Study in Canada

If you are seriously thinking of studying abroad but are concerned about the level of tuition fees, Canada could be your best option. Compared to the UK, the US and many other countries, Canada now has the lowest tuition fees around. With high living standards and good quality education, you could soon find yourself studying the programme of your choice across the other side of the Atlantic, in a country that you might not have considered beforehand.

Of course, you will then have to choose not only a programme of study but also a university which suits your interests and which is in the province or territory you wish to go to. You might want to experience the richness of the landscape in British Columbia which sits between the Rockies and the Pacific Ocean, or French-speaking Quebec, Canada’s largest province which shares borders with Ontario, New York State and Nova Scotia. But, with some 60% of Canada’s population speaking English, there need be no language barrier here.

Apart from all of these important decisions, you will need to sort out official documentation. You will need a study permit – unless your course is for six months or less – which you can only apply for after you have been accepted by a Canadian university. You will need to prove that you have access to enough money for your tuition fees, your living expenses and your return flight home. The university of your choice will also advice you on any other documentation that they require separately. You will not need a temporary resident visa if you are a British citizen. As a registered student at a Canadian university, you will not need a work permit to work on or off campus, so finding a part-time job will be relatively hassle-free.

You will need to consider the fact that there are ten provinces and three territories in Canada, with each operating its own education system, so initial, detailed research into your desired location will be crucial.

As in many other countries, Canadian universities offer that all-important opportunity to experience valuable international work experience. You could secure a place on an internship programme which will allow you to get out of the lecture hall or seminar room and enhance your knowledge of your curriculum area with real industrial or commercial experience. You might spend alternative terms – known as semesters – at the university and in a business organisation.

Canadian universities are highly regarded around the world for the standards of their teaching and the quality of their research. This means you are likely to be studying in an environment where your lecturers may be global experts in their field. This would be an excellent start to your chosen career whether it be vocational or progressing onto further study as a postgraduate.

If you study in Canada, you will gain not only a rich educational experience but also a superb geographical environment in which you can open your mind to all sorts of possibilities for the future.