All About Canada – Canada student life, living, cost and canada work visa or PR by Settling Abroad Mohali

About Canada

History –The discovery and exploration of Canada is credited to the early adventurers of  England and France. However, Canada was inhabited long before these settlers came in. Canada was home to the ‘Indians’ as they were known then – now called the ‘Aboriginal People’, ‘Native People’ or ‘People of the First Nation’.

In 1949 Canada joined NATO and in the same year was able to replace its British Judiciary with the Supreme Court.

Today however, Canada is the melting pot of several cultures with migrants not only from Europe but from South American and Asia Pacific countries as well.

Canada is made up of 10 provinces and three territories, most of which are populated by Canadians who can trace their ancestry from virtually everywhere in the world. A recent census showed that over 11 million Canadians, or 42 per cent of the population, reported having an ethnic origin other than British or French.

Canada follows the Parliamentary system with the party with largest number of elected MPs leading Parliament.

Economy — The economy of Canada is largely service oriented, with 69.8% (Updated as per 2012 census) of the GDP being contributed by the Services sector. Industry contributes 28.5% and agriculture 1.7%. In the year 2010 the GDP was estimated at a whopping $1.6 trillion (2016 update).

Before World War II, the economy was primarily agrarian, but with the growth of mining as an industry, agriculture soon took a backseat. Owing to its large resources of mineral deposits, it is no wonder that Canada’s major exports are petroleum, energy, natural gas, aluminum, timber besides aircraft & industrial machinery and telecommunication equipment. A healthy sign of Canada’s economy is that it exports more than it imports.

12.9 % Canadians live below the poverty line and unemployment rate is a mere 6.8% (January 2017). Today, the Canadian economy closely resembles that of its neighbor, the USA; the Canadian dollar too is gaining strength and ground against the US dollar.

Tourism — Canada is a naturally beautiful country, with many mountains, lakes and forests. A land so naturally endowed, has no dearth of places to visit and throughout all the seasons. In the warmer climates there are always activities such as biking, fruit picking, fishing etc. The winter months bring snow, and Canada is known for its beautiful ski slopes and resorts.

A very popular way of seeing the Canadian countryside is the train. Amtrak and VIA Rail Canada are two popular organizations that offer tourists scenic routes through Jasper and Banff, St Lawrence Route, the Rocky Mountains etc.

Many cities are known to have Carnivals at specific times of the year and these attract a large number of tourists. These events give visitors a glimpse of the Canadian way of life.

Other attractions such as the Historic Totem poles, Polar Bear spotting in Manitoba, CN Tower edge walk, Ice Sculpting Contests in winter are also reason for tourists to make time to travel.

Students often get discounts and extras on such trips and so it helps to keep a vigilant look out for good deals.

Government

Capital City:  Ottawa, Ontario

Type of Government:  Federal Parliamentary Democracy & Constitutional Monarchy

Head of Government: Prime Minister

National Emblem: Maple Leaf

Population: In July 2011, the population of Canada is estimated to have reached 35.85 million (2015). However, Canadians are spread over a large geographic land mass, giving Canada one of the smallest population density ratios in the world at 3.4 persons/km².

Cost in Canada ( Living & Study )

Studying in Canada is not free, but it is affordable. The average cost for a foreign student for one school year (8 months) in an Arts & Science program is approximately C$7,100 (US$4,765). However, tuition varies from institution to institution. See below for:.

• One month’s lodging, one-bedroom apartment: $400 Approx
• Bus fare, one way: $2.25 Approx
• Local telephone call: $0.25 Approx
• Modest restaurant meal: lunch $7/dinner $14 Approx
• Movie: $11.50 – $13 Approx
• International Postage (letter): $1.40 Approx

Canadian winters are chilly, an adequate warm clothing budget is essential. Budget around $250 – $350 US approximate for proper winter wardrobe.

You will need approximately $12,000 US ($18,840 Cdn or 13,000 Euro) to cover your expenses for an academic year. This includes your tuition and living expenses but not your air-fare. Please remember that this figure is an average only. Actual expenses may vary depending on the region of the country you live in, the tuition fees at the university you attend and your field of specialisation. Consult us to assist with your financial planning

Tuition fees for international students vary from province to province and depend on your faculty of choice. Fees are in Canadian dollars – for general arts and science programs.

Undergraduate tuition fees for the academic year (International students) Approx — 9000 – 17000

Graduate tuition fees for the academic year (International students) Approx — 12000 – 20000

Language Requirements

Canada is an English speaking nation. Hence, it is important that a student aspiring to study in Canada be proficient in the language. A good way of demonstrating your proficiency is by giving the standard International English Language Testing System (IELTS) or Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) exams.

Besides these, there are several other exams that a student might have to take. Depending on the school applied to or course of study, it may be recommended or even mandatory to appear for one or more of the following tests:

For Undergraduate Study: SAT

For Postgraduate Study: GRE  & GMAT

All international students whose second language is English have to take up IELTS or TOEFL exam. An IELTS band of 6.0/6.5 for Undergraduate and 6.5/7 for Postgraduate courses or a TOEFL score of 80 and above for Undergraduate and 90 and above for a Post Graduate course is desirable.

Canadian Visa

Study Visa

The visa is a legal document that allows a person to enter that country and stay for the duration stipulated on the document, for the reason it was granted. A student therefore requires a student visa that allows him/ her to stay for the duration of the course study and also allows him/her certain privileges (such as permit to work part time) as per the rules of that country.

An applicant must be able to convince the Consulate Representative handling the visa that she/he has “a permanent residence in India which he/she has no intention of abandoning.”

Each case is different and scrutinized individually and hence there is no standard or ‘foolproof’ procedure for obtaining visas. A prospective must be able to demonstrate the genuineness of his visit. A few examples of circumstances that applicants have submitted as proof of return are: evidence of a good job, sizeable finances or property, family and a good social standing.

However this does not mean that the officer would accept all these papers, nor that it guarantees a visa being granted. One must remember that today the number of visa applications received is so large, that it often is not possible to get them done within the normal working hours of the Consulate. It is important therefore to understand that one must submit only necessary, genuine and relevant documents and also be ready and able to answer any questions asked by the interviewing officer, quickly and precisely.

New Citizenship And Immigration Canada (CIC) regulations for international students

Visa Procedure

International students are required to obtain a Study Permit before going to Canada. The student can apply for Study permit under the Student Partners Program (SPP) of the Association of Canadian Community Colleges and the Canadian Immigration Programs in New Delhi and Chandigarh. To qualify for Study Permit Application under SPP the student should hold an unconditional offer letter from one of the universities / colleges that are included under this scheme. SPP is currently open to Indian nationals only. Allow atleast two months for your Visa to be processed.

Documents Checklist for SSP (STUDENT PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM):

1) SPP Checklist – Attach THIS checklist as a cover sheet to your application.

2) Application form fully completed (all questions answered), dated and signed, indicating your personal mailing address, reliable phone contact, and your personal email address (if you agree to e-mail communications).

3) Original, valid passport for yourself, as well as a photocopy of the bio data page

4) Family Information Form and Student Questionnaire (leaving no gaps).

5) Two passport photographs with a white background for yourself and each family member requesting a visa. The photographs should have your name printed on the back, dated and taken in the past 6 months.

6) Letter of Acceptance from your SPP educational institute in Canada stating unconditional admission, course title, duration of study, level of study, start date (multiple start dates, if applicable) and latest possible date of admission.

7) Use of a Representative form (IMM 5476) (if applicable)

8) IELTS test results taken within last 24 months with overall band not less than 6.0, with no individual band lower than 5.5.

9) Photocopy of the most recent diploma/leaving certificate, and most recent mark sheets (for entire program; consolidated mark sheets are NOT acceptable)

10) Copy of receipts for tuition payment provided by the SPP institution.

11) Proof of funds: You MUST demonstrate the purchase of a special (GIC) from a participating Canadian financial institution, in the amount of $10,000 CAD to cover living expenses for your first year in Canada. Please consult page 2 for information on how to obtain a GIC. Official GIC document is mandatory.

12) Copy of medical examination form IMM1017 if you opted to undergo a medical examination before submitting your application.

Note:

• It is mandatory to complete a medical examination prior to submission of your application. Medical results are valid for one year
• Only one application per person per semester will be processed under the SPP (Student Partnership Program). Subsequent applications for the same semester following a refusal will NOT form part of SPP processing
• To file Study Permit application under SPP, it is mandatory to show a GIC certificate obtained from Scotia Bank proving that funds to the extent of CAD$ 10000 are available as living costs for the student.
• After reviewing your application, the Visa officer will decide if an interview is necessary. The Visa interview will be taken at CHC, New Delhi

New Citizenship And Immigration Canada (CIC) regulations for international students

Working Regulations

Work Eligibility —  Students may work on the campus of the institution they are studying at, without a work permit, if they are:

• Studying full time at a public post secondary institution or a private post secondary institution operating under the same rules as a public one,
• They have a valid study permit.

To be able to work off campus,

• A student must have a valid ‘Off campus work permit’. Such a permit allows you to work while studying but does not guarantee a job.
• The institution at which the student is studying, must have signed an ‘off campus work agreement’ with their provincial government.

For More Details Please Click On The Following Link:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/study/work-offcampus.asp

Working While Studying —   Full time students with a valid study permit, studying at an accredited public or private institution, may work on campus without a work permit. The type of work that students do under these conditions is normally that of a teaching or research assistant.

Some courses have industrial work as part of their study curriculum and have to work off-campus for a few weeks to a few months.  This is often seen in case of Co-op and Internship programmes. In such cases, students have to take a work permit besides their study permit.

In most cases, work permits for students are granted if:

1. The intended employment is an essential part of the programme under study.
2. The employment is certified with a letter by a responsible official of the institution where student is studying.
3. The Co-op or Internship duration does not exceed 50% of the total programme of study.

For More Details Please Click On The Following Link:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/study/work-coop.asp

Universities & Colleges in Canada

This section takes you through the list of Colleges and Universities in Canada. It starts with tips on finding the program that’s right for you and ends with choosing the right university.

• Career Colleges in Canada
• Technical Colleges in Canada
• Universities in Canada

Career Colleges in Canada

Technical Colleges

Universities