If you are going to study overseas, why not consider Canada? And each year, Canada accepts almost half a million international students, except for 2020. Despite the year’s setback, Canadian education is still considered one of the best in the world.
Once you have decided, the next step is to learn how to study in Canada. You will need relevant information, such as the procedure, visa conditions, and fund requirements.
Table of Contents
- Minor Children as International Students
- Post-Secondary Schools
- Programs of Study
- Application Procedure so You Can Study in Canada from the Philippines
- Partner Colleges of the Immigrant Visa Center
Minor Children as International Students
Primary schools teach students from grades 1 to 8. Secondary schools teach students from grades 9 to 12. While all primary and secondary schools in Canada are DLI and can enroll international students, there are special rules for minors studying in Canada.
It is the province and territory that decides when a person becomes an adult. Check out the table below for the age of a minor child.
| Province or Territory | Age of Majoriy |
|---|---|
| Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan | 18 |
| British Columbia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, Nunavut, Yukon | 19 |
If your child is an international student, you must prove he will have sufficient care and support while he is studying in Canada. If you are not available, you must appoint a custodian living in Canada. A custodian is an adult Canadian citizen or permanent resident who will take over the care and support of the child. Though minors who are 17 years and older may not have a custodian, IRCC may still request one.
Even minor children must apply for a study permit if they will studying in Canada for six months or more. If you intend to study in a post-secondary college or university and are bringing along minor children, be sure your children apply for their study permit before they leave for Canada.
Post-Secondary Schools
Canadian schools, colleges, and universities offer internationally recognized qualifications. With more employment and business opportunities opening for you, you may work in any country using these credentials.
Some colleges and schools depend on the tuition fees they collect to operate. Others receive funding from the federal or provincial governments or the public. Then there are polytechnics and universities. Universities offer programs on academic and theoretical topics. Polytechnics focus on applied skills, offering opportunities for work-integrated, and career-focused learning.
Public colleges
In contrast, public colleges (or community colleges) are primarily funded by a national or state government and the public. There are a larger range of courses on offer at public colleges though they are known to have larger class sizes. However, the cost of attending such an institution is subsidized by the government.
Make the most of your stay in Canada as an international student! Be sure that you know what being on a student visa entails so you can make plans for your career even as a student. Read about the important conditions of a Canada study permit before you begin an application.
Programs of Study
If you choose to study at a publicly-funded college, institution, or polytechnic, you can choose from a variety of courses. Earn a certificate, diploma, post-graduate certificate, or a post-graduate diploma! And if you have other plans, you may enroll in a university-transfer program, apprenticeship, or complete academic and applied degrees.
You may also choose to gain work experience while studying. Canada’s colleges and vocational schools offer programs with hands-on training in skills employers seek for their industries. There are also study programs with an internship, co-operative work, and work placement modules.
If you are interested in the sciences, you cannot go wrong with more than 400 specialized research centers, laboratories, and research centers available to students. And, there are over ten thousand programs at 127 colleges in Canada, ranging from a few months to four years. These schools offer study options in technical and professional fields such as:
- Agriculture and agri-food
- Broadcasting and journalism
- Business
- Design
- Engineering technology
- Environment
- Health
- Hospitality management
- Information and communications technology
- Languages and arts
- Sciences
- Social services
When our clients ask us how much it would cost them to study in Canada, we always answer, it depends on several factors. The location of the college and study program is important. High-quality education isn’t just offered in bigger cities such as Toronto or British Columbia. You will find excellent colleges in smaller cities and college towns where the cost of living is much lower than in big urban centers.
How to Study in Canada
We recommend that you start an application at least one year before your target intake date. Take this time to learn so that you will make fewer mistakes.
- You must prepare the money you are going to need.
- Then, start collecting the documents you will need in your application.
- Your study permit and visa state the conditions of your stay. Learn what you can and cannot do while studying in Canada.
- Take a language exam if the institution or university requires it.
- Review what you should do after graduation.
You will be responsible for maintaining your status as an international student in Canada. You must, therefore, attend your classes regularly and pass your courses. Discontinuing your enrollment violates your visa conditions and might cause severe repercussions for you.
Application Procedure so You Can Study in Canada from the Philippines
The first step
The first step to study in Canada is to choose a province or territory. Canada has ten provinces and three territories to the north. The provinces are:
- Alberta
- British Columbia
- Manitoba
- New Brunswick
- Newfoundland and Labrador
- Nova Scotia
- Ontario
- Prince Edward Island
- Quebec
- Saskatchewan.
To ensure that you have the financial resources for an application, check the fund requirement for a student permit application. This is an important step as your Guaranteed Investment Certificate must be enough to cover your and your dependents’ living expenses for one year.
Some people choose a province where family members or close friends have settled. Others select a region offering provincial nomination to its international students, making it easier to apply for permanent residence after graduation.
Second Step
International students must study only in schools that are approved to enroll them. Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada, or IRCC, calls schools authorized to host international students for studies as Designated Learning Institution or DLI.
It’s important to remember that you must apply only to a DLI. IRCC will refuse your application for a study permit if you submit an acceptance letter from an institution that is not a DLI.
Sometimes, a school loses its DLI status after the Embassy releases your visa. That’s fine! You may still study in the school you enrolled in until your permit expires.
Third Step
If the school accepts your application, prepare the documents required by the Visa Office closest to you. In general, you’ll need the following documents.
- A Letter of Acceptance from the school.
- Proof of your identity and those family members accompanying you.
- Evidence you are eligible to enroll in the course you chose.
- The existence of financial resources.
- Results of a medical examination attesting to your good health.
Fourth Step
Once you have all the documents in the checklist, submit your packet using one of these methods:
- Paper application. You will have to book an appointment at the Visa Application Center nearest you.
- E-application. You have to upload your application packet so ensure your internet connection is stable.
Collect all documentary requirements for your student visa application. Take your time in doing so. Remember, you will not be allowed to appeal a disapproved application. Then, check for misleading statements in your application form before submitting it.
The Canadian government considers all international students as temporary visitors. So, you will be expected to return to your country of residency after you graduate, even if you qualify for immigration.
Fifth Step
Make sure you have planned for your stay in Canada. Some people would rather live with family members or friends. Others want to live on campus if student dorms are available.
Whether you intend to remain in Canada after graduation or not, it’s best to get practical work experience that you may use later on. If you intend to work part-time as a student, check if you are eligible to work!
Study in Canada. Check the Partner Colleges of Immigrant Visa Center
The following are some of the partner colleges of IVC in Canada. More will be added to the list as soon as we have confirmed when they intend to open their campuses to classes for 2020.
- Conestoga College in Ontario
- Fanshawe College in Ontario
- Niagara College in Ontario
- George Brown College in Ontario
- Lambton College in Ontario
- Red River College in Manitoba