home country’s tuition), it is also an opportunity to see the world without making such a big investment. What if you decided to do all 4 years at a Canadian university and decided it was too cold? The people are too nice?

Your current or future university in your home country may have exclusive partnerships with universities in Canada. Queen’s University offers 220 exchange partnerships in over 40 countries. University of Victoria has over 300 partnerships worldwide.

Course Fees

If you haven’t already figured it out, studying in Canada as an international student is generally much less expensive than studying in the UK, US, and Australia!

Costs vary widely based on the institution, but generally, you will be paying CA$20,000-30,000/year for undergraduate programs. Postgraduate programs tend to run a little lower (around CA$16,000/year), while executive MBA programs are usually more (CA$30,000/year).

Living costs vary greatly, mainly depending on your spending habits and if you are in a big city. You are required to have at least CA$10,000/year put away for living costs to obtain a student visa, though most universities recommend having closer to CA$15,000.

It’s always good to have a little bit extra money budgeted for any unexpected costs, such as winter-wear and supplies.

Study Insurance

Another huge plus for studying in Canada is that some provinces offer some form of health insurance for free to international students! The important thing to check here would be what exactly the health insurance covers, as this varies significantly between provinces.

If you will be studying in a province that does not provide free health insurance, you will need to make your own arrangements while applying for you student visa.

Be aware also that whether you purchase health insurance or apply for the free health insurance that timing is very important! Some coverage is not applicable as soon as you touch down in Canada. Be sure to check this out in your research.

Funding to Study in Canada

Although the course fees for international students may seem like pocket money compared to other countries, paying for higher education can still be very difficult. Unless you have a money tree in your backyard, you’ll likely be applying for programmes to help cut some of the cost.

Universities in Canada offer a broad range of their own scholarships, ranging from academic and athletic achievements to more specific individual fields of studies. It is also a good idea to thoroughly research organizations in your home country that are offering study-abroad scholarships.

As with any money-grab, competition is generally quite high. Find your ways to stand out and apply as early and to as many as possible.

Here is a list of the Top 10 Scholarships in Canada for International Students.

Although the application for a student visa requires you to prove that you’ll have sufficient funds for the duration of your studies WITHOUT work, getting a job on or off campus is an excellent way to supplement some of your spending money. As a full-time student in Canada, you are entitled to work 20 hours/week during semesters and full time during winter/summer breaks. Wow!

Student Visas

You can study in Canada up to 6 months without a student visa. However, if you wanted to work, you would need to have the proper permit to do so.

The following documents are required to apply for a study permit:

• Proof of Acceptance – the acceptance letter you received from your university.
• Proof of Identity – a valid passport will serve this purpose.
• Proof of Sufficient Funds – CA$10,000/year + $833 for each additional month.

The application costs CA$150, and the process is substantially less of a headache than most other countries.

Providing a letter of explanation is also a good idea. This could hasten your approval, as it will help the visa officer understand your aspirations and responsibilities as a foreigner in Canada.

If you’ve already been accepted into a Canadian university, start the application process here.