Canada

Your overseas Consultant

About Canada

A favourite amongst Indian students, Canada offers high-quality education at a not-so-high tuition fee.

Coupled with its cultural diversity, countless research opportunities and excellent universities, it’s a no-brainer. Also, fun fact, the police in Canada give you a ‘positive ticket’ if they see you doing a good deed. The tickets redeemable for four complimentary drop-in visits to any Vancouver Park Board pool, fitness centre, or ice rink. Canada has been consistently ranked as one of the safest nations in the world, giving international students even more reason to study there. What’s not to love? The winters may be super cold, Canada is anything but.

Accomodation

For so many Indian students planning to study here, student housing is one of the first things they want to cross off their to-do list. With Vidyabroad, it’ll be ticked off sooner than you think. There are 2 types of accommodation available:

On-campus: Most universities in Canada provide accommodation to their students either on-campus or nearby. Students are expected to respond to the campus offer by a specified due date. You’ll also have access to common areas meant for cooking, entertainment and exercise. Most dorms are reserved for first year students.
Residence halls, also known as Townhalls, on the other hand, have anywhere from 3-6 bedrooms. All the occupants of the residence halls share a common living area and kitchen. Don’t worry, dorms and residence halls also have a food court or cafeteria in the vicinity. However, dormitories and residence halls are mostly closed during the winter break (from mid-December to early January). Should you need accommodation assistance during that period, contact the International Student Centre.

Like always, dorms have their pros and cons. It’s closer to class, but it also means you’ll have to stick to a curfew.

If you prefer to have all your needs taken care of, then homestays are the best option for you. Many Canadian colleges and universities contact local families to welcome and host international students in their homes. Sometimes, they also have a child the same age as the international student. Think of it as your home away from home. Family dinners, get-togethers and festivals are just a few things you’ll share with them.

Off-campus: Living off-campus in Canada is far more expensive, most students prefer staying on-campus. But if you’ve lived a year in Canada and want to explore the country without any restrictions (read dorm rules), you could opt for off-campus housing. Which mostly means renting an apartment or home. While you’ll have all the freedom and privacy, you’ll also have all the utility bills, maintenance costs, transportation to figure and safety to take care of.

Write your lists and make your check boxes to figure out what works best for you. Leave the rest to us. On-campus living has its perks – it’s closer to class, so you don’t have to wake up at 5 to catch a 7 am lecture. You don’t have to worry about buying groceries and cooking food. They come with 24×7 security and essential medical services. But it also means, you have to comply with dorm rules, curfew time, and deal with shared bathrooms Off-campus: It is widely known that living off-campus is far more affordable. Having said that, there are other factors that have to be looked at too. Taking care of utility bills, figuring transport to class, traveling in the night, safety and security, etc. However, you have the luxury of privacy and/or picking your roommate, private bathrooms, no dorm rules, and curfew time.

So take your time, go through all the pros and cons and pick something that aligns with your favoured choice and finances. Which is easier done and said with Vidyabroad.

Cost of Education

Before you Google ‘top universities in Canada’, look up ‘total cost of education in Canada’.

As always, the primary chunk of your cost will be your tuition fees. It could be anything from CAD 7,000 to CAD 35,000 a year. The secondary chunk is your housing. On-campus accommodation can cost anywhere from CAD 8,000 to CAD 10,000 per year. Off-campus housing depends on where you rent, how big the apartment is and how many people you’ll be sharing it with. Add to that your daily living expenses, books and supplies, food, bills, transport, health insurance, and miscellaneous expenses. It sure sounds like a mouthful, but Vidyabroad will definitely take that stress off of you.

Safety & Indian Community

Ranking sixth on the Global Peace Index 2018, you can rest assured of your safety here.

Canada is known to be a popular destination for Indian students and Indians alike. Places like Toronto, Vancouver, the Greater Toronto Area, have housed Indian immigrants for decades. You may be in Canada, but you’ll find little bits of India everywhere you go. Including that warm, big Indian family feeling.

Most universities here have 24×7 security, with CCTV cameras and guards. They also have a special body to ensure their international students are safe. If your university has it, save the security officer’s number on your phone.Having said that, it is important to take the usual precautions. Take time to get to know your area well. Study the routes. Walk on well-lit streets. Always stay connected with your friends and family, with respect to your whereabouts. Keep your documents safe. And keep a local number handy at all times.

For emergencies, call the toll free number 911. This is a common number that can be used for fire, police or the ambulance. Interpreters are also available, in case you are unable to explain in English.

And as for feeling homesick, we’ve got two facts for you: The USA is the second most popular destination for Indians living abroad and Indian students represent the second largest international student population in the USA. You’ll find countless Indian associations to join and endless Indian restaurants who will happily feed you like your mother would have. And who knows, maybe your Diwali celebrations here might just beat the ones back home.

For emergencies, call the toll free number 911. This is a common number that can be used for fire, police or the ambulance.

Visa

While flights from India are suspended to Canada, there is still hope in the air.

Canada offers a study permit and a Temporary Resident Visa for all international students. A study permit is issued by the Citizen and Immigration (CIC), which allows you to study in Canada. Your study permit is always accompanied along with a visitor visa or Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA). Simply put, a study permit is a document that allows you to study in Canada while a visitor visa or ETA allows you to enter Canada. Your Vidyabroad counsellor will help you access the latest information and connect you with authorised experts. You should apply at least 3 months before your university degree programme starts. After you’ve applied, you can expect to wait about 35 days for the permit.

As per the new rules, if your in-class courses are temporarily moved to an online-only format or suspended completely because of COVID-19, you’re still complying with your study permit conditions if you:

Letter of support for future applications

If, on a future application, an officer asks you for more information about your time studying in Canada, your DLI should provide you with a letter of support to explain how your studies were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Student Direct Stream

Indian students applying to universities and colleges in Canada can now expect faster visa processing through the Study Direct Stream (SDS) programme launched by the Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada. Unlike the usual visa processing that may take up to 2-3 months, SDS allows students from India to avail their visa in 4-6 weeks. However, if you choose to apply through SDS, you may need certain additional documents. Don’t worry, your Vidyabroad counsellor will tell you everything you need to know.

To get your student permit, you’ll also have to provide evidence of proficiency in the English language. This means passing a secure English language test to be able to prove your communication and correspondence skills – usually The International English Language Testing System (IELTS). Canadian educational institutions require a minimum IELTS score of 6.0 band.

Essential documents required

When applying for your student permit for Canada, you will need:

You’ll also have to prove that you have enough money to pay for:

To prove you can financially support yourself and any accompanying family members, you may be asked to provide:

Documentation of a Canadian bank account in your name, if money has been transferred to Canada
Documentation of a student/education loan from a financial institution
Bank statements
A bank draft in convertible currency
Proof of payment of tuition and accommodation fees
A letter for the person or institution providing your funding
Proof of funding paid from within Canada if you have a scholarship or are enrolled in a Canadian-funded educational program

You must also:

You will also be required to appear for a personal interview at the Canadian embassy or consulate. These are basic requirements, please speak with your Vidyabroad counsellor for a detailed list of documents required for your visa processing.