Canada

Canada has been declared the country with the best reputation in the world for the third consecutive year. In addition to taking home the overall title, Canada claimed the number one spot in categories ranging from “best place to live” to “best place to study,” while also ranking high for working, visiting and investing. Looking for a legit reason to sew that maple leaf patch on your backpack? Here are 5 top reasons to enroll in one of Canada’s premiere educational institutions as an international student.

Canada has a total area of 9.9 million sq. km. and touches the Pacific, Arctic, and Atlantic oceans (which is why, its motto, “from sea to sea”, is quite logical), making it the country with the longest coastline (243,791 km. long). It is composed of 10 provinces and three territories with Ottawa as its capital.Canada has more lakes than the rest of the world combined. At last count, there may be as many as two million, with 563 lakes larger than 100 square kilometres. Canada is the first country in the world to adopt a policy of multiculturalism, embracing diversity and pluralism. Today, of Canada’s total population of more than 35 million, a fifth are immigrants.

Canada’s high academic standards and rigorous quality controls mean that you’ll be earning a high-quality education that will open doors for your future and benefit your career over the long term. A Canadian degree, diploma or certificate is globally recognized as being equivalent to those obtained from the United States or Commonwealth countries. Did you know that Canada is a bilingual country and is considered a world leader in language training? Since teaching French and English as a first and second language is an integral part of a Canadian education, you will be able to improve your fluency and capacity for either language as you further your studies. Since research is one of the key components of a Canadian post-secondary education, you’ll have ample opportunity to become a part of this vibrant aspect of education. In Canada, government and industry together support research including: telecommunications, medicine, agriculture, computer technology, and environmental science.Canada’s post-secondary campuses aren’t only wired with the latest in sophisticated technology, but countless other modern amenities as well. From Olympic-quality sports facilities to public concert halls and art galleries, Canada’s post-secondary campuses offer you enormous possibilities for learning and leisure. Plus, you’ll have incredible opportunities to meet like-minded individuals and gain valuable experience through student-run governments, radio, newspapers and businesses.

The quality of education and living standards in Canada are amongst the highest in the world, but the cost of living and tuition fees for international students are generally lower than in other countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom. As such, Canada is often the preferred choice for students attending college or university.

Students can choose from a number of study programmes – Certificate or diploma (One or two years) Advanced diploma (Two or three years) Undergraduate (three or four years) Postgraduate (two years) PhD (four or five years with dissertation) Some popular courses at the undergraduate level are engineering and administrative studies and at the postgraduate level are management, finance, MBA/MIM, MS and LLB degrees.

The rewards of studying in Canada are big while the cost is small, particularly compared to its neighbor to the south. Additionally, there are a significant number of scholarship opportunities for international students.

Because of Canada’s rising status as a premiere destination for international students, Citizenship and Immigration Canada has evaluated its student visa (AKA study permit) system to provide greater overall accountability. In January of 2014, a number of changes will take place, including the following: All visa holders must be enrolled and actively pursuing a course of study at a designated educational institution upon arrival in order to maintain legal status. Institutional eligibility will be designated by the government, and only international students admitted to these schools will be granted visas and work permits. Work permits will only be granted to full-time students actively in pursuit of a degree, diploma or certificate with a maximum workweek of 20 hours. Eligible institutions will report to the government and the CIC on international enrollment and statistics, and will be required to comply with a set of common standards.

Job prospects are strong for Canada’s international grads. The country’s universities boast links to more than 5,000 global collaboration agreements. Combined with Canada’s focus on industry-specific applied research, it’s no surprise that more than 90% of Canadian alums are employed less than six months after graduation.Under Canada’s highly dynamic and hands-on academic environment, you will not only acquire knowledge and skills in analysis and communication, but you will also learn how to express yourself, demonstrate your creativity, and develop your self-confidence! Teachers and professors are always available and eager to help with lessons, and studies fuse academic excellence with interaction and collaboration in the classroom.Did you know that some international students with Canadian credentials and Canadian work experience may apply for permanent residency without having to leave Canada? For more information about the possibility of immigration to Canada once your schooling is complete, please visit the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada website.

Canada tops the list of educational spending per capita of all the countries in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. Canadian universities are internationally regarded for their high academic standards and emphasis on research in post-secondary education. In 2012, four Canadian universities claimed Top 100 spots in the ARWU Shanghai Rankings (University of Toronto, University of British Columbia, McGill University, McMaster University) while five more ranked in the Top of the QS University Ranking (Université de Montréal, HEC Montréal, University of Alberta, Queen's University, University of Waterloo). Besides, the Canadian government and private sector support research in a number of cutting edge fields, including telecommunications, medicine, agriculture, computer technology, and environmental science.

With almost all of the world’s ethnic groups represented in Canada, it’s hard not to find ethnic foods and recreation activities associated with specific cultures. In fact, your international student advisor can help you get in touch with any number of ethnic clubs and associations for you to join while you’re here. While you may have heard of or experienced Canadians’ friendly and open nature, you may not have known that the United Nations consistently ranks Canada as one of the best places in the world to live. As an international student in Canada, you’ll enjoy all of the same freedoms which protect Canadians – respect for human rights, equality, and a stable and peaceful society.