Once you have decided to study in Canada, the following step is to select where to apply. There are many excellent schools in Canada, and narrowing down your choices can be difficult. There are several aspects to consider. While there are no regulations for selecting a college or university in Canada, the following suggestions can help make the process easier.
Study Interests
Knowing which subject you wish to study is an important first step. If you intend to study in a particular field, you may discover that the number of schools and institutions that offer your program is already fairly limited. This would make the decision-making process easier.
Even if the subject you want to study is more prevalent, check sure the colleges you’re considering have it. View online course catalogs and visit the websites of colleges that interest you.
When selecting a college or university in Canada, some considerations to consider are:
- Primary language of the school: The most widely spoken languages in Canada are English and French. Some schools utilize one or both as their primary languages. Make certain that you will be able to learn and speak in the appropriate one.
- Type of school: Are you interested in and at the appropriate stage in your education to attend a college, university, vocational school, or institute?
- Type of degree: Are you planning on pursuing an associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s, or Ph.D.?
- Location: Make sure you research the area each of the schools on your list is located in. Are you looking for an urban, suburban, or rural location?
- Size of the school: Are you interested in a big or small campus? Large lectures or small seminars? Both offer advantages and disadvantages, so it’s crucial to pick which suits you best.
- School reputation: Spend time researching this and learning about the job placement rate of graduates from each institution you’re considering.
- Quality of facilities and resources: How are the libraries, labs, and technical equipment?
- Opportunities for work experience: Is there a cooperative (“co-op”) program, or something similar?
- Fees and financial aid: Studying abroad can be expensive. Does the school offer grants or scholarships to help you afford your studies?
- Faculty and staff: Research the faculty in your program. Is there anyone you particularly want to study with?
- Accommodations for special needs: Is the school able to accommodate students with physical or learning disabilities?
- Recreational activities: Does the school offer extracurricular activities that might interest you, such as sports, clubs, or a school newspaper?
Some of these considerations may be more significant to you than others. Feel free to change this list to reflect what matters most to you at a school.
Other Factors
If you want to study in Canada but need to improve your English language skills, consider a pathway program.
Applying to Schools in Canada
After you’ve narrowed down your options, the next step is to begin putting together your applications. All schools in Canada will have various application criteria, thus it is critical to research each school’s requirements for applying, as well as language requirements for English or French.
Schools
Canada does not have an official university rating system. Rankings may be published in publications or newspapers, but they are not official, and many universities do not participate. This makes it difficult to determine whether the rankings are correct.
Here are some Canadian colleges and universities to consider.
- Queen’s University School of English — Kingston, Ontario
- University of Toronto — Toronto, Ontario
- University of British Columbia — Vancouver, British Columbia
- McGill University — Montréal, Québec
- Seneca College — Toronto, Ontario
- University of Alberta — Edmonton, Alberta
- University of Montréal — Montréal, Québec
- Algonquin College — Ottawa, Ontario
- University of Calgary — Calgary, Alberta
- Carleton University — Ottawa, Ontario
- Concordia University — Montréal, Québec
