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Study in Canada
So often, students place Australia, the UK or the US as their top study destinations for Masters or PhD-level international study, yet Canada offers an educational system that is well-known for the academic quality of its graduate degree programs and an enjoyable and relaxed place to live. For an increasing number of international students every year, Canada is their only choice for either a Masters of PhD program, attracted by a unique combination of academic excellence, the varied choice of universities and colleges, the reasonable cost of tuition and living and increasing prospects for living and career opportunities after graduation.
Canada offers an almost unparalleled living experience for international students, with its high standard of living, low crime rate, excellent medical system and informal society. A bilingual country offering both English and French as the main languages, Canada is regarded as being one of the most ethnically diverse countries in the world, with cosmopolitan cities such as Toronto and Vancouver leading the way. Canadians themselves tend to be regarded as open, easy-going and welcoming to visitors and particularly enjoy their own unique environment. There are 42 national parks throughout Canada and international students are often struck by the widely varying natural environments the country presents.
Graduate programs in Canada are particularly popular amongst international students, with their clearly defined structure, opportunities to interact with high quality academic members of staff and the teaching approaches that are employed. The Masters degree in Information Studies offered by the University of Toronto, one of Canada’s largest hosts of international students, is typical of the way in which Canadian Masters degrees are taught. Spread over two years, students complete core compulsory courses in their first year and specialize in their second year by electing to concentrate on a small number of academic areas most relevant to their own interests and career ambitions. Teaching and learning methods are varied, but include lectures, group assignments and seminars, demonstrations and access to online learning environments.
Canada is becoming increasingly attractive with its value for money tuition fees and cost of living.
Costs are a consistent factor in international students choosing their study destination, so Canada is becoming increasingly attractive with its value for money tuition fees and cost of living. Masters degrees cost as low as CA$9,000 a year and living costs vary from an additional CA$1,200 and CA$1,600 a month. This means that some Canadian graduate schools offer an overall cost of half that charged by universities and colleges in the UK or the US. Moreover, financial aid offered through scholarships, bursaries and teaching assistantships can reduce the costs paid by international students even further.
According to experts at the Canadian Immigration Centre, an organization specializing in securing study places and jobs for those interested in choosing Canada, the financial aspects of life in Canada can be compelling for international students: “Canadian Masters and PhD tuition fees are among the lowest in the English-speaking world and, coupled with the possibilities for international students to work during and after studies, makes the financial side of life in Canada for graduate programs very attractive. In some cases international students do not need a work permit to be able to work on campus – a unique feature amongst other national systems of education.”
Canada offers a great deal more to the prospective international graduate student than just value for money. Saif Rahman, a Masters business student at Wilfred Laurier University, located in the city of Waterloo just an hour west of Toronto, is originally from Bangladesh. Drawn to one of Canada’s best and fastest growing university’s by the quality of the academic program, Saif now equally enjoys the life offered outside of the classroom: “I always feel refreshed whenever I go to university. Seeing and mixing with people of different backgrounds really makes the campus atmosphere something to look forward to – it can be defined as friendly and lively! For me, one of the best aspects of living and studying in Canada is the exposure to people from different cultures. I have met some amazing people here and made some great friends during my time in Canada."
