About Canada

Why you should study in Canada?

With affordable tuition fees, quality institutions, post-study work and immigration options and welcoming people, it's no surprise that Canada is quickly becoming a leading destination for international students. The number of international students holding Canadian study permits (as of 31 December) reached 652,920 in 2019, up from 552,545 the year before. Canada is one of the top international student destinations in the world. Here are the top reasons why you should study in Canada

1. Benefit from a world-class education

One of the biggest reasons students choose to come to Canada is the quality of a Canadian education. A Canadian degree is widely recognized as equal to one from the United States, Australia, or the United Kingdom, and Canadian universities consistently do well in international rankings.

2. Affordable

Cost is the most significant barrier for most students hoping to study abroad. Canadian international students have to pay higher tuition fees than domestic students. That said, the average annual tuition for an international student’s Canadian undergraduate degree was $16,746 USD in 2014. Compare that to the U.S. ($24,914 USD), Australia ($24,081 USD) or the United Kingdom ($21,365 USD ). You will find that it is more affordable to study in Canada than other western countries.

3. Safety and cultural diversity

Canada has traditionally been a country of immigrants and has a policy of encouraging multicultural diversity. In this vibrant setting, different perspectives are respected and learning together is encouraged.

Almost all of the world's ethnic groups are represented in Canada. As a result, most ethnic foods and recreational activities associated with specific cultures are available in Canada. Clubs, informal clubs and associations representing a multitude of ethnic backgrounds are also easily accessible. International student advisors at schools can help students get in touch with such groups.

All major urban centres have a variety of shopping malls, restaurants, theatres, art galleries and museums. Canadian cities provide numerous parks, gardens and beaches for public use, as well as excellent sports and recreation facilities

4. Permanent residency opportunities and open work permits

When you travel abroad to study, you usually get temporary status in the country you’re studying in. That status usually expires when your program ends, so you have to return home when you graduate.

The Canadian government offers a work program to students who have obtained a diploma from a post-secondary school in Canada and are looking to gain work experience. This is an excellent way to continue to live in Canada while diversifying and developing your professional skills. Canada has a lot of programs designed to encourage international students to transition to permanent residence after their studies. Options like the Post-Graduation Work Permit let graduates stay and work on an open work permit after graduation and give them an opportunity to get some Canadian work experience. Most Canadian provinces have Provincial Nominee streams for applicants with experience studying or working in the province, and Canada’s federal economic immigration streams offer additional points for Canadian work and study experience. In 2015, 51 percent of international students planned to apply for Canadian permanent residence.

5. Enjoy an excellent quality of life

According to QS World University Rankings, three Canadian cities, Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver, made the list of the top 50 student cities. The ranking was based on several criteria, including affordability, the diversity of the student population, and employers’ perception of graduates on the job market.

Canada boasts an enviable quality of life, with a cost of living (e.g., housing, transportation, tuition) that is lower than in other countries, such as the US, France and the UK, and offers safety, stability and respect for the rights of individuals and communities.

6. Discover the country’s natural beauty

Canada is an extremely vast country: Its surface area is 14 times larger than that of France. It offers a multitude of magnificent landscapes that can be explored throughout the country’s four distinct seasons. Many Canadians complain about the country’s harsh winters, but the cold season provides an opportunity for dedicated skiers and ice skaters to practice their sport in majestic surroundings. Here are just some of the most scenic places to visit: the pristine beaches of Prince Edward Island, the impressive fjords of the Saguenay and the Percé Rock of the Gaspé in Quebec, the fascinating Rockies and Lake Louise in Alberta, Niagara Falls in Ontario, Jasper National Park also in Alberta and Whistler Mountain in British Columbia. From the sea to its mountains, prairies and forests, Canada is an endless source of natural beauty!

For international students, very few places offer the advantages that Canada does. Its universities, among the best in the world, are at the heart of its rich and diverse culture. Canada is a country with an excellent standard of living and where there are many opportunities to get some experience in your field of studies. As a bilingual, safe and welcoming place, Canada won’t disappoint students who are looking to broaden their horizons…

Get to know Canada

In your first few months, you will get to know Canada—our people, our languages, our culture, our food, our climate and so much more. This is an exciting time for you. Soon, you’ll come to learn that Canada offers you a safe and secure place to live, work and travel.

The people and places you encounter will shape your life here. International students in Canada tend to be awestruck by the beauty of our 4 seasons. Summer, fall, winter and spring are all very distinct and each offers its own recreational activities and fun when it comes to exploring:

In summer, you can go boating on one of our many lakes, swim in the ocean and play volleyball on the beach. It’s also a great season to see Canada as a tourist, sit out on a restaurant patio in your favourite city soaking up the sun or enjoy a bonfire with friends.
During the fall, you’ll love exploring the countryside to see the splendour of our autumn leaves, hiking up a mountain or through the woods on a crisp day as well as enjoying the outdoors with your friends. It’s also a great time to explore Canada’s vibrant cities and historical towns.
Once winter comes, it’s time to grab your snow gear and join in some great Canadian fun. You can learn to ski or snowshoe, build a snowman, have a snowball fight with your friends or simply enjoy the peaceful sound of walking through the woods in winter.
Spring is a time for renewal in Canada, as the birds return from the south and flowers bloom in the gardens. It’s also “sugaring off” season. Discover how sap is collected and boiled to create maple syrup. The best part? Eating maple taffy poured hot on snow

All year long, the Canadians you meet at school and at work will impress you with their warmth. Enjoy this opportunity to get to know us and to introduce us to your culture.

Canada Fast Facts

36.3 million people
6.4 million people speak an immigrant language
243,000 km of coastline – the world’s longest

250 ethnic origins
60+ Aboriginal languages
3 oceans

10 provinces and 3 territories
- Alberta
- British Columbia
- Manitoba
- New Brunswick
- Newfoundland and Labrador
- Northwest Territories
- Nova Scotia
- Nunavut
- Ontario
- Prince Edward Island
- Quebec
- Saskatchewan
- Yukon

Canada has 10 per cent of the world's forests.

One of the most widely-known facts about Canada is that we've got an abundance of trees, but did you know that Canada actually boasts 30 per cent of the world's boreal forest and 10 per cent of the world's total forest cover? An incredible 396.9-million hectares of forest and other wooded land can be found across the country, and 68 per cent of that is coniferous.

Canada has the world's longest coastline

If you walked and never stopped, not to eat, not to rest your feet, not to get some sleep, it would take you four-and-a-half years to walk the length of Canada's coastline. While our country might not conjure up images of blue waters and white sandy beaches, Canada has the world's longest coastline, bordered on three sides by three different oceans: the Atlantic, Arctic and Pacific. To put that fascinating fact about Canada in perspective, that accounts for 202,080 of the world's total 356,000 kilometres of oceanfront property. The only other country that even comes close is Indonesia, which has 54,716 km of coastline.

Canada is bigger than the European Union

Ever been travelling abroad and had someone ask you if you know Kimberly from Vancouver or Theo from Montreal after you told them you were Canadian? Our country's vast land area often hard to comprehend for those who haven't experienced it firsthand. Here are some facts about Canada to put its breathtaking scale into perspective: It's bigger than the entire European Union (33 times bigger than Italy and 15 times bigger than France), more than 30 per cent larger than Australia, five times as big as Mexico, three times as big as India and about the same size as 81,975 Walt Disney Worlds put together. So, in other words, no, you don't know Kimberly or Theo!

Canada has more lakes than you think

Canada has a lot of great things in abundance, like hockey players, parkas and Tim Hortons franchises. But one of the most fascinating facts about Canada is that we also have more surface area covered by lakes than any other country in the world. It's true!

The Great White North has 563 lakes larger than 100 square kilometres. The Great Lakes alone contain about 18 per cent of the world's fresh lake water. That's a lot of water—and a lot of gorgeous scenery.

Sports in Canada

Hockey and lacrosse are Canada’s national sports. The baseball glove was invented in Canada in 1883. Canada has hosted the Olympic Games three times; 1976 in Montreal, 1988 in Calgary and 2010 in Vancouver. Canadian sports icons include Wayne Gretzky (hockey), Steve Nash (basketball), Mike Weir (golf) and Cassie Campbell (women’s hockey).

Whistler, British Columbia is consistently ranked as one of the best places in North America for downhill skiing. The Royal Montreal Golf Club, founded in 1873, is the oldest golf club in North America. The first indoor ice hockey game took place on March 3, 1875 at the Victoria Skating Rink in Montreal. Ice hockey, football and baseball are Canadians favorite spectator sports.

Experience Canada checklist

Ski in the Rocky Mountains, at Blue Mountain in Ontario or at Mont-Sainte-Anne in Quebec.
Get soaking wet from the spray at Niagara Falls, Ontario.
Attend the Calgary Stampede or visit the indoor beach at the West Edmonton Mall.
Enjoy the colours of autumn leaves in a national park. Go camping, canoeing, hiking or surfing in summer, and snowshoeing, skating or skiing in winter.
Skate on Ottawa’s Rideau Canal. It is the world’s longest skating rink.
Climb the CN Tower in the centre of Toronto.
See the northern lights in Canada’s Arctic.
Go dog sledding in the Yukon or see polar bears in Churchill, Manitoba.
Watch the sun set on Canada’s famed prairies.
See icebergs float by as you stand on the Newfoundland and Labrador coastline.
Eat a lobster dinner in the Maritimes or see whales playing on Canada’s west coast.

Why Canada needs immigrants???

Canada's population density is among the lowest in the world, at 3.7 inhabitants per sq km (9.6/sq. mi). Studies in both the United States and Canada have shown that job creation increases, and the economy improves as the number of immigrants swells. Immigrants are, as a group, better educated than Canadians, and since 1967, when the government introduced its point system, the selection process favours those with marketable skills.

Is there a market here for skilled labour? Actually, Canada is seeing signs of worker shortages in several professions -including engineers, doctors and nurses, to name a few. Added to this is the fact that the population in some provinces is shrinking, and employers are having difficulty filling their rosters with skilled help. Paul Darby, director of the Conference Board of Canada, estimates a shortfall of 3-million skilled workers by the year 2020.

Why Canada is your best option for studying abroad?

Coming to a new country and experiencing a new culture can be an exciting and scary experience. Canada is a land of endless possibilities. Each year, nearly 500,000 international students choose Canada as their study destination. The reasons for studying in Canada as an international student are as plentiful as our vast open spaces, as diverse as our people, and as abundant as the opportunities available to those who live, work and study here.

Canada consistently ranks as one of the best countries in the world and is currently the #1 best country for quality of life:

Study in Canada, and you’ll receive an internationally recognized education from some of the top educators and academics in the world

We’re proud to say that the ‘warm and friendly’ stereotype about Canadians is true.

When you come to Canada, you’ll find a welcoming country with a unique Canadian culture that embraces diversity. From urban centres to small towns, Canada is considered one of the safest countries in the world for international students.

When you study in Canada, you invest in your future:

After all, a Canadian education opens the door to employment and business opportunities, and life in Canada after your studies. Canada’s university degrees and college diplomas are recognized worldwide, yet our tuition fees are among the lowest in English speaking countries. Canada’s vibrant research community is also a big draw.

Canadian college and university students graduate with a strong earning potential:

That’s because we position them (and you) for a successful future and rewarding careers. In the last decade alone, Canada created 1.6 million new jobs for graduates.

As an international student in Canada, you’ll enjoy all the same freedoms which protect Canadians – respect for human rights, equality and a stable, peaceful society. You’ll feel safe, secure and welcome here.

Plan your study abroad experience in Canada with Swenam team.

Schools in Canada:

Canada has a world-class education system at the elementary and high school level, with the opportunity to learn in English as well as French. Canadian schools are modern and well-equipped, and Canadians are welcoming to students from around the world. In Canada, parents have to make sure their children get an education. By law, children in Canada must go to school. Depending on the province or territory, children may start at the age of 5 or 6 and continue until they are between 16 and 18.

In Canada, schools:

Start with kindergarten and continue to grade 1 to 12
Usually begin at the end of August and finish around the end of June
Run from Monday to Friday during the school year (except during holidays)
Give high school diplomas to students who successfully complete secondary school (high school)
Can be found in English-language and French-language across the country (even in areas where one language is more commonly spoken than the other)

Provincial and territorial governments set up and run their own school systems. They’re much the same across Canada, but there are some differences among provinces and territories. Canada does not have a federal department or national system of education.

Post-Secondary Education:

There are different types of post-secondary schools in Canada, universities, colleges and institutes.

Universities offer three types of degrees:

Bachelor’s degree, that takes three to four years to complete.
Master’s degree, that usually takes one to three more years of study following bachelor’s degree
Doctoral degree, this degree generally requires three or more years of study and research following a master’s degree.

For regulated professions, such as Law, Medicine, Dentistry and Education, students must complete an internship or pass a standardized examination in addition to completing their degree to work in their profession.

Colleges and Institutes issue:

Associate Degrees
Diplomas
Certificates

These degrees qualify graduates to work in specific jobs within many different fields, such as; business, computer and mechanical technologies, healthcare professions, social services, agriculture, trades (such as carpenter, electrician and plumber) and many others. They also offer university transfer programs.

Work while you study

You are allowed to work while you are studying in Canada. Work while you study, help your spouse or common-law partner get an open work permit while you study, work temporarily or stay permanently in Canada after you graduate as an international student. Even though Canada is a relatively affordable option, there’s no doubt that studying abroad is expensive. Luckily, international students in Canada are eligible to work part-time for up to (20 hours/week) during school terms and full-time (40 hours/week) during scheduled breaks like summer vacation.

Post-Graduation Work Permit Program (PGWPP)

Did you know that international students can apply for permanent residence once they have completed their studies? With its multiculturalism and job opportunities, Canada is proud of its openness and could not be the country that it is without immigration. International students are encouraged to stay and to continue their professional path as employees or as entrepreneurs through Canada’s Post-Graduation Work Permit Program (PGWPP). This program allows students to stay and work in Canada for up to three years after completion of their graduation for most of study programs. You can gain some Canadian work experience and apply for permanent residency later on.

Study Visa:

If you want to study in Canada for longer than six months and you are not a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, you have to apply for a study permit. International students from some countries may also need a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) before coming to Canada. You can apply for the TRV at the same time as the study permit.

When you apply for a study permit, you will need to provide:

Valid passport
Letter of Acceptance (LOA)
Bank Statements, to prove you have enough money to live and study in Canada
- CAD $ 15,000 (for one person)
- CAD $ 20,000 (Family of two)
- CAD $ 25,000 (Family of three)
- CAD $ 30,000 (Family of four)
A letter from your sponsoring agency (if applicable)
Documents showing strong ties to your home country

You may need to do a personal interview and students from certain countries may have to pass a medical exam. For official and current information on requirements, please visit Immigration, Refugee, and Citizenship Canada. We offer visa support to students like you who wish to study in Canada, for free of charge.

Visa Processing Times:

Processing can take several months, so start your application as early as possible

For more information and assistance with required immigration documents and other preparations, contact us at info@swenamcanada.ca

Where to find the right information

As study permit conditions can change quickly, you will need to make sure you follow up to date advice. The best place to find this advice is on the website of the Canadian immigration authority, which is called the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

Swenam Corporation for International Education

Canada