Canada Student Visa Guide

1. CANADA Capital Ottawa Calgary Vancouver Montreal Toronto Average Air-Travel Time 16 HOUR (Non-stop) 20 HOUR (with one stopover) National Currency Canadian Dollar Currency Conversion Rate $1 = 54-56 (INR) Total Canadian Population Total Student Population Total Indian Population Numbers of Indian students 34.88 million (2012) 1.06 million (2010) 1.17 million (2012) 17,530 (2010) Provinces with most Top Ranking University Indian population .. . .. .. . . . University of Toronto University of British columbia University of Alberta Simon Fraser University McGill University University of Waterloo York University Queen’s University University of Calgary University of Victoria British Columbia Alberta Quebec Ontario Summertime Average Temperature 18 C to 26 C Weather o o Wintertime Average Temperature -6 C to 0 C o o Time difference from IST Pacific Time Zone -12.30 HOURS (from IST) Central Time Zone -10.30 HOURS (from IST)

2. About Canada: Education System: The school systems in Canada are different from each other, depending on the province or territory. Education is available in both English and in French in most places, provided there are enough students in that area speaking the secondary language. High school is typically till grades nine to 12. In Québec, high school ends in grade eleven and is followed by a program that prepares the student for university or a technical field called CEGEP. Beyond this, students can attend either vocational schools or enter a university. At a university they will first earn a Bachelor's degree, and can continue studies to receive a Master's or a Doctorate degree. Vocational students will earn certificates and diplomas that will help improve their skills in the various trades. Popular student destinations: Popular choices for pursuing a full time academic degree are. • McGill University, • The University of British Columbia, • University of Alberta, • Simon Fraser University, are popular choices if you want to pursue a full time academic degree. Most of the best colleges in the country are situated in cities like Toronto, British Columbia and Montreal. The number of Canadian student visas issued to Indian students jumped to more than 12,000 in 2010 from 3,152 in 2008. Canada is the preferred destination for vocational studies rather than degree courses as these result in better employment opportunities. Canada is a good choice for immigration as the country offers immense scope for working owing to its low population density. The most popular degree courses in Canada would be postgraduate diploma in areas like Business Management,Media,Engineering, Computer Science and Hospitality. Safety in Canada: Canada is one of the safest countries, with one of the highest standards of living in the world. Canada is a free country where people are, by and large, judged on their actions and character, rather than their appearance or country of origin. Weather: Weather in Canada varies widely depending on where you are. Canada stretches from the Pacific to Atlantic Ocean, covering five time zones. Weather: Weather in Canada varies widely depending on where you are. Canada stretches from the Pacific to Atlantic Ocean, covering five time zones. Vancouver Weather Montreal Weather Toronto Weather The weather remains wet, yet mild throughout The weather in winter is cold and snowy. The cold in The weather in winter is milder than most Can- the year. Summer in Vancouver is pleasantly adian cities, yet cold and snowy. Summer temp- Montreal can be especially biting because of the wind- warm with an average temperature of 22°C. eratures range from 15°C to 25°C. During wint- chill factor. Snowfall usually begins in November and Winters are wet, but snow is rare. Average continues through March. During winter months, er months, the daytime temperatures are betwe- daily temperatures in winters range from 3°C the daytime temperatures are between -6°C to - en 12°C to -10°C to 7°C. 15°C. Summer temperatures range from 15°C to 25°C www.worldwidecollege.in 2

3. Lifestyle tips Canadians are open-minded and proud of their multicultural and diverse population. Like any other country, Canadians have certain expectations of appropriate behaviour. Here are a few tips: Be on time for both professional and social occasions Be respectful in conversation and behaviour Canadians believe in equality between genders, so show respect to the opposite sex Don't crack jokes or make comments that are insulting to people's race, religion, gender, disability, sexual orientation or appearance Avoid personal questions about things like age, salary, marital status, relationships, and the cost of personal items until you are well-acquainted with people. . . . . . Language problems: Living in a society where you have to use English or occasionally French on a daily basis can be challenging at first. Some language problems you may intially encounter there are: . You may not understand the local accent right away. Regional accents vary greatly in Canada. Give yourself time to get used to the local accent. . Canadians might not understand you right away. You will also have your own accent. Speak slowly and don't be shy about asking others to speak slowly if you are having a hard time understanding them. . . . Canadians use a lot of slang in their speech and it might take you some time before you understand all of it. Humour is an integral part of Canadian English. This should be interpreted as a sign of friendliness, not disrespect. Canadians use lots of abbreviation in their speech (for example, TA for Teachers Assistant or Poli Sci for Political Science). If you don't understand something, simply ask the meaning of it. Participation: It is necessary to participate in all activities during your classes. You may be asked to participate in class dis- cussions, group work or other activities. It is very important to participate outside of the classroom as well.This will provide you with many opportunities to practice your English skills in many different settings. Making friends: Try not to be shy. Remember that making friends is important to everyone in their first year of university. Saying "please" and "thank you" are important Canadian customs, and your relationships will improve if you express your grat- itude and appreciation to those around you. Indians living in Canada: Most Indians choose to live at larger urban centres like Toronto, and Vancouver, where more than 70% of Indians live. Smaller communities are also growing in Calgary, Edmonton, and Montreal. Indians in Vancouver are from different parts of India. A place called Little India exists in Vancouver and a section of Gerrard Street in Toronto. Indians in Vancouver mainly live in the suburb of Surrey, or nearby Abbotsford and also in other parts of Vancouver. www.worldwidecollege.in 3

4. Student life : Accommodation: Firstly, you need to decide whether you want to live in university managed accommodation, or with a private landlord. Choosing university managed acc- ommodation can also give you a catered or self - catered option. Catered accommodation offers the benefits of your meals being cooked for you and a degree of certainty with meal costs. Activities: Along with sports, colleges offer extra - curricu- lar activities that provide students a wide range of experiences. Music, drama, science and literary societies offer opportunities for outdoor education and other leisure activities. Visits to theat- res and concerts,to places relevant to the courses of study such as art galleries and museums, religious centres or historical sites, scientific companies and projects are all part of college life. If you have an idea about what you prefer, the accommod- ation office at your university will be able to tell you what accommodation they have available - so that’s the place to start. If you are thinking of renting from a private landlord or if your chosen university can’t offer you anything in its own residential facility, the accommodation office should be able to provide you with a list of private properties and landl- ords in the area. Wherever you choose to live, you should make sure that you know your contractual rights and responsibilities.In most cases you will be asked to enter into a tenancy agreement, which you should read thoroughly before you sign it. Orientation: Orientation week is mandatory for internati- onal students so you want to be sure and arrive before it starts.This is the time where you will be introduced to the university and its services, as well as enroll in your classes. It is essential that you read your guidebook, which is provid- ed by the college. The guide explains each part of the admi- ssion process. www.worldwidecollege.in 4

5. Admission process Requirements: These vary between study programs and levels. For each course, Indian students will need to meet a minimum English language requirement. Along with that a minimum academic record of 65% and above for humanities stream in class XIIth, and 70 - 80% and above for Science/ Commerce stream in class XII will also be required. Found- ations and Diploma programs are available for students who have secured below 60%. The student should have comple- ted 18 years of age before joining a degree program. Application fee: All colleges require that you pay an appli- cation fee while applying. The fee amount will differ depending upon the college and course being applied to, so check with in- dividual colleges about their application fee. Steps: The common steps to applying for admission are as follows: Search for colleges and courses Contact schools and visit websites for information Narrow down your list of schools Take the entrance exams like SAT, GMAT, GRE, TOEFL, IELTS Write SOPs and ask for LORs Apply to the colleges which fit your interests Appear for video interviews of the colleges that shortlisted you If accepted, apply for student visa It is important to note that these numbers are just for refere- nce purpose, the actual numbers may differ from university to university. The following documents also need to be submitted - Attested copies of mark sheets of Standard X, XII, and the Bachelors degree (if applicable) At least, two academic reference letters from professors who have taught you most recently If you have work experience then two letters of recommend- ation from the employer/manager who knows you well and can comment on your professional abilities Statement of Purpose (SOP) Resume Photocopies of score reports of GMAT / IELTS / TOEFL Portfolio (in case of Students applying for art and design courses & architecture programs) Others (certificates / achievements at the state and national level and extracurricular activities) Proof of funds Medical Tests SOP: A Statement of Purpose (SOP) is your introduction to the college and admission officers. It is always written in first person and describes the reason for applying to a particular college. It needs to highlight why you are a perfect fit for the college and why t he college should accept you. The style of writing could differ from formal to casual, but it is important to remember that it should reflect your personality as well. Essay: Essays are also required to be submitted by a prosp- ective student. Essays are an important part of the university admissions process. Students may be required to write one or two essays, along with a few optional essays. Common topics include career aspirations, strengths and weaknesses, skills, experiences, and reasons for considering a particular school. Timeline: Most Canadian colleges accept online applicat- ions. You will have to visit each college's website to apply. In most cases, you will have to make an account on the college website to provide your basic information, submit the scann- ed version of your documents and pay application fees. You will be informed about the application process and stages through this account. LOR: A letter of recommendation (LOR) is a reference letter written by a third party describing the qualities, characteristics, and capabilities of the prospective student to recommend him to the college in terms of that individual’s ability to perform a particular task or function. The third party could be a professor, direct manager etc. Please refer to the website of the colleges of your choice to know the process of applying as it may differ from institute to institute. www.worldwidecollege.in 5

6. Intake seasons: The session starts mainly in September and January but some institutions have intakes in May, July and October as well. The Major intake season for the top courses in Canada is September, while the minor intake sea- son is January, which is meant for a fairly small number of courses. The main intake season for top colleges and courses is the fall season i.e. September. It depends on what course you are looking to pursue, because many courses don’t have the January intakes. If you are looking to get admission into vocational courses, then some courses may have admissions open in January and perhaps even May or July. You should start your admission process around six months before the application deadline. Typically, most universities have three deadlines,from October to January. It is up to the convenience of the students, which deadline to aim for. You should be done with your language and aptitude tests three months before the deadline. The last three months should be dedicated to filling out the application form properly. It is essential to ensure that the ‘complete application proce- dure’ along with appearing for interviews and visa application procedure should be complete by June or July for the Septe- mber intake. www.worldwidecollege.in 6

7. General exams Exams Language exams: International English Language Testing System (IELTS),Test of English as Foreign Language (TOEFL) and Pearson Test of English (PTE) are all standardized language tests, which are required to be taken for the purpose of getting admission to colleges. These both follow different formats, structure and result bands. These tests are all different in various ways but many colleg es ask for any one of the results. So it's up to the student to decide which exam to appear for. GMAT - GMAT is used to measure the abilities of the potential MBA aspirant to undertake higher education in the field of business or management. It measures mathematical, english, reasoning skills of the student. GRE - GRE is another test required to be taken by students appl- ying to graduate schools to pursue MA or MS. Increasingly many business schools are also accepting GRE scores for the purpose of granting admission for MBA. Repetition of exams: IELTS can be taken unlimited number of times. TOEFL can be retaken as many times as wished, but can- not be taken more than once in a 12-day period. Same with PTE, it can be taken as many times as wished. You must wait to receive your scores before you can book your next test. Repetition and Fee: You can give GMAT any number of times, subject to 5 time a year and a gap of 30 days between two tests. You can take these tests with a gap of 30 days from the first time. The cost of GMAT is Rs. 16,000 and GRE is Rs. 12,000. Ideally, if you are aiming at the September intake you should appear for these exams by November, so that you can apply before the 1st deadline. The preparatory duration generally ranges from 4 to 6 mo- nths. Fee: The fee for these exams is Rs. 9,300 for IELTS, Rs. 10,000 for TOEFL and Rs. 9,350 for PTE. Time to apply: Ideally, if you are aiming at the September intake you should appear for these exams by November,so that you can apply before the 1st deadline.The universities you will be apply- ing to will mention which exam results they will accept. But if they give a choice to go for either of these, then the choice depends on you. The time required to prepare for IELTS/TOEFL/PTE would de- pend on the existing English language proficiency. You may require 2 to 4 months of prep before the exam date. Average Scores: The average GMAT score accepted across universities is 520. Average GRE score is 145 for Verbal, 160 for Quantitative and 4.0 for Writing. It is important to note that these numbers are just for reference pur- pose, the actual numbers may differ from university to university. www.worldwidecollege.in 7

8. Cost of living Health insurance: Insurance Policy for international stu- dents is mandatory, as students have to stay abroad for a long period of time. Before getting an insurance make sure that it covers medical expenses, personal accident, dental treatment, study interruption, passport loss etc. Insurance is basically cashless so a student does not need to pay money at the time of hospitalisation. The cost of living depends heavily on what part of Canada will you be living in along with how much you will socialise. Some of the basic elements for living as an international student in Canada are: Accommodation rent ( on campus or off campus ) Utilities like power, water, gas, internet Scholarships: Merit and need based fee waivers are awa- rded to international students. Candidate with strong academi- cs, good performance in standardised exams and extracurric- ular achievements would be eligible for scholarship awards and financial assistance. To benefit from these opportunities, one ha s to make sure to send all the required documents by particular deadlines. In addition to this, the presentation of the application is also important because one is judged by the im- age one projects. Airfare for traveling back to India Text and reference books Groceries and food Phone bills Other elements which may differ from person to person would be: Dinning out • Travel and Vacation • Car rent and Car insurance • Cable TV connection • Documents required: The documents usually needed for a scholarship application are as follows, although the requi- rements may difer: • Academic records and photocopies • A recent CV • A letter of intent, which acts as a cover page • Certificate of language Proficiency (TOEFL or IELTS scores) • Letters of reference School expenses: The tuition fee varies according to diff- erent universities,courses and the city. The tuition expenses in Canada might be up to CDN $10,000-$30,000 per year for an under graduate course. And if you are thinking of applying for a post graduate course, the cost would be $15,000-$55,000 per year. Living expenses: On an average, a student spends app- roximately CDN $10,000–$12,000 per year. But the expenses also depend on the place where a student stays. If a student stays in metropolitan city like Toronto or Vancouver the expen- ses could go up to CDN $15,000 in comparison to a student studying in the suburbs where the expenses would be around CDN $8,000-$10,000 each year. www.worldwidecollege.in 8

9. Loans Student eligibility criteria: The first thing is to be aware whether you are eligible to apply for the loan or not. The general eligibility criteria that are followed by all the banks are – Documentation required: You will have to provide the acceptance letter sent by the university reflecting that you have been selected for the course and the schedule of fees. You will also need to show the mark sheet of the last qualify- ing examination to show your academic record. • You should be an Indian national • You must have a strong academic record • You must be seeking admission to a professional, technical or other course of studies. Most banks maintain that the selected course should be job oriented • You must have secured admission to foreign university institutions • You must be above the age of 18 years or else your parents can avail the loan All banks have diferent requirement for documentation, so you need to confirm with the bank first. Repayment: : Repayment starts only after the course period. If the student got employed within one year after com- pletion of the course, the repayment should start immediately after the expiry of one month from the date of employment. If you do not secure a job within a year of completing the cou- rse, then repayment starts irrespective of whether or not you are employed. The loan is generally to be repaid in 5-7 years after commencement of repayment. If the student is not able to complete the course within the scheduled time, extension for completion of course, may be permitted for a maximum period of two years. Generally, you will get up to a maximum number of 10 years to repay the loan. Eligibility of course: You may not get a loan on every course. Here are the kinds of courses that qualify for the education loan. For Graduation: Job oriented professional or technical courses offered by reputed universities For Post Graduation: MCA, MBA, MS or even diplom- as These courses could be from foreign universities or institutes approved by the state and central government. Loan amount: If your total fee is Rs 10 lakh, the bank may offe r to give a loan of 80% of the amount and you will have to put in the balance 20%. This is called the margin amount. The maximum loan amount offered by banks for studies abroad is generally around Rs 20 lakh by the bank. If your tuition fee is Rs 30 lakh, you’ll have to manage the rest of the funds by yourself. Some banks charge a process- ing fee, while others don’t; it may be a fixed amount or a per- centage of the total loan amount. So if the bank charges you a 1% processing fee, that will be an additional cost you’ll have to cover. www.worldwidecollege.in 9

10. Loans Student eligibility criteria: The first thing is to be aware whether you are eligible to apply for the loan or not. The general eligibility criteria that are followed by all the banks are – Documentation required: You will have to provide the acceptance letter sent by the university reflecting that you have been selected for the course and the schedule of fees. You will also need to show the mark sheet of the last qualify- ing examination to show your academic record. • You should be an Indian national • You must have a strong academic record • You must be seeking admission to a professional, technical or other course of studies. Most banks maintain that the selected course should be job oriented • You must have secured admission to foreign university institutions • You must be above the age of 18 years or else your parents can avail the loan All banks have diferent requirement for documentation, so you need to confirm with the bank first. Repayment: : Repayment starts only after the course period. If the student got employed within one year after com- pletion of the course, the repayment should start immediately after the expiry of one month from the date of employment. If you do not secure a job within a year of completing the cou- rse, then repayment starts irrespective of whether or not you are employed. The loan is generally to be repaid in 5-7 years after commencement of repayment. If the student is not able to complete the course within the scheduled time, extension for completion of course, may be permitted for a maximum period of two years. Generally, you will get up to a maximum number of 10 years to repay the loan. Eligibility of course: You may not get a loan on every course. Here are the kinds of courses that qualify for the education loan. For Graduation: Job oriented professional or technical courses offered by reputed universities For Post Graduation: MCA, MBA, MS or even diplom- as These courses could be from foreign universities or institutes approved by the state and central government. Loan amount: If your total fee is Rs 10 lakh, the bank may offe r to give a loan of 80% of the amount and you will have to put in the balance 20%. This is called the margin amount. The maximum loan amount offered by banks for studies abroad is generally around Rs 20 lakh by the bank. If your tuition fee is Rs 30 lakh, you’ll have to manage the rest of the funds by yourself. Some banks charge a process- ing fee, while others don’t; it may be a fixed amount or a per- centage of the total loan amount. So if the bank charges you a 1% processing fee, that will be an additional cost you’ll have to cover. www.worldwidecollege.in 10

11. Loans Visa for spouse: Spouses can accompany full time stud- ents on a Dependent visa. You only need to show that adequ- ate funds are available for their support. Spouses can also work full time if his/her stay is for a year or more. Submit your application and supporting documents: Since you need to give your biometrics, you can’t mail in your application.You’ll either have to apply online or submit your application in person at a VFS office. In either case, you will need to go to a VAC to give your biometrics. Things to check after submitting application Pre-departure list .... . Medical Exam: The visa application process to Canada requires a compulsory medical test for Indian applicants.Your own docto r cannot perform the medical exam. You must see a doctor on the list of panel physicians, which is provided on the official Canada immigration website http://www.cic.gc.ca/. Once your exam has been completed, the physician will send the results to CIC. You can choose to get the test done either before or after submitting the visa application Book airline tickets Buy travel and health insurance Arrange accommodation in Canada Arrange transportation to/from the airport to home in Canada Arrange your banking – consider buying traveler’s cheques Check baggage and customs limitations Clear all paperwork with your home educational institution .. Work permit: The eligibility criteria to get a Post Study Work permit are as follows: • You should have pursued a full-time course in Canada. Get your documents in order and make photocopies to store in your baggage and keep at home, including: • The length of your course should have been more than 8 months. .......... Passport Airline tickets Travel insurance certificate Letter of Acceptance by the educational institution; Key addresses and phone numbers A bank statement showing proof of funds Prescriptions for any medication you are carrying Traveler’s cheques—if applicable Medical and immunization records Academic history and university transcripts • You must have graduated from either a public post-seco- ndary institution or a private post-secondary institution or • You should apply for work permit within three months (90 days) after receiving official letter saying that you have successfully completed your education from the institute. • You will be given the work permit only if you have a stud- ent visa. You cannot get a work permit longer than your course durati- on. If your course duration was eight months, then you will receive work permit for eight months. If your course duration was more than two years, then you may receive work permit for three years. www.worldwidecollege.in 11

12. Once you land Homesickness: Homesickness is a predictable problem faced by most students at one point or another. It may occur at the beginning or even well into your first year. Homesickn- ess will pass. Be patient. Give it at least two weeks. If you are feeling sad, share your feelings with friends. Do not hide in your room; if you do,the homesickness will only worsen. Find your counselor on staff with whom you can talk about home- sickness or other problems. Homesickness might be made worse by frequent, long telephone calls home. Most homesick students feel more homesick after a call home than they did before they picked up the phone. Try to limit yourself to one call home every week. The sooner you integrate into the uni- versity experience, the sooner your homesickness will pass. Get your student identification card: it will be your passport around the campus. (if applicable) Take advantage of the student services on offer: use the fitn- ess facilities at the recreation centre, find the student bookst- ore and browse in the library Learning basic cooking: Cooking for yourself will save you money. Indian food is expensive in Canada. Making it on your own will satisfy your urge to eat‘your food’during moments of homesickness. Indian spices are not commonly available in smaller cities, but you may find shops on campus where you can get ingredients used in most Indian cuisine. Your first few weeks in Canada: The first weeks of the first semester are a busy time for every new international (and Canadian) student during which everyone is learning about the campus and classes while making new friends. You should take time to get to know your University: Explore campus to familiarize yourself with where you need to go when registering for your program, attending classes, getting your meals and visiting new friends Join the International Student Club Find out what learning resources and workshops are availa- ble for international students www.worldwidecollege.in 12

13. Post Studies options Placements: Indian students are used to the concept of Campus placements and on-campus recruitment for getting jobs. There is no concept of placements Canada. Most Cana- dian University have a cell called a Career Services Center, which helps you get jobs and help you prepare for interviews. The on - campus recruitment is always driven by student inte- rest.Companies that recruit through the university do not offer a job directly. What they offer is an internship or co-op. Comp- anies like to see your work for few months before they hire you full time. Eligibility criteria: To be eligible for a work permit, you must meet the following conditions: . . You must have a valid study visa Your intended employment must be related to your program of study in Canada. . Your employment must be part of your academic program, certified by a letter from a responsible academic official of the institution. Co-Op Education Program: In a Cooperative program, period of study alternates with work. The Student Co-Op Pro- gram is a formally structured program where the intent is to recruit students, while still in school, to fill permanent positions upon graduation.Co-op programs are generally undertaken at colleges and universities. Indian students who wish to partici- pate in a co - op or internship program must apply for a work permit as well as a study permit. To explore more study options inCanda, MBA in Canada B.E./B.Tech in Canada MS in Canada Did you find this guide useful? We would love to hear from you. Write to us at info@worldwidecollege.in www.worldwidecollege.in 13