Introduction

Canada is certainly one of the most popular destinations for those who want to go abroad to undertake or continue their university studies; the country offers many advantages not only for the prestige of many of its universities, but also for the immense variety of courses offered, for the presence of English/French bilingualism and for the great investment in research especially in the fields of clinical medicine, biology, economics and business, agriculture, earth sciences and the environment. Studying in Canada means having access to a state-of-the-art education system as eight of its universities are among the top 200 in the world and five Canadian MBA schools are among the top 100.

The academic system is also characterized by dynamism and practicality, as well as by a great availability on the part of teachers. It is important to know that a sustained study path in Canada is an important way to access the immigration system to live permanently in the country for those who want it. The country is also characterized by its multi-ethnic and multicultural environment of perfect integration and a high quality of life: the United Nations and the Economist Intelligence Unit have placed Canada among the 10 best countries in the world to live in.

Structure of the university system

The Canadian university system is divided between universities, which can be both public and private, and College. We proceed with order analyzing first the first category and then the second.

The university studies cycle is divided into three levels that correspond to the three degrees that can be obtained: the Bachelor’s degree of 3 or 4 years, the master’s degree for the duration of 1 or 2 years and finally the doctorate that can last from 3 to 5 years. Obviously Canada does not adopt the European system of calculation of university credits, but a rough conversion can be done to understand how the Canadian mechanism works;

Undergraduate/Bachelor’s: 5 courses of 3 credits are taken every semester for a total of 15 credits. These 15 Canadian credits correspond to about 30 ECTS, so 60 ECTS per year.
Graduate/Master: 3 courses of 3 credits are taken every semester for a total of 9 Canadian credits. They correspond to 30 ECTS credits, thus 60 ECTS per year.

As an alternative to the university course, students can opt for a type of training more oriented to practicality and the world of work by attending a college: the courses offered by these institutions are characterized by a learn-at-work approach, also thanks to the numerous practical and working experiences proposed and the availability of cutting-edge technologies.

The courses offered have varying durations: from a few months to 4 years including the internship period. Several systems of transition from University to College and vice versa are planned. The advantage of the latter is certainly to ensure, in most cases, a job for former students.

How to apply to study in Canada

As European students, the procedure for applying to a Canadian university is articulated in several steps that clearly provide for obtaining a visa in case of successful application. For a stay in the country less than 6 months is sufficient the ETA visa, obtainable with great facility online after presentation of some documents and the completion of a form; If you wish to extend your stay, of course, you should contact the relevant consulates to initiate the procedure. in this case a document attesting acceptance by the university will be necessary.In order to obtain a study visa for Canada you need:

have been accepted by the Institute
provide proof of having sufficient financial resources to be able to provide for its own maintenance and study costs
certify not to have criminal charges pending
enjoy a good state of health and submit some specific medical certificates

Applications must clearly be submitted well in advance of the start of the course concerned, usually about 8 months prior to the start of courses: however, the deadlines vary for each university and it is therefore important to check their websites.

Applications are compiled online and, again, the required documents vary depending on the institution in which you want to study: the most common and standard documents that must usually be submitted always remain their CV, a motivational letter, one or more letters of reference, certificates of knowledge of English and/or French, an official translation/copy of your high school diploma if you are about to attend an undergraduate course, or a degree certificate if you apply for a master’s or doctorate and, finally, a copy of your passport.

Tuition fees

Canadian university expenses vary depending on the area and university chosen, whether public or private. The lines, however, are among the lowest among English-speaking countries such as the United Kingdom and the United States.

Canadian university fees are paid from semester to semester and often include health insurance: their amount, in addition to the type of university and the course undertaken, vary depending on whether it is a bachelor or master’s degree.

For the bachelor’s category, tuition fees range from a minimum of 10,000 to a maximum of 25/30,000 Canadian Dollars per year (to put these figures in perspective, it is important to keep in mind that the Canadian dollar/euro exchange rate is very favourable for Europeans). For a master’s degree the costs are between 15,000 and 30,000 Canadian dollars per year. Humanities progtrammes tend to have lower prices, while faculties in the health and engineering professions tend to be more expensive.

As for the possibility of obtaining scholarships, it is important to remember that most of these are aimed at students who want to undertake a PhD. One of the best-known platforms for identifying the scholarships needed to finance masters and doctorates is Sauvescholars.org.

Language tests

Canada is a bilingual country: in addition to English we also find French, the predominant language in the province of Quebec. In some universities it will then be possible to follow courses in both national languages. If you wish to undertake a course of study in English, the necessary language certification may be the TOEFL or the IELTS.

As far as the French language is concerned, we are talking about DELF/DALF. The level required varies from university to university, but very often in order to be able to support a course of study in the language, a B2 is the minimum required.

LIVING IN CANADA

Visas

To study in Canada you need a visa. For a stay of more than 6 months, you need the Study Permit whose procedure is initiated by contacting a Canadian Consulate. The cost of obtaining the visa is about 150 Canadian dollars and has a duration associated with the study program that you will attend. In order to apply for and obtain a visa you will need:

Be enrolled in a course of study of at least six months
Demonstrate that you have the financial means to support yourself and pay your tuition fees
No criminal record (in this case it will be sufficient a self-declaration that attests it)
Enjoy good health and be available to undergo any examinations or vaccinations required if necessary
Give evidence of having the intention to leave the country once the course of studies

Healthcare system

The Canadian healthcare system is public, but this only benefits permanent citizens. As previously mentioned, basic health insurance for students is often included in the tuition fee: it is however appropriate to have private health insurance before arrival in the country.
As for the situation regarding Covid-19, all updated information is available on this page of the Canadian government:
https://www.canada.ca/fr/sante-publique/services/maladies/maladie-coronavirus-covid-19.html

Costs of living

The costs of living vary depending on the city in which you go: among the major Canadian cities Toronto is the most expensive and Montreal the cheapest. Accommodation on campus is often the most expensive option at around $10,000 a year. Another option may be to rent an apartment shared with other students: in this case the expenditure will be between 3,000 and 8,000 Canadian dollars; as for the expenditure on food, summarily we speak of 2000/3000 Canadian dollars.

It is important to consider that foreign students regularly enrolled full-time at a Canadian university and in possession of valid study permit, are allowed to work on and off campus without having to hold a work permit up to a maximum of 20 hours a week, and full-time when classes are suspended (Christmas break or summer break, for example). If the study programme also includes an internship period, it is also necessary to apply for a work permit in addition to the study permit.