Study in Canada

The Canadian Education System :
Canadians place a premium on education and demand first-rate schools. Canada spends more per capita on its education system than any other country in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development; 7.1% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) compared with an average of 6.1% in other countries. Education in Canada is a provincial responsibility under the Canadian constitution, which results in differences between the education systems of the different provinces. However, education standards across the country are uniformly high.
Canada has over 260 institutes offering post-secondary education: universities, university colleges, community colleges, technical institutes, and career colleges located in both urban and rural settings in different regions of the country. 
Canadians have traditionally believed in universal access to quality education. This is reflected in our academic institutions’ commitment to maintaining affordable tution costs, as reflected below :
* Canada plays host to more than 1,00,000 international students in any given year.
* Canada is one of the most multicultural countries in the world. It is, in fact, a nation of
   immigrants from all over the globe, creating a wonderful, vibrant and harmonious mix of
   cultures. Included in this dynamic mix are more than 6,00,000 Canadians of Indian origin. 
Valuable North American work experience is available to international students participating in co-operative programmes where work experience is part of the study programme.
 
Canadian universities are largely public funded, and, as a result, offer consistently high quality education at lower tuition rates for international students than their counterparts in competing countries. They offer a broad range of courses and degrees from under-graduate to doctorate and also certificate and professional degrees. As a component of the Canadian university system, university colleges offer students a choice of either academic oriented university degree programmes or the more practice-oriented college diplomas and certificates. As a part of the Canadian college system, university colleges are distinguished by their strong student support services, small classes and strong campus environments. They also offer combined degree/diploma programmes and university transfer programmes.
 
Community colleges and technical institutes These have a more vocation-related curricula, with small classes, off-campus course offerings, a greater ratio of laboratory space to classroom space, and an interactive teaching style. The uniqueness of Canadian colleges lies in the combination of employer-centered curricula. 
These institutes have the primary function of responding to the training needs of business, industry, and public service sectors. Most colleges and technical institutes offer diplomas and certificates rather than degrees.

A technical/career college is a privately owned and operated school with the main objective of preparing students for the job market after a short period of instruction. The emphasis at career colleges is on practical skills over a broad range of programmes. They specialise in such areas as business, computers and secretarial skills. Although privately owned, these institutes are provincially approved and regulated, ensuring that programme standard and quality are maintained.
 

The academic year :
The academic year usually starts in September and ends in May, and is normally divided into two -semesters. Some institutes operate on a semester or trimester system and admit students in January and/or May as well as September. Many institutes offer a limited number of courses and special programmes during the summer session.

A certificate is a qualification awarded upon successful completion of a programme usually one year in length, and is offered at colleges.
The qualification awarded on the basis of one or two year’s successful study is a diploma, and is offered at colleges.

Undergraduate/bachelors degrees are awarded by universities after four years of full-time study, and lead to graduate level studies.

Graduate/post graduate degrees lead to advanced degrees, diplomas and certificates. A pre-requisite to participate in graduate studies is a bachelors/under graduate degree (4 years).
 

MBA programmes :
MBA programmes will typically require a minimum of two to three years of relevant work experience, a GMAT score of 580-600, TOEFL score of 560-600, and a 4-year degree, and are generally 2 years in duration, though a few institutes offer a fast track option.

Pre-requisites to participating in a master’s programme is a four-year bachelor’s degree with high academic standing equivalent to a minimum mid-B grade in Canada (mid 70s); at least two academic letters of reference; and other qualifications as specified, that is, TOEFL, GRE general and/or subject test. Master’s programmes generally require two years and usually require a combination of course work and thesis. 
 
A doctorate or Ph.D. is a degree ranking above a master’s degree, and generally requires four to seven years to complete full time. A combination of course work, original research, and a thesis is required. Pre-requisites are typically a master’s degree, although direct entry from a bachelor’s degree to a Ph.D. programme may be possible depending on the school and programme. Minimum high-B grade in Canada (high 70s) is required; where relevant, demonstrated research competence equivalent to at least a B+ grade; at least two academic letters of reference; and other qualifications as specified, that is, TOEFL, GRE general and/or subject test.
 
Post-doctoral programmes are much more specialised, research oriented programmes. One of the most important factors in granting post-doctorate fellowships is the personal network established between the interested applicant and the faculty member within the institution.
 
Back