Study in Toronto: All you need to know about Toronto

Toronto, Canada

Canada’s largest and most populous city, Toronto is the capital of the province of Ontario and is situated on the north-western shore of Lake Ontario. As major world cities go, it is fairly young, a little over 200 years old, having grown and developed primarily through the 19^th and 20^th centuries after the Toronto area was ceded in 1793 by the Indigenous Mississauga people to the British Crown as part of the Toronto Purchase.

A bit about the demographic history of Toronto

The city of Toronto served as a major destination for those immigrating to Canada from the mid-to the late-19^th century. The settling of Chinese-origin immigrants, entering from the West, has been a demographic dynamic for Toronto from the late 18^th century onwards, while those from India, particularly the Punjab and even more specifically the Sikh community, began emigrating closer to the end of the 19^th century.

Suffice to say the city is a multicultural, cosmopolitan one and living in Toronto is an everyday experience in diversity!

Toronto Today

Today, Toronto is Canada’s beating heart and its centre for the arts, business, culture, communication, design, education, entertainment, food, lifestyle and much more. It’s also a student-city on par with any in the world, with a number of highly-ranked universities and colleges catering to students from over 150 countries. The city itself is ranked No.15 in the QS Best Student Cities for 2023 and features regularly in the top 20, year upon year, in other credible ranking systems.

Why Study in the City of Toronto?

1. Relatively Less expensive

Higher education for an international student in Toronto, and in most of Canada, is cheaper than in other established study destinations such as the UK, US and Australia, in most cases. Tuition costs for comparable courses can go down by as much as 20 per cent, which in itself is a great incentive for students to consider Toronto as a study destination.

2. A diverse environment

Toronto’s top 5 spoken languages are reportedly English, French, Mandarin, Cantonese and Punjabi – that is probably indication enough of the diverse ethnic origins of its inhabitants. Also, ever since it has become a premier study destination, the diversity on campuses has only increased. All of this serves to create a vibrant and stimulating environment in which to live and work, where diverse perspectives abound.

3. Top international universities

Overall, the Canadian system of education is universally acknowledged to be of high quality. Toronto is home to the highest number of top-ranked colleges and universities in the country, with six of Canada's universities that feature regularly in the top ten in Ontario, on most ranking lists.

4. Part-time and full-time employment opportunities

International students in Toronto should not find it too difficult to find rewarding and well-paying part-time jobs in the numerous cafes, restaurants and other start-up ventures that dot the city. International students are permitted by the Canadian government to work up to 20 hours per week (extended to 30 hours during summer and winter breaks) inside or outside the campus. As Canada’s economic engine, Toronto also offers exciting internship and permanent employment prospects at major companies across sectors.

5. Public amenities

Toronto provides excellent physical infrastructure and services that one can rely upon, particularly in areas that really matter to international students, such as transport and safety. Living in Toronto means you have access to a well-developed transportation system that includes subways, bus services and taxis. Students can avail the benefits of the contactless Presto smart card fare collection system. The city also ranks high on many safe cities indices and is more than reasonably secure for students to move around in.

6. Universities, colleges and courses

Universities in Toronto are highly rated the world over for their rigorous curricula and teaching methods. Popular fields among international students are business, arts and finance but these trends can vary from year to year. The last few years have seen a rise in the demand for courses in the fields of hospitality, engineering, information technology and education. Other courses which are in demand and promise bright prospects currently are those in the areas of:

• Data Science
• Business analytics
• Nursing
• Supply Chain Management.

Colleges in Toronto act as drivers of innovation and economic development and have contributed to making the city the largest centre of education and research in Canada. The higher education set up in the city is a mix of publicly funded universities and colleges, as well as research centres, trades and apprenticeship institutions.

7. Professional opportunities

Toronto exudes a modern, large-city ambience and is a major global business and financial centre. The city is home to the stock exchange and is the headquarters of the five largest banks in Canada, and the third-largest film and television production hub in the world, behind Los Angeles and New York.

As the commercial capital of Canada, Toronto is well-endowed in terms of job prospects in exciting and lucrative industries such as information technology, financial services and banking. The city’s stable record in the last few years vis-à-vis the job growth market means that there are more avenues for international students to explore after their course. Studying in Toronto Canada also maximizes your chances of bagging an internship opportunity at a major company.

The university and college scene does not lag far behind when it comes to providing opportunities for students to gain some ‘real-world’ experience. In addition to clubs and societies that offer students to take the initiative and explore their potential, many universities also run their own radio stations, newspapers and blogs, all of which are great platforms for students to acquire professionally sought-after skills.

8. Student Support at Toronto Universities

Toronto universities and colleges offer a good amount of support to international students on their campuses. Almost all universities and colleges have a separate department to cater to the needs of overseas students. Support is forthcoming in a variety of areas:

• Academic and English language tutoring
• Helping you pick an appropriate health insurance package
• Help with visas
• Lodging issues and
• Finances.

9. English language support is plentiful in Toronto. The city is home to institutes that cater almost solely to this need, such as the Centre of English Studies and the English School of Canada. These institutes offer a wide range of courses, from those at the preparatory level to courses in speaking, writing and as preparation for tests such as the IELTS.

10. Healthcare is also fairly well-covered for international students in Toronto. Residents of the province of Ontario are eligible for the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP); the equivalent for international students is the non-profit Universal Health Insurance Plan (UHIP), which is a mandatory requirement. UHIP pays for a range of medical services, including consulting a physician, hospital treatment and emergencies. It also includes other hospital services such as x-rays and annual examinations.

Some of the best Toronto Universities

Toronto is home to some of the best universities in Canada and the world. It is especially appealing to Indian students because Canadian universities offer courses that can be completed in a year or lesser. Here are some of the top institutions and their popular courses picked by Indian students.

Popular postgraduate courses at Toronto Universities

Popular undergraduate courses at Toronto Universities

If you’re planning to head to Toronto to study, you will do well to decide on an important point – whether to apply to a public or a private college. While studying in a public college has certain benefits, such as easing the process of obtaining a post-graduation work permit and bringing a partner to Canada, the economics of a public college experience may not always be pleasant.

International students generally need to pay more tuition at a public college as compared to a private college, as they are not eligible for scholarships or grants, unlike Canadian citizens. Private colleges, on the other hand, are not only cheaper for international students but also, in some cases, may split the fees over semesters. They also offer more opportunities for internships while maintaining a high level of student support.

Life in Toronto

Between its extensive green spaces, including numerous parks, trails and lakeside treks, and its swanky ultra-modern urban centres, Toronto offers visitors and students alike a memorable range of things to see, do and savour. Whether you’re foodie, a sports fanatic or a performing arts aficionado, there are plenty of places to visit in Toronto.

Those who prefer the urban lifestyle with a dash of culture thrown in should check out the pulsating, throbbing neighbourhoods of Little Italy, Koreatown and Chinatown, particularly for the food on offer, which is as highly recommended as Canadian delicacies like ‘poutine’.

The city’s excellent transport facilities further facilitate all the recommended travel. Buses, trains and taxis all allow for the use of the contactless Presto card through which you pay electronically. Or if you’re keen about ‘going’ it solo, rent a bike and crisscross the city in your own time and with your own effort!

Explore Toronto Attractions

Art and fashion lovers could consider dropping in on events such as the Ryerson Mass Exodus, TIFF and Nuit Blanche, an all-night contemporary arts festival for which entry is free. Live singing venues, clubs and open mics further add to the appeal of nightlife in Toronto. Other must-visits include the Factory Theatre, an unconventional but intimate theatre space, the Royal Ontario Museum and the Art Gallery of Ontario, which is one of the largest galleries in the whole of the North American continent.

Those who cannot do without their dose of the outdoors can visit the world-famous Niagara Falls, just an hour away. Need some stunning views and a solitary trek or two to perk you up? No problem – the Algonquin Park offers wonderful camping and hiking opportunities, while the Muskoka Lake, not far from Toronto, offers spectacular views. The entire skyline of the city can be seen from the famous CN Tower, now a Toronto landmark in its own right.

Accommodation options in the city vary widely and rents could range from C$500 to C$4,000. A whole bunch of websites – Kijiji, Precondo and Craigslist, to name a few – give you the information you need to make an informed choice. Choosing a place as close to your university as possible makes the most sense obviously, as you save on time, effort and transport costs. Having a friend tag along during the process of looking for a place to rent, especially someone who is a local, might be a great help from a safety as well as ‘process-help’ point of view.

Cost of Living in Toronto

Living and studying costs overall are slightly higher in Toronto as compared to other cities in Canada, such as Montreal or Vancouver. On average, the cost of study could range from $15,000 CAD – $65,000 CAD, while living expenses, which include food, rent, transport, supplies, entertainment etc., could vary from $1,000 CAD – $ 5,500 CAD per month. 

Source: numbeo.com

Ways to reduce expenses while studying in Toronto

• Choosing to live in a relatively cheaper complex
• Opting to take a bus or a train in place of a taxi. Or using a bicycle to save money.
• Cutting down on attending parties or visiting clubs
• Avoiding eating junk food, whenever possible
• Striving to obtain a scholarship to bring down tuition costs

Exercising a little financial prudence and caution can make your stay In Toronto pleasant and fruitful.

Tips for Indian students

Visa requirements: You should have received and accepted the offer from an authorised Canadian university. You should be able to prove that you have enough finances to support yourself. You should not have criminal records against you and you should be in good health. Click on the link to get the complete details about Canadian student visa/Study Permit.

Scholarships and financial aid: Scholarships are the best option to relieve the financial burden on international students. Several organisations and governments offer scholarships. Learn more about the different Canadian scholarships available to international students. Apart from these, a large number of universities offer scholarships. Explore the full list on our dedicated scholarship page.

Indian student associations: It would make you feel better being in the company of other fellow Indians. Joining student communities in Canada is one of the best ways to stay connected and feel less homesick. Canada Indian Students Community is one such Facebook group that you would want to learn more about.

Make the best use of the resources and have a great time in Toronto, Canada! Best wishes for your study-abroad journey.