By now, it is no news that every year, international students from across the globe
come to Canada to pursue various academic courses.
Your sudden interest in finding information about how to study in Canada means two
things. Either you are interested in studying in Canada or you know someone that is
interested in studying in Canada but whichever one it is, rest assured that this article
is going to provide the necessary information that you will need.
Why should you study in Canada?
When it comes to choosing foreign countries to study in, Canada is one of the
countries that is mentioned. For this reason, a lot of people wonder why studying in
Canada is a good option for studying in your home country.
As you already know, studying in Canada is one of the dreams of many international
students. Canada is one of the best countries for higher education (undergraduate and
postgraduate) and this is one of the things that attracts a lot of international students.
The style of education in Canadian universities is top-notch and it is recognized all
over the world.
Considering the fact that research work is one of the most important components of a
graduate course, universities in Canada support international students that come up
are on the affordable side.
1.Innovative and abundant research opportunities
Every student is given the opportunity to carry out their research ideas and
create something innovative.
2.Immigration possibilities
Compared to other countries, it is much easier to immigrate to Canada as an
international student.
3.Exciting campus lifestyle
Canadian universities understand the importance of leisure time and how it
helps students do better, so they make their campuses fun for students.
4.Healthy and safe communities
The areas where the campuses are located are inspected to make sure that they
are safe, healthy, and suitable for learning.
5.Work and internship opportunities for international students
while they study
Some countries do not give international students the opportunity to work
while they are studying. This is one reason why everyone wants to study in
Canada.
Before you are allowed to study in Canada, there are certain documents you must have
before you are allowed to go to Canada for education.
You might have been hearing of these terms without understanding what they mean.
One of them is ‘Visa’.
A visa is a document that will be issued to you. This document signifies that you have
been permitted to move in and out of Canada or make a stop at the Canadian airport. Another thing you need to have is a Student permit.
A student permit is a document that will be issued through and this document allows
international students to study at a Designated Learning Institution (DLIs) in Canada.
For you to get a study permit, there are some documents he must provide. They are:
●Proof of Acceptance
●Proof of Identity and
●Proof of Financial support also referred to as Proof of Funds
●Letter of explanation
●Québec Acceptance Certificate
●Custodian Declaration (for minor children)
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Proof of Acceptance
After receiving an acceptance letter from the school you applied to, you are expected
to include either the electronic copy or the original copy of your letter when applying
for a study permit.
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Proof of Identity
This means that when you are applying for a study permit, you (and any family
member that might be coming with you) must provide:
●A valid passport-sized photograph or a valid travel document.
●Proof of your status in your country.
●Two recent passport-sized photographs that are no more than 90 days old.
Your name and date of birth should be written on the back of the photograph.
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Proof of Financial Support
Also referred to as Proof of Funds (POF) or Proof of Sufficient Funds, it is one of the
most mandatory requirements when applying for a Canadian study permit. This
document means that you do not only have the funds to cater for your tuition but you
also have the funds to cater for your living expenses (and that of the family
member[s] that accompanied you, if any) throughout your stay.
The school you applied to might also ask for Proof of Funds but regardless of who asks
you for Proof of Funds, Proof of Funds refers to the proof or evidence that you will be
able to handle the cost of living in Canada.
The following are documents that can be presented as Proof of Funds.
- Proof of a Canadian bank account that is in your name and has money in it.
- Evidence of education of student loans from a financial institution.
- Bank statements for the past 6 months.
- Bank draft.
- Proof that you have cleared all your tuition and accommodation fees.
- A letter from your sponsor or institution providing you with the needed funds.
- Proof of funding from Canada that is if you are in a Canadian-funded educational program or a scholarship.
All documents provided must be duly stamped and signed by the authority or
institution that gives them to you.
Below is a brief breakdown of how Proof of Funds works for you to be able to apply for
a student permit.
For example, if you and two of your family members want to move to a province
outside of Québec for about a year, here is a breakdown of what you need.
-Living expenses for students-$10,000.
-Living expenses for the first family member-$4,000.
-Living expenses for the second family member-$3,000.
The total cost of everything is $17,000. This amount is the sum total of the POF for
2022.
If the number of people that want to follow you is up to three or four, asides from the
first person, for every other person that follows you the living expenses for the person
is $3,000.
Now, if you and two of your family members want to stay in an area within the Québec
province for a year, this is a breakdown of your expenses.
– Living expenses for student-$11,000
-Living expenses for the first family member-$5,100
-Living expenses for the second family member are is-$5,125
The total cost of everything is $21,225, and this is the amount of POF needed in the
year 2022.
For every extra family member or friend that follows you, aside from the first person,
the sum of $5,125 is to be deposited.
(Québec is a province in Canada. It is one of the top 13 largest provinces in Canada and
it is the second largest by population).
Letter of Explanation
This is the letter that explains your goals (why you want to study in Canada and that
you understand your responsibilities as a student) and helps the study permit officer
understand you and your goals before issuing the permit. This letter must be included
even though the program you want to offer doesn’t require a permit.
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Québec Acceptance Letter
As stated above, in the breakdown of Proof of Funds, Quebec is one of the biggest
provinces in Canada and it is the second largest when it comes to population.
If the institution or place of study you choose is situated in Quebec and you want to
study in Québec for more than six months, you must provide a Québec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ) which must be issued to you by the Government du Quebec
(Government of Quebec). The school you want to study in can help you with the details
needed to apply for CAQ.
If your application for CAQ gets approved by the Ministere de l’immigration, de la
Francisation et de l’intégration, MIFI (in English, it means the Ministry of
Immigration, Francisation, and Integration). While you are still waiting to have your
CAQ, you can still go ahead and apply for your study permit with the letter of approval
from MIFI.
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Custodian Declaration (for minor children)
This is a document that is used to show that a minor has a custodian. If the minor,
according to the Custodianship Declaration, requires a custodian, then a two-page
document, signed by the custodian in Canada and the legal guardian of the parents in
the home country, must be provided. The first page is where the custodian will sign,
and the second page is where the legal guardian or parent will sign. This document
must be submitted alongside a study permit application in the case of a minor.
Other documents that will be needed are:
●Medical exam stating you are in good health
●Proof of no criminal record
●Language test exams like IELTS, TOEFL
●Biometrics
Eligibility requirements to study in Canada
●School leaving certificate for undergraduates
●Bachelor’s degree certificate for postgraduate
●Proof of language proficiency or language test ( TOEFL, DTE, IELTS and CAEL)
●Two recent copies of your passport photograph
●Letter of recommendation (if needed)
●Resume or CV (if needed)
●SOP for Canada
The cost of an undergraduate program is $12,000 to $25,000 per year depending on
your course of study, and the cost of study for a postgraduate degree is $24,000 to
$35,000 per year depending on your course of study. For universities that offer
doctorate programs, the cost of study per year is $7,000 to $10,000.
Tips to help you study in Canada.
In no exact order, they are:
●Do your research
Before you shortlist any university, make sure you have done your research on
the university, choose what you want to study, where you want to live, the cost
of living, etc. like the TOEFL, IELTS, etc. The proficiency test to be submitted
depends on the requirements of your choosing a college or university. Register
for the tests on time.
●Sufficient funds
Make sure you have enough money to take you throughout your stay in Canada.
The money should be enough to cater for your accommodation, food, local
travel and some other miscellaneous expenses.
●Apply to the University
Every university has its own specific requirements. Contact them, make
requirements and submit the application form before the deadline.
●Confirm your admission
Once you have confirmed your admission and gotten your acceptance letter
from your chosen university, you are expected to pay a non-refundable deposit
to the university to confirm your admission in Canada.
●Put together all your required documents
Visa, study permit, proof of acceptance, proof of funds and all other documents
listed earlier on must be prepared so that they can be presented when needed.
After you graduate, the Canadian government provides you with an option to stay,
gain work experience, and continue to contribute to Canada’s economy and culture
without the need for or requirements of a Canadian job offer at the time of applying.
As long as you have a good record and have not done anything to break the rules, you
are certain to enjoy your time in Canada.
Learn more about studying abroad as an iinternational student.
