EDUCATION IN CANADA
- Education in Canada is for the most part provided publicly, and is funded and overseenby provincial, territorial and local governments.
- Education in Canada is generally divided into primary education, followed by secondary education and post-secondary (tertiary).
- Education is compulsory in every province and territory in Canada, up to the age of 18 for Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nunavut, and Ontario, and up to the age of 16 for other jurisdictions, or as soon as a high school diploma has been achieved.
- In 2016, the country spent 6.0 percent of its GDP on all levels of education.
- The Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) coordinated by the Organization (OECD) currently ranks the
- overall knowledge and skills of Canadian 15-year-olds as the sixth best in the world.
- According to the Canadian National Survey of 2017 :
- 68 percent of Canadians aged 25 to 64 attained some form of post-secondaryeducation.
- 57 percent of Canadians aged 25 to 64 had attained a college diploma or university degree
- The current literacy rate in Canada is 99 %.
PRIMARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION IN CANADA:
- Primary education, Intermediate education, and secondary education combined are sometimes referred to as K-12 (Kindergarten through Grade 12).
- Secondary schooling, known as high school, collegiate institute, école secondaire or secondary school, consists of different grades depending on the province in which one resides.
- Grade structure may vary within a province or even within a school division; as to whether or not they operate middle or junior high schools.
- Grade 12 presently serves as the final grade in all provincial secondary curriculums, except Quebec, whose secondary schools ends after Secondary V/Grade 11.
POST-SECONDARY OR TERTIARY EDUCATION IN CANADA:
- Post-Secondary education in Canada is provided by Universities and Vocational Institutions.
- Universities may be a. Research University b. Undergraduate University c. University Colleges.
- Vocational Institutions may be a. Vocational Colleges b. Career Colleges c. Community Colleges d. Institutes of Technology and Science and e. Colleges of Applied Arts or Technology
- Universities offer bachelors, masters, professional and doctoral degrees as well as post-graduate certificates and post graduate diplomas.
- Vocational institutions and colleges offer transition courses or pre-graduation courses like diplomas, associate degrees, certificates, and apprenticeships.
- University colleges and vocational institutions also offer degree programs where a student can take courses and receive credit that can be transferred to a university.
- Unlike the United States, there is no "accreditation body" that oversees the universities in Canada. Universities in Canada have degree-granting authority via an Act or Ministerial Consent from the Ministry of Education of the particular province.
- Tertiary and post-secondary education in Canada is the responsibility of the individual provinces and territories. Those governments provide the majority of funding to their public post-secondary institutions, with the remainder of funding coming from tuition fees, the federal government, and research grants.
Colleges and Vocational Institutions:
- Pre Graduation Courses or transition courses focus more on providing practical and work oriented occupational skills and leads to Canadian university degrees.
- Benefits of studying pre graduation courses in Canada for international students:
- It helps students to get used to Canadian education system.
- It helps students to sample an area of study before enrolling in a degree.
- It can offer a pathway into the higher education sector.
- It usually has easier entry requirements than universities.
- It is usually cheaper than universities and is typically more hands on providing specialized education for specific employment fields.
- Vocational institutions and colleges offer career-focused training that is often practical where these institutions train their graduates to work as semi-professionals in various fields such as the skilled trades and technical careers and for workers in support roles in professions such as engineering, information technology, accountancy, business administration, health care, architecture, and law.
- However, there are some institutions in Canada that offer both vocational training as well as undergraduate university degrees such as Seneca College, Sheridan College, Centennial College of Applied Arts and Technology, Kwantlen Polytechnic University, Vancouver Island University, and Thompson Rivers University.
- In studying at a vocational school, a student can take the necessary courses needed to earn a certification that will allow for entry into jobs (such as becoming a beautician, licensed practical nurse, drafter, web developer, computer network support specialist, paralegal, medical laboratory technician, cardiovascular technologist, optician, or diagnostic medical sonographer, healthcare assistant etc.) requiring some level of tertiary education but not a full four-year university degree.
- The programs offered at Vocational Institutions and colleges in Canada i.e. Apprenticeships, Certificates, Diplomas or Associate Degrees often last for one to two years and sometimes the credit can be transferred to a Bachelor's degree.
- The only province in Canada to offer associate degrees is the province of British Columbia, where a student can complete a two-year associate degree allowing students to then enter a Bachelor’s Degree program at the third year of study.
Universities of Canada:
- The traditional path to Canadian higher education is typically through university, as it is by far the most prestigious form of higher education in the country
- "University" in Canada come in various forms and serves the different educational needs of various Canadians. Each province has its own legislative meaning of the term but universities do intersect in terms of the types of degrees that they offer, research, competitiveness, location, and global institutional reputation.
- The quality of universities in Canada is internationally recognized and is home to some of the top universities in the world making it a global leader in scientific and technological research
- There are 26 Canadian universities ranked in the 2020 QS World University Rankings, with the University of Toronto ranked 29th, McGill University ranked 35th, and the University of British Columbia ranked 51st.
- Among the country's most prominent institutions are national research universities that are domestically and internationally ranked such as the University of Toronto, the University of British Columbia, McGill University, and the University of Alberta.
- Other types of universities across Canada include denomination universities (e.g., Redeemer University College, Yorkville University), undergraduate universities (e.g., Acadia University, MacEwan University, Mount Saint Vincent University, St. Francis Xavier University, University of Winnipeg, Wilfrid Laurier University), liberal arts colleges (e.g., Bishop's University, Mount Allison University, Nipissing University, St. Thomas University, Trinity Western University), art schools (Alberta University of the Arts, Emily Carr University of Art and Design, LaSalle College Vancouver, Nova Scotia College of Art and Design, Ontario College of Art and Design, Vancouver College of Art and Design), online universities with distance education (Athabasca University, University of Fredericton).
- As of 2021, there are 98 universities in Canada, offering education in English and French, most French-speaking universities are located in Quebec.
- Most universities are publicly funded and around 21 are Private.
- Out of the 98 universities, 3 of them rank in the top 50, 10 in the top 300 and 13 universities are listed in the top 700 universities worldwide. Canada is ranked in the top 5 nations that helps in the provision of a stronger higher educational system. Four cities of Canada(Quebec, Toronto, Ottawa and Vancouver) are listed in the best student cities in the world.
- Only in the province of Quebec, a Bachelor’s Degree usually requires only three years of full-time study, where the rest of Canada requires four years of full-time study to receive a Bachelor’s.
CANADA STUDY DESTINATION FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS:
WHY STUDY IN CANADA?
Currently, more than half a million (530,540) international students study in Canada.
Some important reasons for international students to study in Canada
Academic Excellence:
Rankings
27 of Canada’s universities rank in the THE (Times Higher Education) Rankings, World University Rankings 2019 and many universities rank in the QS rankings as well.
Research
Canada has a strong focus on research and the government of Canada offers great support to research in the following disciplines – Science and Technology, Engineering, Electronics and telecommunication, Business, agriculture, environmental science, Health Science, Pharmacy and Nursing etc.
Popular Programs
Whilst Canada offers the entire range of programs at all levels, these are five top industries which not only have very popular courses but also ample job opportunities
- Hospitality industry
- Health Science
- Information Technology
- Engineering
- Business Management
1) Hospitality industry
There are a range of programs both degree programs as well as diplomas in this sector including
- Hospitality and Tourism Management
- Hotel Management – Operations
- Culinary Arts – Chef
- Event Management
- Baking and Pastry Skills
2) Health Science
- Biotechnology and Forensic Science
- Pharmacy
- Health care management,
- Nursing and Biosciences
- Public Health
3) Information Technology
- 3D Animation
- Big Data Science and Cloud Computing
- Networking and Network Security
- Artificial Intelligence
- Graphic Designing and Gaming Arts,
- Game Development and Web Designing
- Game programming and animation
4) Engineering
There are many specializations within Engineering including Computers, civil, electrical, Mining, marine, mechanical, aerospace and industrial engineering. And most of the programs have co-op opportunities
The average Engineering salary in Canada is about $60,519 per year.
5) Business Management
Popular programs that Canadian Universities offer :
- General MBA ,
- Accounting,
- Entrepreneurship/Entrepreneurial Studies,
- HR Management,
- Marketing Management,
- General Business/Commerce,
- Accounting and Finance,
- Supply Chain Management Business Management
- Operations Management and Supervision,
- Management Science.
- International Marketing
- Credit Management and
- Public relations,
- International Development
- Interactive media Management
- Project management
Duration of academic programs
Bachelor’s degree programs are available for 4 years. However Canada offers very unique specialized and trade based programs in the form of Diploma / Advance Diploma / Post Graduate Diploma. Duration of these programs is between 1-3 years. Similarly, Master’s degree programs are available for either 1 year or 2 years.
Costs:
Some average of Costs incurred for studying:
Master’s degree CAD $14,000 to $25,000 per year
Doctoral degree CAD $7,000 to $15,000 per year
MBA CAD $35, 000 to $42,000 per year average
Living Costs
Cost for on-campus accommodation may range anywhere from CAD 8,000 to CAD 10,000 (annually) whereas living in a shared apartment can cost you around CAD 400 to CAD 700 per month depending upon your location and time of the year.
Financial Aid and Scholarships
Various merit based and application based scholarships, bursaries are available in Canadian Universities and Colleges.
Part Time Jobs
Canada provides all its international students with an opportunity to work for up to 20 hours every week during their semesters and full-time during the summer and winter breaks. To work on-campus or as an intern in any company, you would not require any additional work permit as your study permit is enough to help you find a part time job.
Secondly, many Canadian Institutions ( Colleges and Universities ) offer programs with Co-Op. Co Op is an internship terms which is included as a part of the program. Through these co-op programs students get to earn money, business contacts and Work experience. All these will help student to excel in their professional Career. Hourly wages are on average 15 CAD , also varies among the provinces. Students usually get full tax return on annual income of below CAD 32,000.
Immigration Opportunities
Canada’s Post-Graduation Work Permit Program (PWPP) allows students to stay and work in Canada for up to three years after completion of their graduation. The length of your permit will depend on the length of the study program you completed in Canada. The permit won't be longer than the length of your study program. You can gain some international work experience and apply for permanent residency later on.
International students who worked and studied in Canada can also apply for Permanent Residence and the new Express Entry policy has expedited the process as well.
Some more Reasons for Studying in Canada
Warm and Welcoming
In Canada, you’ll find extremely warm and welcoming people who come from varied ethnic groups with different cultures and lifestyle. The multicultural environment in Canada promotes friendliness and peaceful living like no other country.
Safe
Canada has been consistently ranked as one of the safest nations in the world. In 2018, the Global Peace Index listed Canada as the sixth peaceful country across the globe.
English is a widely spoken language
High Standards of Living
ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS FOR CANADIAN UNIVERSITIES and COLLEGES:
- Entry Requirement varies from University to University and from Course to Course. When it comes to studying a Master’s degree in Canada, you need to have 16 years of academic education. To get enrollment for a Master’s Degree in Universities, one needs to have a score of above 70 percent (above GPA 3.0, above B average). Some universities such as Saskatchewan Uni, University of Manitoba where competition is tough for enrollment due to internal competition gaining an enrollment for masters might require even higher GPA with corresponding well SOP. Some Universities also require a GRE test (minimum score varies according to program and uni), whereas others do not require a GRE test score for admission. Also students who want to apply for a MBA degree require a GMAT test.
- Graduate Diploma and Graduate Certificate degrees have easier entry requirement than a Master’s Degree. To be enrolled in a PG Diploma Course one needs to have a score of above 60 percent (above GPA 2.4). Students who have completed 3 years bachelor degree can study PG Diploma course as a pathway to Master’s degree.
- After completion of higher secondary education in Nepal, students who have scored a 1st division ( above grade B, above score of 60 %) can apply for a bachelor’s degree program in Canadian universities. For students who have completed GCE A level, scores of A, B and C can enroll for bachelors at Universities.
- Entry for programs of UG Diploma / UG Certificates/ Associate Degrees in Vocational Institutions and Colleges is usually lower than for University. Student with a score of above 60% (above B ) can usually apply for these programs. Students who have completed GCE A level and with scores of D and E can also apply for these programs. Nevertheless even, students who have good academic scores of above grade B in higher secondary can apply for diploma programs.
Students who have academic gaps must have gaps justified. Gaps can be justified with jobs or any other short course in any field of work.
English Language Requirement:
- For Masters and PG Diploma/ Grad Certificate : Minimum 6.5 in IELTS with no band less than 6 (PTE above 62, Toefl 88 no band less than 20), Few Universities such as University of Toronto/ University of Waterloo require an IELTS score of 7.0
- For Bachelors: Minimum 6.5 in IELTS with no band less than 6. (PTE (60-63)no band less than 55) TOEFL 88 each band no less than 20.
- For Diploma / Adv. Diploma/ Associate Degrees/Certificate: Minimum overall 6 in IELTS no band less than 6, (PTE above 58), but desirable score is overall score of 6.5.
