Canada has much to offer international students, including excellent study opportunities. It's a country at the cutting edge of research and teaching practices, and one whose education system is recognised for its top quality international courses across the globe; by international academic institutions, employers and governments alike.
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International students may need to apply to their chosen institutions directly, though this varies according to the different provinces. You will usually need to fill in an application form and provide supporting documents. It is advisable to start your research preparations for your application as early as possible, as the application process can be lengthy.
How to apply
In most cases you will need to apply to an institution directly. This will usually be done by downloading or requesting an application form, and submitting it with the relevant documents online or via post. Contact your chosen institution directly or visit their website for information about how to apply. You may have to pay an application fee (typically CAD$50-100).
The exception is if you are applying to a university in Ontario, when you may be able to apply through the Ontario Universities' Application Centre (OUAC). You may apply to as many institutions in Ontario as you like. There is a fee of CAD$130 for the first three applications (plus a $10 service fee), and each application thereafter costs $42. There may also be additional fees - visit the OUAC website for details.
Entry requirements
Entry requirements for institutions in Canada vary according to where they are, and which course you are doing. You should contact your chosen institution(s) regarding their specific entry requirements. You may need to prove that your qualifications are comparable in quality to Canadian education. Therefore you may need to have your qualifications assessed. There are various agencies that can do this for you. See the Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials (CICIC) website for more information.
Deadlines
It is advisable to start preparing your application at least a year in advance, though you should ask institutions for their specific application deadlines, as these may vary.
For Ontario applications, there is no deadline, but you should apply as soon as it is open in October. Whilst there is no specific deadline, applications received before the ‘Equal Consideration Date’ (usually in February) must be given equal consideration so it is advisable to apply before this date.
English language requirements
Institutions will normally have their own requirements for language proficiency in their language of instruction (this will either be French or English, as Canada has two official languages). If either of these is not your first language you will normally be required to prove your ability through achievement of a certain level in a recognised language test (such as IELTS, TOEFL or ESOL). You should contact your chosen institution directly to enquire about their language requirements and which tests they will accept as proof.
Last updated: 7 September 2011
