Apply to Study in Canada: UG and PG Application Process, Eligibility Criteria

Every year around 8 lakh international students move to study in Canada. Here are some reasons why Canada is a perfect study-abroad destination for you:

• It is among the most affordable destination to pursue higher education. The quality of education that international students experience exceeds the tuition fee cost.

• Canada offers a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate courses for international students.

• The country is a melting pot of various cultures, ethics, religions, and traditions. So, it is a great opportunity for students who love exploring different lifestyles and making lifelong connections.

• The Canadian student visa allows international students to work part-time for up to 20 hours per week.

• The recent labour shortage in Canada offers international students an amazing opportunity to get PR (permanent residency). Also, there are more chances of getting a student visa.

• As an international student, you can enjoy some rights which Canadian citizens enjoy, like consumer protection, respect for human rights, equality, etc.

• It is one of the most peaceful and safest countries, where you can enjoy a high standard of living.

• The country is filled with natural beauty, offering plenty of places to explore and enjoy.

• Canada is known worldwide for being home to some of the top research-intensive universities in the world. They offer ample research opportunities to their students and encourage them to become innovative.

• It is a highly developed country, offering a huge career prospectus to international students.

Canadian universities offer multiple intakes to international students. In Canada, there are about 223 public and private universities, and 213 public colleges and institutes which accepts international students’ application for undergraduate and postgraduate level courses. Generally, Canadian universities offer two intakes to international students, i.e., January (Winter) and September (Fall). Whereas some universities/ colleges also offer May (Summer) intake.
In order to increase the chances of an offer letter from the university and for a smooth process, international students must start applying to the universities at least 8 to 10 months before their course commencement date. Whereas if we talk about Canadian colleges, they close their applications as soon as their seats get filled.

International students have three options at the undergraduate level: Diploma, Advance Diploma, and a bachelor’s degree. To enrol for undergraduate level courses, international students must fulfil certain eligibility criteria to study in Canada as mentioned below:

• 12 years of schooling, with a minimum overall of 55% in 12^th standard.

• Minimum IELTS overall score of 6 (with no band score less than 6)

• Two LORs (Letters of Recommendation) from a previous academic institution.

• At least one subject in the 12^th standard must be relevant to the undergraduate-level course for which they are applying.

Below are some of the best courses to study in Canada at the undergraduate level:

• Computer Programming

• Culinary Management

• Early Childhood Education

• Computer Science

• Hospitality Management

• Advertising and Graphic Designing

• Nursing

• Psychology

• Information Technology

• Business Analytics

• Architecture

International students have two options at the graduate level: a PG diploma and a master’s degree. To enrol for graduate-level courses, international students must fulfil certain eligibility criteria mentioned below:

• 16 years of education (12 years of schooling + 4 years of bachelor’s) with a minimum overall of 60% in bachelor’s degree. However, if students are enrolling for a PG diploma, then 3 years of bachelor’s can be considered.

• Minimum IELTS overall score of 6 (with no band score less than 6)

• Some universities may require 1 to 3 years of work experience in a course-relevant field.

• Two LORs (Letters of Recommendation), one from a previous academic institution and another from a work organisation.

• Students’ undergraduate courses must be relevant to the course for which they are applying at the graduate level.

• Some universities may require standardising admission test scores for certain courses like GRE for science or engineering related courses, and GMAT for business and management related courses.

Note: The above mentioned eligibility criteria may vary from course to course and university to university.

Below are some of the best courses to study in Canada at the graduate level:

• Master’s in Business Administration (MBA)

• Entrepreneurship

• Interactive Media Design

• Food Technology

• Public Relations

• Health Care Management

• Paralegal

• Master’s in Education

• Master’s in Computer & Data Science

• Kinesiology

While applying to Canadian universities, students require the following necessary documents:

• Mark sheets and Transcript

• English proficiency test score which is accepted by the university (like IELTS, PTE, TOEFL)

• Updated Resume

• SOP (statement of purpose)

• 2 LORs (letter of recommendation)

• Valid Passport

• Work experience certificate (for graduate courses)

• Standardise admission test scores (for PG courses like GRE and GMAT)

Students who wish to apply in Canadian universities/ colleges may follow the steps mentioned below:

STEP 1: Choose a specific field/ course you want to pursue according to your past experience and studies. Also, check the universities offering that course.

STEP 2: Shortlist 4 to 5 universities that fall in your budget and have an amazing course curriculum. Also, check whether you meet the university’s eligibility criteria or not.

STEP 3: Visit the university’s official website and check the necessary documents required for your course application.

STEP 4:  Apply to the university through the official application portal, pay the application fee and attach all the supporting documents with your application.

STEP 5: Wait for the decision from the university’s side. The university will automatically send you an offer letter if your application gets selected.

STEP 6: As soon as you receive an offer letter from the university, pay the tuition fee for a year to get LOA (letter of acceptance).

Q: Why study in Canada?
A: Undoubtedly, Canada is among the best study-abroad destination for international students due to the following reasons:

• Academic excellence

• Part-time job opportunity

• Huge career prospectus

• Multicultural environment

• Research opportunity

• Affordability

Q: Do I need IELTS to study in Canada?
A: Since Canada is an English-speaking country, international students must prove their language skills through English proficiency tests. IELTS is one of the most common proficiency tests which Canadian universities widely accept. However, there are other alternatives as well, like PTE and TOEFL.

Q: What is the cost of studying in Canada?
A: The average cost of studying undergraduate courses in Canada is between 15,000 CAD to 25,000 CAD. Whereas the average cost of studying graduate courses in Canada is between 20,000 CAD to 30,000 CAD.

Q: How much percentage is required for a Canada study visa
A: To enrol for undergraduate level courses, students require a minimum overall of 55% in 12^th standard and to enrol for graduate level courses, students must score a minimum of 60% in bachelor’s.

Q: Which exam is required for study in Canada?
A: To enrol in Canadian universities, students must appear for any of the one English proficiency tests which their preferred university accepts, like IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, etc. However, to enrol for PG courses, some universities may also require standardised admission tests like GRE and GMAT scores.

Moreover, if you wish to study in Canada, contact our expert counsellors at any branch of Meridean Overseas Education Consultants (MOEC). You can also take free online counselling through our website. Our expert counsellors will provide the best guidance and support for the admission and visa process. For more information or any qu  eries, contact application02@meridean.org or 1800-1230-00011.