Canada is among the top destinations in the world for international students. The foreign student population in Canada has grown six-fold in the last two decades and the number has tripled in the last 10 years alone. In fact, a recent report has revealed that Canada has witnessed the fastest rate of growth in its population since the start of the pandemic, in the first quarter of 2021 – all thanks to international students and migrant skilled workers.
Canada’s 2021-2023 Immigration Levels Plan reveals that the country aims at welcoming over 400,000 immigrants every year. This means that the number of new permanent residents in Canada will further increase from 401,000 in 2021 to 411,000 and 421,000 in 2022 and 2023 respectively.
Hosting nearly half a million international students, Canada is known to offer high-quality education at an affordable tuition fee with degrees that are globally recognised. Add to it, excellent quality of life, immense post-study work and immigration opportunities. Hence, Canada stands out as a popular country to study among international students.
Why Study in Canada?
High Quality of Education
One of the most important reasons why students choose to study in Canada is because of the high quality of education. When a student receives a degree from a Canadian university, it acts as a mark of trust and excellence. 26 of Canada’s universities rank in the QS World University Rankings 2019 and 27 of them in the World University Rankings 2019.
Research opportunities
One of the biggest reasons why Canadian education stands unique is because of its strong focus on research and development. If you’re a research scholar, there can be no country better than Canada. The government of Canada offers great support to research in the disciplines of medicine, telecommunication, agriculture, environmental science and technology.
Cultural diversity
In Canada, the students find extremely warm and welcoming people who come from varied ethnic groups with different cultures and lifestyles. The multicultural environment in Canada promotes friendliness and peaceful living like no other country. In fact, one will find a lot of Indians studying, working and living here.
Safe and peaceful
Canada has been consistently ranked as one of the safest nations in the world. In 2018, the Global Peace Index listed Canada as the sixth most peaceful country across the globe. As an international student, you will enjoy the same rights as any other Canadian citizen.
Part-Time Work Opportunities
Thanks to its special regulations, international students in Canada get the opportunity to work for up to 20 hours every week during their semesters and full-time during the summer and winter breaks. To work on-campus or as an intern in any company, students would not require any additional work permit as the study permit is enough to find a part-time job.
Lively and active campus life
At all Canadian campuses, one can expect events, fests and other activities being conducted all through the year. This creates a happy and lively environment for all the students and helps the students to network and meet new people besides keeping the homesickness away.
Immigration opportunities
Canada’s Post-Graduation Work Permit Program (PWPP) allows students to stay and work in Canada for up to three years after completing their graduation. Students can gain some international work experience and apply for permanent residency later on.
Top Universities in Canada
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a world-class public research university situated in the vibrant city of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Founded by the royal charter in 1827 as Kings College, the university has steadily grown to become one of the best research institutions in the world. The University of Toronto offers over 700 undergraduate and 200 graduate programmes. it receives the most annual scientific research funding and endowment of any Canadian university and is one of two members of the Association of American Universities outside the United States, the other being McGill University in Montreal. The university is currently ranked 34th in the world by QS World Rankings and 22nd in the world by ARWU rankings. Its alumni include three Governors General of Canada, five Prime Ministers of Canada, nine foreign leaders, and seventeen justices of the Supreme Court of Canada. As of March 2019, twelve Nobel laureates, six Turing Award winners, 94 Rhodes Scholars, and one Fields Medalist have been affiliated with the university.
McGill University
McGill University is a public research university situated in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. McGill University ranks among Canada’s most prestigious universities, attracting thousands of international students from over 150 countries every year, and the highest percentage of PhD students of any Canadian research university. McGill University owes its reputation to its 50 research centres and institutes, 400+ programmes, rich history and a thriving alumni network of 250,000 people around the globe. Its alumni include 12 Nobel laureates and 147 Rhodes Scholars, both happen to be the most of any university in Canada, the current prime minister and two former prime ministers of Canada, two Governor Generals of Canada, 15 justices of the Supreme Court of Canada and at least eight foreign leaders. The university is currently ranked 31st in the QS World University rankings.
University of British Columbia
The University of British Columbia, also known as UBC, is a premier public research university in Canada. Ranking among the top 3 universities in Canada, the focus of the institution has primarily been on scientific research and technology. Home to massive labs for study in particle and nuclear physics, the university is one of the best institutions around the world to study science and technology. Its alumni include Eight Nobel laureates, 71 Rhodes scholars, 65 Olympians, ten fellows in both the American Academy of Arts & Sciences and the Royal Society, and 273 fellows of the Royal Society of Canada.
Cost of Education in Canada
The cost of education and cost of living in Canada are generally affordable. The tuition fee in most universities is low when compared to the United States or the UK. With a reasonable cost of education, one can get access to quality education in Canadian universities. Here is the average tuition fee in Canada:
| S.no. | Study program | Average annual fee (in CAD*) |
| 1 | Undergraduate program | $13,000 to $20,000 per year |
| 2 | Postgraduate master’s degree | $17,000 to $25,000 per year |
| 3 | Doctoral degree | $7,000 to $15,000 per year |
| 4 | MBA | $30,000 to $40,000 per year |
Scholarships In Canada
The cost of living in Canada can be high for many international students. Such expenses can be met by applying to the following scholarships, which provide full to partial funding to students with outstanding academic achievements, community service and work experience:
The Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships
Ontario Trillium Scholarship
Canadian Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan
Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute
National Research Council of Canada (NRCC)
Quebec Provincial Government Scholarship
Partnership Grants by Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada
Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation Doctoral scholarships
For more information about studying in Canada and various scholarships, here are some articles from NRI VISION: Canada Witnesses An Increase In Students From India, Study Engineering in Canada: All you need to Know, UBC Offers Various Awards Via International Scholars Programme, This Micro Master’s Programme is Apt For Getting Jobs In These Tough Times.
