Canada Student Visa Guide

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CANADA
Capital Ottawa
Calgary Vancouver
Montreal
Toronto
Average Air-Travel Time
16 HOUR (Non-stop)
20 HOUR (with one stopover)
National Currency Canadian Dollar
Currency Conversion Rate 1 54-56 (INR)
Total Canadian Population
Total Student Population
Total Indian Population
Numbers of Indian students
34.88 million (2012)
1.06 million (2010)
1.17 million (2012)
17,530 (2010)
Provinces with most Indian population
Top Ranking University
. University of Toronto
. University of British columbia . University of
Alberta
British Columbia
. Simon Fraser University
. McGill University . University of Waterloo
. York University . Queens University
Alberta
Quebec

Ontario


. University of Calgary
Summertime
Weather

Average Temperature
. University of Victoria

18oC to 26oC
Wintertime Average Temperature -6o C to
0o C
Time dif ference from IST Pacific Time
Zone -12.30 HOURS (from IST)
Central Time Zone -10.30 HOURS (from IST)



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• About Canada
• Education System
• The school systems in Canada are different from
  each other, depending on the province or
  territory. Education is available in both English
  and in French in most places, provided there are
  enough students in that area speaking the
  secondary language. High school is typically till
  grades nine to
• 12. In Québec, high school ends in grade eleven
  and is followed by a program that prepares the
  student for university or a technical field
  called CEGEP.
• Beyond this, students can attend either
  vocational schools or enter a university. At a
  university they will first earn a Bachelor's
  degree, and can continue studies to receive a
  Master's or a Doctorate degree. Vocational
  students will earn certificates and diplomas that
  will help improve their skills in the various
  trades.
• Popular student destinations
• Popular choices for pursuing a full time academic
  degree are.
• McGill University,
• The University of British Columbia,
• University of Alberta,
• Simon Fraser University,
• are popular choices if you want to pursue a full
  time academic degree. Most of the best colleges
  in the country are situated in cities like
  Toronto, British Columbia and Montreal. The
  number of Canadian student visas issued to Indian
  students jumped to more than 12,000 in 2010 from
  3,152 in 2008.
• Canada is the preferred destination for
  vocational studies rather than degree courses as
  these result in better employment opportunities.
  Canada is a good choice for immigration as the
  country offers immense scope for working owing to
  its low population density.
• The most popular degree courses in Canada would
  be postgraduate diploma in areas like Business
  Management,Media,Engineering, Computer Science
  and Hospitality.
• Safety in Canada

Weather Weather in Canada varies widely
depending on where you are. Canada stretches from
the Pacific to Atlantic Ocean, covering five
time zones. Weather Weather in Canada varies
widely depending on where you are. Canada
stretches from the Pacific to Atlantic Ocean,
covering five time zones.
Montreal Weather The weather in winter is cold
and snowy. The cold in Montreal can be
especially biting because of the wind- chill
factor. Snowfall usually begins in November and
continues through March. During winter months,
the daytime temperatures are between -6C to -
15C. Summer temperatures range from 15C to 25C
Vancouver Weather The weather remains wet, yet
mild throughout the year. Summer in Vancouver is
pleasantly warm with an average temperature of
22C. Winters are wet, but snow is rare. Average
daily temperatures in winters range from 3C to
7C.
Toronto Weather The weather in winter is milder
than most Can- adian cities, yet cold and snowy.
Summer temp- eratures range from 15C to 25C.
During wint- er months, the daytime temperatures
are betwe- en 12C to -10C
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Lifestyle tips Canadians are open-minded and
proud of their multicultural and diverse
population. Like any other country, Canadians
have certain expectations of appropriate
behaviour. Here are a few tips Be on time for
both professional and social occasions Be
respectful in conversation and behaviour Canadians
believe in equality between genders, so show
respect to the opposite sex Don't crack jokes or
make comments that are insulting to people's
race, religion, gender, disability, sexual
orientation or appearance Avoid personal
questions about things like age, salary, marital
status, relationships, and the cost of personal
items until you are well-acquainted with
people. Language problems Living in a society
where you have to use English or occasionally
French on a daily basis can be challenging at
first. Some language problems you may intially
encounter there are You may not understand the
local accent right away. Regional accents vary
greatly in Canada. Give yourself time to get
used to the local accent. Canadians might not
understand you right away. You will also have
your own accent. Speak slowly and don't be shy
about asking others to speak slowly if you are
having a hard time understanding them. Canadians
use a lot of slang in their speech and it might
take you some time before you understand all of
it. Humour is an integral part of Canadian
English. This should be interpreted as a sign of
friendliness, not disrespect. Canadians use lots
of abbreviation in their speech (for example, TA
for Teachers Assistant or Poli Sci for Political
Science). If you don't understand something,
simply ask the meaning of it. Participation It
is necessary to participate in all activities
during your classes. You may be asked to
participate in class dis- cussions, group work
or other activities. It is very important to
participate outside of the classroom as well.This
will provide you with many opportunities to
practice your English skills in many different
settings. Making friends Try not to be shy.
Remember that making friends is important to
everyone in their first year of university.
Saying "please" and "thank you" are important
Canadian customs, and your relationships will
improve if you express your grat- itude and
appreciation to those around you. Indians living
in Canada Most Indians choose to live at larger
urban centres like Toronto, and Vancouver, where
more than 70 of Indians live. Smaller
communities are also growing in Calgary,
Edmonton, and Montreal. Indians in Vancouver are
from different parts of India. A place called
Little India exists in Vancouver and a section of
Gerrard Street in Toronto. Indians in Vancouver
mainly live in the suburb of Surrey, or nearby
Abbotsford and also in other parts of Vancouver.
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Student life
Accommodation Firstly, you need to decide
whether you want to live in university managed
accommodation, or with a private landlord.
Choosing university managed acc- ommodation can
also give you a catered or self - catered
option. Catered accommodation offers the benefits
of your meals being cooked for you and a degree
of certainty with meal costs.
Activities Along with sports, colleges offer
extra - curricu- lar activities that provide
students a wide range of experiences. Music,
drama, science and literary societies offer
opportunities for outdoor education and other
leisure activities. Visits to theat- res and
concerts,to places relevant to the courses of
study such as art galleries and museums,
religious centres or historical sites,
scientific companies and projects are all part of
college life.
If you have an idea about what you prefer, the
accommod- ation office at your university will
be able to tell you what accommodation they have
available - so thats the place to start. If you
are thinking of renting from a private landlord
or if your chosen university cant offer you
anything in its own residential facility, the
accommodation office should be able to provide
you with a list of private properties and landl-
ords in the area. Wherever you choose to live,
you should make sure that you know your
contractual rights and responsibilities.In most
cases you will be asked to enter into a tenancy
agreement, which you should read thoroughly
before you sign it. Orientation Orientation
week is mandatory for internati- onal students
so you want to be sure and arrive before it
starts.This is the time where you will be
introduced to the university and its services,
as well as enroll in your classes. It is
essential that you read your guidebook, which is
provid- ed by the college. The guide explains
each part of the admi- ssion process.
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Admission process Requirements These vary
between study programs and levels. For each
course, Indian students will need to meet a
minimum English language requirement. Along with
that a minimum academic record of 65 and above
for humanities stream in class XIIth, and 70 -
80 and above for Science/ Commerce stream in
class XII will also be required. Found- ations
and Diploma programs are available for students
who have secured below 60. The student should
have comple- ted 18 years of age before joining
a degree program. It is important to note that
these numbers are just for refere- nce purpose,
the actual numbers may differ from university to
university. The following documents also need to
be submitted - Attested copies of mark sheets of
Standard X, XII, and the Bachelors degree (if
applicable) At least, two academic reference
letters from professors who have taught you most
recently If you have work experience then two
letters of recommend- ation from the
employer/manager who knows you well and can
comment on your professional abilities Statement
of Purpose (SOP) Resume Photocopies of score
reports of GMAT / IELTS / TOEFL Portfolio (in
case of Students applying for art and design
courses architecture programs) Others
(certificates / achievements at the state and
national level and extracurricular
activities) Proof of funds Medical
Tests Timeline Most Canadian colleges accept
online applicat- ions. You will have to visit
each college's website to apply. In most cases,
you will have to make an account on the college
website to provide your basic information, submit
the scann- ed version of your documents and pay
application fees. You will be informed about the
application process and stages through this
account. Please refer to the website of the
colleges of your choice to know the process of
applying as it may differ from institute to
institute.
Application fee All colleges require that you
pay an appli- cation fee while applying. The fee
amount will differ depending upon the college
and course being applied to, so check with in-
dividual colleges about their application
fee. Steps The common steps to applying for
admission are as follows Search for colleges
and courses Contact schools and visit websites
for information Narrow down your list of
schools Take the entrance exams like SAT, GMAT,
GRE, TOEFL, IELTS Write SOPs and ask for
LORs Apply to the colleges which fit your
interests Appear for video interviews of the
colleges that shortlisted you If accepted, apply
for student visa
SOP A Statement of Purpose (SOP) is your
introduction to the college and admission
officers. It is always written in first person
and describes the reason for applying to a
particular college. It needs to highlight why
you are a perfect fit for the college and why t
he college should accept you. The style of
writing could differ from formal to casual, but
it is important to remember that it should
reflect your personality as well. Essay Essays
are also required to be submitted by a prosp-
ective student. Essays are an important part of
the university admissions process. Students may
be required to write one or two essays, along
with a few optional essays. Common topics
include career aspirations, strengths and
weaknesses, skills, experiences, and reasons for
considering a particular school. LOR A letter of
recommendation (LOR) is a reference letter
written by a third party describing the
qualities, characteristics, and capabilities of
the prospective student to recommend him to the
college in terms of that individuals ability to
perform a particular task or function. The third
party could be a professor, direct manager etc.
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Intake seasons The session starts mainly in
September and January but some institutions have
intakes in May, July and October as well. The
Major intake season for the top courses in
Canada is September, while the minor intake sea-
son is January, which is meant for a fairly small
number of courses. You should start your
admission process around six months before the
application deadline. Typically, most
universities have three deadlines,from October
to January. It is up to the convenience of the
students, which deadline to aim for. You should
be done with your language and aptitude tests
three months before the deadline. The last three
months should be dedicated to filling out the
application form properly.
The main intake season for top colleges and
courses is the fall season i.e. September. It
depends on what course you are looking to
pursue, because many courses dont have the
January intakes. If you are looking to get
admission into vocational courses, then some
courses may have admissions open in January and
perhaps even May or July.
It is essential to ensure that the complete
application proce- dure along with appearing
for interviews and visa application procedure
should be complete by June or July for the Septe-
mber intake.
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General exams GMAT - GMAT is used to measure the
abilities of the potential MBA aspirant to
undertake higher education in the field of
business or management. It measures
mathematical, english, reasoning skills of the
student.
Exams Language exams International English
Language Testing System (IELTS),Test of English
as Foreign Language (TOEFL) and Pearson Test of
English (PTE) are all standardized language
tests, which are required to be taken for the
purpose of getting admission to colleges. These
both follow different formats, structure and
result bands. These tests are all different in
various ways but many colleg es ask for any one
of the results. So it's up to the student to
decide which exam to appear for.
GRE - GRE is another test required to be taken by
students appl- ying to graduate schools to
pursue MA or MS. Increasingly many business
schools are also accepting GRE scores for the
purpose of granting admission for
MBA. Repetition and Fee You can give GMAT any
number of times, subject to 5 time a year and a
gap of 30 days between two tests. You can take
these tests with a gap of 30 days from the first
time. The cost of GMAT is Rs. 16,000 and GRE is
Rs. 12,000. Ideally, if you are aiming at the
September intake you should appear for these
exams by November, so that you can apply before
the 1st deadline. The preparatory duration
generally ranges from 4 to 6 mo- nths. Average
Scores The average GMAT score accepted across
universities is 520. Average GRE score is 145 for
Verbal, 160 for Quantitative and 4.0 for
Writing. It is important to note that these
numbers are just for reference pur- pose, the
actual numbers may differ from university to
university.
Repetition of exams IELTS can be taken unlimited
number of times. TOEFL can be retaken as many
times as wished, but can- not be taken more than
once in a 12-day period. Same with PTE, it can
be taken as many times as wished. You must wait
to receive your scores before you can book your
next test.
Fee The fee for these exams is Rs. 9,300 for
IELTS, Rs. 10,000 for TOEFL and Rs. 9,350 for
PTE. Time to apply Ideally, if you are aiming at
the September intake you should appear for these
exams by November,so that you can apply before
the 1st deadline.The universities you will be
apply- ing to will mention which exam results
they will accept. But if they give a choice to
go for either of these, then the choice depends
on you. The time required to prepare for
IELTS/TOEFL/PTE would de- pend on the existing
English language proficiency. You may require 2
to 4 months of prep before the exam date.
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Cost of living

• Health insurance Insurance Policy for
  international stu- dents is mandatory, as
  students have to stay abroad for a long period
  of time. Before getting an insurance make sure
  that it covers medical expenses, personal
  accident, dental treatment, study interruption,
  passport loss etc. Insurance is basically
  cashless so a student does not need to pay money
  at the time of hospitalisation.
• Scholarships Merit and need based fee waivers
  are awa- rded to international students.
  Candidate with strong academi- cs, good
  performance in standardised exams and
  extracurric- ular achievements would be eligible
  for scholarship awards and financial assistance.
  To benefit from these opportunities, one ha s to
  make sure to send all the required documents by
  particular deadlines. In addition to this, the
  presentation of the application is also
  important because one is judged by the im- age
  one projects.
• Documents required The documents usually needed
  for a scholarship application are as follows,
  although the requi- rements may diuer
• Academic records and photocopies
• A recent CV
• A letter of intent, which acts as a cover page
• Certificate of language Proficiency (TOEFL or
  IELTS scores)
• Letters of reference

The cost of living depends heavily on what part
of Canada will you be living in along with how
much you will socialise. Some of the basic
elements for living as an international student
in Canada are

• Accommodation rent ( on campus or off campus )
  Utilities like power, water, gas, internet
• Airfare for traveling back to India Text and
  reference books Groceries and food
• Phone bills
• Other elements which may differ from person to
  person would be
• Dinning out
• Travel and Vacation
• Car rent and Car insurance
• Cable TV connection

School expenses The tuition fee varies according
to diff- erent universities,courses and the
city. The tuition expenses in Canada might be up
to CDN 10,000-30,000 per year for an under
graduate course. And if you are thinking of
applying for a post graduate course, the cost
would be 15,000-55,000 per year. Living
expenses On an average, a student spends app-
roximately CDN 10,00012,000 per year. But the
expenses also depend on the place where a
student stays. If a student stays in
metropolitan city like Toronto or Vancouver the
expen- ses could go up to CDN 15,000 in
comparison to a student studying in the suburbs
where the expenses would be around CDN
8,000-10,000 each year.
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• Loans
• Student eligibility criteria The first thing is
  to be aware whether you are eligible to apply
  for the loan or not. The general eligibility
  criteria that are followed by all the banks are
  
• You should be an Indian national
• You must have a strong academic record
• You must be seeking admission to a professional,
  technical or other course of studies. Most banks
  maintain that the selected course should be job
  oriented
• You must have secured admission to foreign
  university institutions
• You must be above the age of 18 years or else
  your parents can avail the loan

Documentation required You will have to provide
the acceptance letter sent by the university
reflecting that you have been selected for the
course and the schedule of fees. You will also
need to show the mark sheet of the last qualify-
ing examination to show your academic record. All
banks have diuerent requirement for
documentation, so you need to confirm with the
bank first.
Repayment Repayment starts only after the
course period. If the student got employed
within one year after com- pletion of the
course, the repayment should start immediately
after the expiry of one month from the date of
employment. If you do not secure a job within a
year of completing the cou- rse, then repayment
starts irrespective of whether or not you are
employed. The loan is generally to be repaid in
5-7 years after commencement of repayment. If
the student is not able to complete the course
within the scheduled time, extension for
completion of course, may be permitted for a
maximum period of two years. Generally, you will
get up to a maximum number of 10 years to repay
the loan.
Eligibility of course You may not get a loan on
every course. Here are the kinds of courses that
qualify for the education loan.
For Graduation Job oriented professional or
technical courses offered by reputed
universities For Post Graduation MCA, MBA, MS or
even diplom- as
These courses could be from foreign universities
or institutes approved by the state and central
government. Loan amount If your total fee is Rs
10 lakh, the bank may offe r to give a loan of
80 of the amount and you will have to put in
the balance 20. This is called the margin
amount. The maximum loan amount offered by banks
for studies abroad is generally around Rs 20
lakh by the bank. If your tuition fee is Rs 30
lakh, youll have to manage the rest of the
funds by yourself. Some banks charge a
process- ing fee, while others dont it may be a
fixed amount or a per- centage of the total loan
amount. So if the bank charges you a 1
processing fee, that will be an additional cost
youll have to cover.
10

• Loans
• Student eligibility criteria The first thing is
  to be aware whether you are eligible to apply
  for the loan or not. The general eligibility
  criteria that are followed by all the banks are
  
• You should be an Indian national
• You must have a strong academic record
• You must be seeking admission to a professional,
  technical or other course of studies. Most banks
  maintain that the selected course should be job
  oriented
• You must have secured admission to foreign
  university institutions
• You must be above the age of 18 years or else
  your parents can avail the loan

Documentation required You will have to provide
the acceptance letter sent by the university
reflecting that you have been selected for the
course and the schedule of fees. You will also
need to show the mark sheet of the last qualify-
ing examination to show your academic record. All
banks have diuerent requirement for
documentation, so you need to confirm with the
bank first.
Repayment Repayment starts only after the
course period. If the student got employed
within one year after com- pletion of the
course, the repayment should start immediately
after the expiry of one month from the date of
employment. If you do not secure a job within a
year of completing the cou- rse, then repayment
starts irrespective of whether or not you are
employed. The loan is generally to be repaid in
5-7 years after commencement of repayment. If
the student is not able to complete the course
within the scheduled time, extension for
completion of course, may be permitted for a
maximum period of two years. Generally, you will
get up to a maximum number of 10 years to repay
the loan.
Eligibility of course You may not get a loan on
every course. Here are the kinds of courses that
qualify for the education loan.
For Graduation Job oriented professional or
technical courses offered by reputed
universities For Post Graduation MCA, MBA, MS or
even diplom- as
These courses could be from foreign universities
or institutes approved by the state and central
government. Loan amount If your total fee is Rs
10 lakh, the bank may offe r to give a loan of
80 of the amount and you will have to put in
the balance 20. This is called the margin
amount. The maximum loan amount offered by banks
for studies abroad is generally around Rs 20
lakh by the bank. If your tuition fee is Rs 30
lakh, youll have to manage the rest of the
funds by yourself. Some banks charge a
process- ing fee, while others dont it may be a
fixed amount or a per- centage of the total loan
amount. So if the bank charges you a 1
processing fee, that will be an additional cost
youll have to cover.
11

• Loans
• Submit your application and supporting
• documents Since you need to give your
  biometrics, you cant mail in your
  application.Youll either have to apply online
  or submit your application in person at a VFS
  office. In either case, you will need to go to a
  VAC to give your biometrics.
• Medical Exam The visa application process to
  Canada requires a compulsory medical test for
  Indian applicants.Your own docto r cannot
  perform the medical exam. You must see a doctor
  on the list of panel physicians, which is
  provided on the official Canada immigration
  website http//www.cic.gc.ca/. Once your exam
  has been completed, the physician will send the
  results to CIC. You can choose to get the test
  done either before or after submitting the visa
  application
• Work permit The eligibility criteria to get a
  Post Study Work permit are as follows
• You should have pursued a full-time course in
  Canada.
• The length of your course should have been more
  than 8 months.
• You must have graduated from either a public
  post-seco- ndary institution or a private
  post-secondary institution or
• You should apply for work permit within three
  months (90 days) after receiving official letter
  saying that you have successfully completed your
  education from the institute.
• You will be given the work permit only if you
  have a stud- ent visa.

Visa for spouse Spouses can accompany full time
stud- ents on a Dependent visa. You only need to
show that adequ- ate funds are available for
their support. Spouses can also work full time
if his/her stay is for a year or more. Things to
check after submitting application Pre-departure
list Book airline tickets Buy travel and health
insurance Arrange accommodation in
Canada Arrange transportation to/from the airport
to home in Canada Arrange your banking
consider buying travelers cheques Check baggage
and customs limitations Clear all paperwork with
your home educational institution
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Get your documents in order and make photocopies
to store in your baggage and keep at home,
including Passport Airline tickets Travel
insurance certificate Letter of Acceptance by the
educational institution Key addresses and phone
numbers A bank statement showing proof of funds
Prescriptions for any medication you are carrying
Travelers chequesif applicable Medical and
immunization records Academic history and
university transcripts
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You cannot get a work permit longer than your
course durati- on. If your course duration was
eight months, then you will receive work permit
for eight months. If your course duration was
more than two years, then you may receive work
permit for three years.
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Once you land Homesickness Homesickness is a
predictable problem faced by most students at
one point or another. It may occur at the
beginning or even well into your first year.
Homesickn- ess will pass. Be patient. Give it at
least two weeks. If you are feeling sad, share
your feelings with friends. Do not hide in your
room if you do,the homesickness will only
worsen. Find your counselor on staff with whom
you can talk about home- sickness or other
problems. Homesickness might be made
Get your student identification card it will be
your passport around the campus. (if
applicable) Take advantage of the student
services on offer use the fitn- ess facilities
at the recreation centre, find the student
bookst- ore and browse in the library Learning
basic cooking Cooking for yourself will save
you money. Indian food is expensive in Canada.
Making it on your own will satisfy your urge to
eatyour foodduring moments
worse by frequent, long telephone calls home.
Most homesick
students feel more homesick after a call home
than they did of homesickness. Indian spices are
not commonly available in
smaller cities, but you may find shops on campus
where you
before they picked up the phone. Try to limit
yourself to one
call home every week. The sooner you integrate
into the uni- can get ingredients used in most
Indian cuisine. versity experience, the sooner
your homesickness will pass. Your first few
weeks in Canada The first weeks of the first
semester are a busy time for every new
international (and Canadian) student during
which everyone is learning about the campus and
classes while making new friends. You should
take time to get to know your University Explore
campus to familiarize yourself with where you
need to go when registering for your program,
attending classes, getting your meals and
visiting new friends Join the International
Student Club Find out what learning resources and
workshops are availa- ble for international
students
13
Post Studies options
Placements Indian students are used to the
concept of Campus placements and on-campus
recruitment for getting jobs. There is no
concept of placements Canada. Most Cana- dian
University have a cell called a Career Services
Center, which helps you get jobs and help you
prepare for interviews. The on - campus
recruitment is always driven by student inte-
rest.Companies that recruit through the
university do not offer a job directly. What
they offer is an internship or co-op. Comp-
anies like to see your work for few months before
they hire you full time. Co-Op Education
Program In a Cooperative program, period of
study alternates with work. The Student Co-Op
Pro- gram is a formally structured program where
the intent is to recruit students, while still
in school, to fill permanent positions upon
graduation.Co-op programs are generally
undertaken at colleges and universities. Indian
students who wish to partici- pate in a co - op
or internship program must apply for a work
permit as well as a study permit.
Eligibility criteria To be eligible for a work
permit, you must meet the following
conditions You must have a valid study visa Your
intended employment must be related to your
program of study in Canada. Your employment must
be part of your academic program, certified by a
letter from a responsible academic official of
the institution.
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To explore more study options in Canda, MBA in
Canada B.E./B.Tech in Canada MS in Canada Did
you find this guide useful? We would love to hear
from you. Write to us at info_at_worldwidecollege.in