Study in Canada

Canada is ranked among the top 10 countries in the  world for academic standards.  Also, Canada was awarded as the best country for education in 2017 & it is recognized internationally by the Washington Accord and Quebec Accord. Compared to other countries, Canadian international tuition fee, accommodation and other living expenses remain competitive. Students have the advantage to work while studying.  This allows managing their finances without incurring enormous debt. The number of international students studying in Canada is continuously growing.

There are many other benefits for studying in Canada:

1. Can get Post Study Work Permit.
2. World-class Universities/Colleges & Lower Tuition fee.
3. An easy pathway to become a Permanent Resident.
4. Can bring your family.

List of Universities in Canada

Step 1: Select a Designated Learning Institute( DLI ) & send an application to study:

Firstly, go to an authorized Agent who will guide you in selecting the course you want to study in a couple of Designated Learning Institutes (DLI) in Canada. The agent will help you in choosing the best Institutes / Colleges / Universities as per your Academic & financial status.

You have to write an essay in a couple of pages explaining about you & your goals and also stating the reason to study in Canada, reasons to choose the particular institution and the particular program. This is called as Statement of Purpose (SOP). You also have to get minimum 3 Letters of Recommendation (LOR) from your College Academic Heads, Professors or your employers, who should highlight your Academic & Professional achievements, merits, good qualities, capabilities, leadership skills, etc., giving a positive picture about you to the Admissions Team.

Then your agent will send the application form to study with all the required documents like your passport, SOP, LORs, Academic transcripts, and proof of English Language ability like IELTS, TOEFL, etc., score reports to the selected DLI. If the application is accepted within a couple of weeks, you will receive your Conditional Letter of Acceptance or Conditional Offer Letter from the DLI.

Step 2: Pay the DLI Course Tuition Fee:

After receiving the Offer Letter from the Institute / College / University, you have to accept the offer and pay the course tuition fee by Telegraphic Transfer (TT) or Direct Debit (DD) through any recognized bank or financial institution. After receiving the tuition fee, the Education Provider will send you the Unconditional Letter of Acceptance along with the course tuition fee receipt. This receipt will be required at the time of visa lodgment.

Step 3: Buy a Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC):

After paying the course tuition fee, now for the living expenses in Canada, you have to purchase a Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) from any participating bank like SBI Canada Bank, ICICI Bank Canada, Scotia Bank, etc. This is for Indian students who aspire to study in the SPP (Student Partners Program) colleges in Canada. The Canadian government needs an assurance that once you land in Canada, you have sufficient funds (at least CA $ 10,000) to cover your living expenses in Canada for one year, and to do so, students need to purchase a GIC (Guaranteed Investment Certificate). After getting visa and once you are in Canada, this amount will be paid to the students in 12 equal installments as each month’s living expenses. However, GIC is ONLY compulsory for those first time applying for Canadian visa under SPP. Rest of other categories can show savings, fixed deposits, bank loan etc., for amount equivalent to CA $ 10,000 instead of a GIC.

Step 4: Financial Documents:

Even though you have paid the tuition fee & purchased GIC as a proof of funds available for your living expenses, you still have to provide your sponsors financial documents to prove your strong financial status in your home country. You have to show that you have enough funds for your Return Airfare also. Above all, you have to demonstrate strong financial, personal, employment or other commitments in your home country that would be an incentive to return after completion of your studies in Canada to the Canadian Visa Officer. This has to be explained clearly in the Statement of Purpose (SOP).

Step 5: Medical Examination:

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) made a mandatory immigration medical examination to be undertaken by Indian students from the Panel of Physicians approved by IRCC. You have to book an appointment and undergo the medical examination with the doctor on the list of panel physicians. Once your medical exam is done, the doctor will give you a document confirming that you had a medical exam. You must include a copy of that document with your student visa application. The results of your medicals will be directly sent by the doctor to the Canadian Visa Office.

Step 6: Lodgment of Student Visa:

You have to lodge your student visa application with the VFS centre in your city. VFS Global manages the Canada Visa Application Centre (CVAC) in India, operated by VFS Global Services Pvt. Ltd. CVAC is the exclusive service provider for the Government of Canada, authorized to accept applications in all temporary resident categories (visitor visas, study and work permits). You have to submit your visa application form, passport, photographs, other required forms and all supporting documents like your Academic documents, financial documents, IELTS or TOEFL score report as per checklist and IRCC fee instrument at CVAC.

The time needed to process your student visa application may vary among visa offices. So kindly allow a minimum of 4 to 6 weeks for your visa to be processed.

Student Partners Program:

Student Partners Program, popularly known as SPP, is an administrative framework between the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and the Association of Canadian Community Colleges (ACCC). It is a student-friendly initiative by the Canada’s visa offices in India and participating colleges of Canada. The main purpose of SPP is to make the admissions from Canadian colleges and the visa process from Canadian Embassies easy and smooth for Indian students. Under this program, nearly 50 Canadian colleges & universities are listed and there are several other ACCC colleges which welcome Indian students.

This SPP is applicable to Indian students only. Students often get confused with this SPP & try to apply to this program. They should not apply to the SPP but they have to apply to participating SPP colleges of Canada. Under this SPP program, selected colleges and universities offer admissions to Indian students for Diploma, Under-Graduate & Post-Graduate courses. They must meet specific criteria to be considered under this program. Students who have previously been refused any Canadian visa are not eligible to apply under SPP category for Canada study visa.

The main advantages of submitting student visa application under SPP category:

1. Quality of education provided by the SPP college is assured.
2. Simple student visa application process with less documentation.
3. Less emphasis on Financials & Income tax proofs.
4. Advanced Medical reports for the speed process of visa.
5. Quicker student visa process (1 week to 10 days).

Work While Studying:

Students are allowed to work part time for 20 hrs. in a week during academic sessions and full time during the declared vacations.  

Post Study Work Permit:

If the student has Graduated from eligible DLI after completing a course whose duration was:

• less than 8 months : No work permit.
• more than 8 months but less than 2 years: Will get work permit for the similar duration as the course undertaken.
• 2 years or more: Work permit is issued for 3 years.

 Student’s Spouse / Partner Work permit:

An open work permit can be issued if the student is a full time student and holds a valid Study Permit.

The duration of the spouse work permit is same as the duration of the study permit.

Statement Of Purpose (SOP):

SOP is the heart of the application and it should demonstrate the intentions of the student and it should cover all the points mentioned below.

• It should express the reasons for undertaking the particular course?
• Why you have chosen Australia over other countries?
• Why you have chosen that particular university?
• Why you have chosen that particular course?
• What are your future career plans?
• How this course will be useful for your future career plans?
• What is your complete educational background?
• What is your family background? How many are in your family, what they do?
• Your sponsor financial capacity?
• How your sponsor is related to you and why he/she is sponsoring your education?

Who can be the Sponsor?

• A close Relative (may  provide 60-70% of the required funds)
• 3rd party sponsor (only 30% of the required funds)

The sources of funds (annual income) can be in the form of:

• Salaried Income
• Business Income
• Agriculture Income
• Rental Income
• Pension Income

Others:

• The liquid funds (1 year expenses) to be shown for the visa purpose should be from some of the following sources:
• Fixed Deposits (more than 3 months old)
• Savings (more than 3 months old)
• Educational Loan
• Insurance Policies (surrender value)

Under Student visa subclass 500 the student must follow below mentioned rules:

• The Student needs to maintain 80% of attendance.
• The Student needs to maintain 50% of marks in all subjects.
• The Student is allowed to work 40 hours per fortnight basis.
• The Student cannot change the University for 6 months upon enrollment.
• The Student must have a valid health insurance for the entire duration of stay in Australia.
• The Student must have to notify to university/DHA if he/her change the address/Contact details within 7 working days.
• From 1 July 2016, family members of Student visa holders (subclasses 570,576) will need to apply for a subclass 500 visa if they want to join a family member in Australia.

Problems or Mistakes in writing SOP:

1. High Professionals Help: Students take high professionals help in writing their SOP. We should have a good command over English but not very high-end or over-board English & do not need great writing skills to write SOP. University admissions team gauge the student’s level of English with their IELTS/TOEFL/PTE exam and will clearly know if the students have taken the professionals help in writing the SOP. Good simple English with clear & concise meaning is required to write SOP.
2. Copy SOP: Most students copy the contents of other student’s SOPs or copy from the internet. This should never be done because SOP should be extremely personalized & unique.
3. Grammatical mistakes: Students tend to make lot of grammar & spelling mistakes in their SOP, because of their bad English which results in Admissions Team declining the application. So they should be extra careful with the grammar & spellings.
4. Too Lengthy: Students think that the SOP is lengthy, they have more chances of getting an Admission. This is not correct. They should always keep in mind that SOP is not an essay or an exam to write very lengthy. SOP should be simple, clean, straight forward & honest.
5. Unnecessary Issues: Students write all unnecessary things in the SOP which puts off the Admission Team. They should mention only important & relevant issues of their life which impresses the Admissions Team. They should clearly elaborate the main purpose to study in that country & in particular that university & course. They must give proper & correct reasons for choosing that university & course and also emphasize academic & future career goals after completion of the course. They should prove to them that they are good and fit for their university & will be an asset to the university.
6. Random Events: In the SOP, the students mention the events in their life in random order. This is totally wrong. The events mentioned must always be in order like building blocks in their own life’s journey from schooling through till the present part of life.
7. Flattery: The students in the SOP always flatter the university & program with the words like your university is the top/best/wonderful/fabulous/fantastic etc., etc., This unnecessary flattery will do more harm than good to their chances of approving their application because the university clearly knows its own status very well so it prefers honest & straight forward reviews of it.
8. Only Positives: The students always mention only the positive issues about them & highs in their life in the SOP, which is not right. They should always mention their failures, negatives, weaknesses & lows in their life’s journey & how they overcame all those with their inner strengths, abilities & knowledge.
9. Only Academics: The students boast about their academics & achievements in the SOP. This should not be done. They should not boast about anything in the SOP but only mention it. Not only academics, they should also give details about the extracurricular activities they have participated and mention about their talents & traits they have.
10. Perfect SOP: Students try to write perfect SOP thinking that a top-level SOP will guarantee an admission into the university which is totally a wrong notion. A good simple, clean, specific, truthful, straight forward & honest SOP will impress the Admissions Team.
    

What is the process to get admission in Canada Education Institutes?

The student has to apply to a Designated Learning Institute ( DLI ). After getting the acceptance letter, the sudent may be eligible to apply for a Study Permit. The Study Permits are issued upon entry to Canada.

What is the meaning of DLI?

DLI – Designated Learning Institute. These are the education service providers, who are recognized by the Canadian government and are authorized to impart education to international students.

What is the tuition fees is Canada?

It depends on the course, university, province and whether it is an Under Graduate or a PG program. However according to Statistics Canada, the average fee for Under Graduate was CA $ 25,180 and for PG it was CA $ 16, 252.

What is the amount of funds to be shown for applying for a Study Permit?

• For a single person : Tuition Fees + CA $ 10,000 per annum
• For one accompanying Family Member: CA $ 4,000
• For each additional family member: CA $ 3,000.

Is IELTS compulsory for Study Permit?

Requisite IELTS score is a mandatory requirement mor most Canadian Universities and Colleges. However it is not mandatory for applying for a Study Permit unless applying through SPP.

How much time does it take for Visa application process?

It varies from visa office to Visa Office, however it may take approximately 45 working days if there are no issues.

Is it legal to work part time in Canada while studying?

Yes. Students are allowed work part time for 20 hrs. in a week during academic sessions and full time during the declared vacations.   

What are the stay back work options for International students in Canada?

If the student has graduated from eligible DLI after completing a course whose duration was:

• less than 8 months : No work permit
• more than 8 months but less than 2 years: Will get work permit for the simalr duration as the course undertaken
• 2 years or more: Work permit is issued for 3 years

Can the spouse or partner of a student get work permit in Canada?

Yes.  An open work permit can be issued if the student is a full time student and holds a valid Study Permit.

What is the duration of the work permit of a student spouse / partner?

It is of the same tenure as the Study Permit of the student.