Why Study in Canada?

Canada offers unique opportunities, premium standards of education and an overall enriching experience for international students who choose to study in Canada. It has some of the best student cities in the world. Montreal and Toronto have just about everything students could possibly ask for. As per a recent IDP survey, Canada is one of the top destinations preferred by international students planning their studies abroad. Here are some reasons why Indian students choose Canada:

Why study in Canada: Academics-related reasons

Universities: Canada is a major centre for higher learning and research with many well-known institutions. Three Canadian universities made it to the top 50 of the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2023.

• The University of Toronto: #18
• The University of British Columbia #40
• McGill University #46

With over 30 of the country’s universities featuring in the 2024 and over 30 of them in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2023, one needs no other reminders.

Research Focus: Canadian universities’ strong research focus is another major draw for students from India and all over the world. Research scholars don’t need to look beyond Canada for world-class research infrastructure, particularly in the fields of agriculture, environmental science and technology, medicine and telecommunication.

Affordable tuition fee: It is a huge attraction in these days of uncertain returns on investment in other study destinations. Coupled with the wide range of scholarships available at most Canadian universities, this is a huge reason for students from India and the rest of the ‘developing‘ world to consider Canada as a study destination.

Choices: You have several options to choose from: big or small universities/colleges and small-town or city universities.

Reasons Related to Student Life in Canada

While it is fair to say that the cost of living and studying in Canada is generally less than what it is in the UK or the USA, it still pays to formulate and stick to a budget. Standard costs of living in Canada will include the following:

Accommodation: Canadian universities generally have on-campus residence facilities for international students, something that will cost between CAD 8,000 and CAD 10,000 annually. Sharing an apartment with others outside campus is also an option and will probably cost between CAD 400 and CAD 700 per month, depending on location and time of year. Homestays, where you board with a host family and usually get a room to yourself and at least two meals, have a fee of between CAD 750 to CAD 950 per month.

Transport: Canada offers the benefits of a well-established public transportation system with buses, trains and cabs in operation. Walking and cycling are also safe and ‘green’ options to save some money and stay healthy. Day passes on some trains, such as the SkyTrain in Vancouver, are available for as little as CAD 9, while other cities and systems may vary in transport costs.

Health insurance: It’s mandatory for all international students in Canada to have health insurance. Some provinces, such as Manitoba, Alberta, Labrador and Saskatchewan will have you covered under government health plans for the length of your stay. Living and studying in other provinces might require you to arrange for private health insurance. Yearly health insurance premiums in Canada will range anywhere from CAD 600 to 900.

Other essentials

Communication: Low-cost calling plans and student discounts are your best friends in helping you keep in touch with family and loved ones. If budgeted for smartly, the average monthly cost should not often exceed CAD 20.

Textbooks and supplies: Textbooks are a costly purchase, with books for engineering courses anywhere between CAD 250 and CAD 350 and those for medicine and law costing even more. Used books, digital versions and library memberships are some ways in which you can minimize costs.

Cultural Diversity on Campus: Canadian university campuses are a reflection of its cities. It is culturally diverse, and you’ll feel like a global citizen. But at times, the sheer number of Indians you meet might make you wonder whether you are indeed in a foreign land after all!

Supportive Learning Environment: With state-of-the-art, interactive classrooms, small class sizes and dedicated professors, you will be in the best place to nurture your dreams for a better future through education. Students can enjoy an active and varied lifestyle in this beautiful country, along with great healthcare benefits.

Networking and Industry Exposure: Students will have incredible opportunities to meet like-minded people and gain valuable international student experience through student clubs and organisations. Several universities offer co-op programmes, through which classroom learning is integrated with practical work experience. This gives students the opportunity to apply their knowledge to solve real-world problems.

Reasons Related to Quality of Life in Canada

• At least 5 cities in Canada were listed among the best student cities in the world as per QS Best Student Cities 2024. These are:
  • Toronto
  • Montreal
  • Vancouver
  • Ottawa and
  • Quebec
• Canada offers exposure to cultural diversity. It is a country that has consistently been ranked as being among the safest for international students by credible ranking bodies.
• The cities in Canada are ethnically diverse. Studying in Canada will give you a cosmopolitan experience.
• Canada has a low crime rate. Hence, it is often ranked as one of the best places in the world to live.
• Canada is also rated among the top 15 countries in the Global Peace Index ranking.
• Canada has the Walksafe program, where volunteers assist people in getting around the campus, to public transportation or their homes during late hours at night.
• You’ll also get to experience the thing that Canada is most known for – the politeness of the locals.

Reasons related to opportunities available post-studies

The post-study work rights offered by Canada are particularly beneficial to international students. If your study programme is more than 2 years long, you can work for up to 3 years in Canada.

Universities too, actively help students land jobs to enable them to earn while they learn.

Reasons related to the ease of application and admission processes

Though occasionally there are backlogs in visa processing, Canada takes additional steps to speed up the process. A regular Canadian Study Permit application might take you 6-8 weeks, but there are options to speed up the processing. It is called the Student Direct Stream or SDS. An SDS visa processing will take only 20 days.

To apply to a Canadian university:

The first step in any study abroad journey is to identify the course and university you want to apply to. We have developed a unique tool called the Course Matcher, that can help you identify the best course and university based on your qualifications and preferences.

How does the course matcher tool work?

If you prefer receiving professional support in choosing the best university, you can simply fill out the form on this page and our experts will get in touch with you and guide you for free.

Once you have shortlisted the universities to apply to, check which are the intakes during which your course is also available. Based on this information, you can start preparing your application. Ensure you clear all the required exams and get ready with the documents.

You must start thinking about the ways of funding your studies too. Once you are sure you have all the necessary documents in order, go ahead and apply. Most institutions offer the option to apply online through the university site.

Once you are accepted by a Designation Learning Institution, you can start the visa application process. You will receive an admission letter from the institution on being accepted for the course. With this letter, you can apply for a Canadian Study Permit. Note that the study permit is not a travel document. You will need a valid visa to travel to Canada. For example, a temporary resident visa.

Once you get your visa, book your tickets to enter Canada before the course commencement date.

Our counsellors can help you with every step of the study abroad process and also put you in touch with student representatives at universities abroad. Make use of the free service for a smooth study-abroad journey.

It is a recognised fact that Canada offers high-quality education at affordable rates, while providing a diverse, yet inclusive and safe study experience to international students. All the more reason that you should make haste and check out colleges and universities in Canada to apply to!