Things to know before studying in Canada - For International Students

List of the Things to Know Before Visiting Canada

The list of important things to know about Canada before visiting is given. Students who are planning to study in Canada pr considering it as an option can check these things.

Important dos and don’ts in Canada

While the USA and Canada are neighboring countries and share the longest land border in the world, they have very contrasting reputations. The USA, evokes a sense of awe for its military might and its economic clout. While Canada is a more somber, unthreatening and friendly country, which in many ways is reassuring. But while Canada can be a paragon of peace, there are certain rules and laws that as an international student you are expected to follow when in the country; this is to ensure that law and order is maintained. These are the most im

• Avoid drinking in public: If you are not a teetotaler, better keep your habits to private spaces. Otherwise, you may get in some trouble, if not serious trouble, since drinking in public places is prohibited all over Canada. This one of the important things to know about Canada, if the candidate dependants have the habit of drinking.

• Treat the Canadian flag respectfully: The Canadians hold their national flag in very high esteem and consider any disrespect to it as a personal affront. So be careful not to spill food materials, sit or walk on the flag, or anything that shows the flag in poor light.

• Smoking is not allowed in some public places: While people do smoke in public, they come with riders attached. Like if you are in British Columbia, smoking is prohibited in most public places: public transport, public buildings, which may include restaurants, bars and also studying places.

• Avoid comparison between USA and Canada: While many aspects of Canada mirror the USA, Canada also has a very independent existence. Comparing the two countries may send the impression that you think less of Canada, which isn’t something you must do in a foreign land.

• If studying in Quebec, learning French is a must: French influence is nowhere more evident than in Quebec, where everything from sign boards to greetings must be carried out in French. In fact, 80% of the inhabitants in Quebec speak only French, and it is more pronounced outside Montreal; so if you want to engage with a local, the only option is to learn French yourself.

  International students should be aware of these dos and don'ts before they decide to study in Canada.

Health insurance

Health Insure details are one of the primary things to know about Canada before visiting. The candidate not only need basic health insurance coverage, but in some cases extended coverage for the duration of study. Another key facet of health insurance in Canada is most universities have their own preferred insurance plans, and they highly recommend that students only buy these policies. But students can still opt for private policies provided they offer similar coverage and are considered legitimate by the university.

Best student cities

Knowing about the student-friendly cities is one the things to know before studying in Canada. While tuition fees and the reputation of a university are the primary concerns when deciding whether to study abroad, another criteria for selection are student cities, which is a yardstick that rates a city on different parameters like pollution index, quality of life and safety. The idea behind having an index to rate student cities is to go beyond the traditional academic requirements, and include elements which are crucial for the physical and mental wellbeing of the student. It would be one of the good things to know about Canada, that it hosts the cities that are listed in the best student cities in the world rankings. International students who plan for studies in Canada must be aware of what each student city can offer.

Accommodation in Canada

Essential things to know about Canada for study purpose is the accommodation prices and facilities. There are a host of accommodation options for a student studying in Canada, be it homestays, private accommodation or the much coveted on-campus accommodation. If you are among the lucky ones who have been offered on-campus accommodation, you can benefit from a vibrant social life, easy access to the university, and guaranteed security. But even if you miss out on on-campus accommodation, there are decent off-campus accommodations which are situated close to all the major universities; and with a little bit of effort, you should be able to find something that fits your budget and sensibilities. Homestays are another popular option for students, as they give students a home-like ambience to live in. If you wish to study in Canada, you must know about these options before you decide to study in the country.

Work opportunities

One of the things to know before studying in Canada, is about the work opportunities while studying. When it comes to work opportunities in Canada, the question isn’t about whether a student would like to work during study in Canada, as the answer is quite obvious: most students want to work in Canada. When it comes to work during study in Canada, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC), a department of Canadian government, allows international students to work both on-campus and off-campus. After completing their studies, many students again stay back and pursue post-study work opportunities in Canada.

Scholarships

Scholarships availability is the one of the essential things to know before studying in Canada for most of the International students. Winning a scholarship to study in Canada is a great way to escape the high cost of studying abroad. However, before you can win a scholarship to finance your studies in Canada, you must know what scholarship options are available for you. For example, if you plan to study MBA in Canada, there is the Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS) Program, a merit-based scholarship offered by participating universities of Ontario. The scholarship value is $5,000 for each term, with a maximum cap of three terms. A

Government scholarships in Canada for Indian students:

• Vanier Graduate Scholarships

• IDRC Research Awards

• Canadian Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship

• Fonds de recherche du Québec – Nature et technologies (FRQNT)

• Ontario Trillium Scholarship

• Ontario Graduate Scholarship

• Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship

Scholarships provided by Canadian universities - Many Canadian universities provide scholarships to international students which can either be fully funded scholarships or partially funded ones. One of the best things to know before studying in Canada is, that with these scholarships, it can even be possible to study in Canada for free.

Scholarships to Study in Canada

Non-government scholarships - International students can also apply for non-government scholarships such as:

• Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation Doctoral Scholarships

• Anne Vallee Ecological Fund

You may also like to read

• Most affordable universities in Canada
• Top reasons to study in Canada
• Work after study in Canada

These are some of the things international students need to know before studying in Canada so that they make the right decision. Once the candidate decides to study in Canada, they can check the top universities in Canada and Job opportunities in Canada.