Unsure what you need to do to study in Canada?\u202fCheck out our guide below on what you need to know.
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By Scotiabank<\/a><\/p>\n Published on September 15th, 2022 at 07:30am EDT From:<\/strong> https:\/\/www.cicnews.com\/2022\/09\/thinking-of-studying-in-canada-what-you-need-to-know-to-settle-and-succeed-as-an-international-student-0930520.html#gs.chckas<\/a><\/p>\n Canada is home to beautiful mountains, picturesque prairies, some of the world\u2019s greatest cities \u2014 and top universities.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n If you\u2019re considering studying in Canada as an international student, you might be wondering what\u2019s involved, how to prepare and what your settlement options are after you graduate.<\/p>\n To help you figure out how to study abroad in Canada, we\u2019ve created this guide to walk you step-by-step through the process. That way, you can spend less time doing online research and more time preparing for your new life at one of Canada\u2019s great educational institutions.<\/p>\n Sign up to Scotiabank\u2019s newsletter for more advice on how to settle in Canada!<\/a><\/p>\n The first step in your journey as an international student is to decide on a school. Even from far away, you can look into the programs, get an understanding of what campus life is like and take a virtual tour. (Of course, if you\u2019re able to visit in person, even better!)<\/p>\n Applying to graduate school? Reach out to researchers you want to work with and ask them if they\u2019d be willing to be your supervisor or on your dissertation committee if you\u2019re pursuing a research degree.<\/p>\n It\u2019s important to note that not all educational institutions in Canada can admit international students. Only schools that are a Designated Learning Institution (DLI) are approved to host international students. You can see a\u202flist of DLIs you can apply to here.<\/a><\/p>\n Once you\u2019ve found a DLI you\u2019d love to spend the next few years learning at, send in an application. You\u2019ll need a letter of acceptance for the next step in the process.<\/p>\n You got into the school of your dreams! You\u2019re now almost ready to apply for a study permit. You just need to make sure you fit the criteria and have all of your paperwork together.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s what you\u2019ll need:<\/p>\n Letter of acceptance.<\/strong>\u202fThis is the acceptance letter from the school you\u2019ll attend. You don\u2019t need to hand over the original if you don\u2019t want to. You can submit a copy.<\/p>\n Proof of identity.\u202f<\/strong>Like with any overseas travel, you\u2019ll need a passport or other valid travel documents required in Canada for people from your country.<\/p>\n Proof you have no criminal record.\u202f<\/strong>Part of applying for a study permit is proving that you don\u2019t have a criminal record. This usually involves getting an official document from the police.<\/p>\n Proof of funds.<\/strong>\u202fBefore you can come to Canada, you need to prove that you\u2019ll be able to support yourself and any accompanying family members while you\u2019re here. You\u2019ll have to show that you\u2019ll be able to pay for your tuition, living expenses and return expenses.<\/p>\n A few ways to provide proof of funds:<\/p>\n Proof of health.<\/strong>\u202fSome international students are required to get a certificate saying they\u2019re in good health. Your family doctor can usually provide this, but you have to undergo additional tests.<\/p>\n Proof you\u2019ll leave after your degree.<\/strong>\u202fWhile many students can apply to stay and work in Canada after their studies are completed, you need to prove that you\u2019re likely to return to your home country to gain entry with a study permit.<\/p>\n In rare cases, you might also need to provide additional information, such as:<\/p>\n Letter of explanation.\u202f<\/strong>You know why you want to study in Canada but the study permit issuers might want to understand better.<\/p>\n Custodian declaration.<\/strong>\u202fIf you\u2019re bringing minor children with you to Canada, you\u2019ll need to fill out a\u202fCustodian Declaration form<\/a>.<\/p>\n Qu\u00e9bec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ).<\/strong>\u202fIf you\u2019re going to study in Quebec for any period longer than six months, you\u2019ll need this additional form. Your school will help you apply for a CAQ.<\/p>\n You love filling out forms, right? Okay, we know no one does. But this part is critical because you can\u2019t study in Canada without a study permit.<\/p>\n You can apply for a study permit either online or via a paper application. How you have to apply and what\u2019s part of the application will depend on\u202fwhether you have the appropriate travel documents<\/a>. People with disabilities can also apply via a paper application.<\/p>\n Once you\u2019ve filled out the application and provided all the documentation required, you\u2019ll have to pay a processing fee and a biometric fee for fingerprinting and a photo. The study permit application fee is $150 CAD and the biometric fee is $85 CAD or $170 CAD for a family (fees subject to change).<\/p>\n There also might be additional fees for police certificates or the medical exam you might be required to take.<\/p>\n If you qualify for the\u202fStudent Direct Stream<\/a>\u202fbased on where you live, you might be able to have your student permit approved in as little as 20 days. However, typically it can take up to 12 weeks or more to process a study permit application. This\u202fwebsite<\/a>\u202fallows you to check the current processing times. Be sure to apply in time!<\/p>\n Congratulations on arriving in Canada. You\u2019re almost ready to start your degree \u2014 you just need to take care of important logistics, like figuring out where you\u2019re going to live and settling in.<\/p>\n Get your accommodations settled.<\/strong>\u202fIf you\u2019re staying in residence, you can skip this step. Finding a place to rent in a country you\u2019ve never lived in can be complicated. To simplify things, you might want to focus on places close to campus or that come furnished. You also might look for a room in a home shared by fellow students. You can find rental listings for most Canadian cities on sites like\u202fCraigslist<\/a>,\u202fKijiji<\/a>, or\u00a0AirBnB<\/a>\u202fbut always be wary of scams when searching for housing online.<\/p>\n Find a job.\u202f<\/strong>International students are limited as to employment but typically can work on and off campus for up to 20 hours per week during term and full time if they\u2019re on a scheduled break or summer holiday. Many schools offer work learn opportunities for international students so be sure to connect with your school for help with your job search.<\/p>\n Get a bank account.\u202f<\/strong>You\u2019ll want to\u202fget your finances set up in Canada<\/a>\u202fso you can easily pay bills, deposit money and start building a credit history. You can check out our latest offer for international students here. Make an appointment at a Scotiabank branch and bring your ID, study permit and other personal information needed to set up an account. If you bring proof that you\u2019re a student in Canada, you may also qualify for\u202fstudent bank account offers<\/a>.<\/p>\n Many international students experience a bit of culture shock and loneliness when they move to another country. It\u2019s totally normal if you feel homesick, too.<\/p>\n Building community will help. Some things to try:<\/p>\n Connect with other international students.\u202f<\/strong>Most schools understand the challenges international students face and have academic and social programs aimed at helping them transition and integrate more easily. These are great because you\u2019ll meet a bunch of cool international students like you. New friends!<\/p>\n Get involved.\u202f<\/strong>If you\u2019re worried about not knowing anyone, the best way to change that is to put yourself out there. Most schools have clubs week where they introduce you to ways to get involved on campus. Maybe you want to join a rock-climbing club or learn a new language by joining a conversation club. You can also look into volunteering opportunities, whether they are on- or off-campus. Connecting with others who love the same things as you will make making friends and new connections easier.<\/p>\n Get support.\u202f<\/strong>If you\u2019re struggling at your new school or in your new community, reach out to the people at your school who are there to help. Most schools have student counselling services or peer support groups if you need mental health support. Having academic difficulties? Contact the academic counsellor for your faculty. Everyone needs a little help sometimes.<\/p>\n You did it! Now that you have your degree, you\u2019re wondering if you can stay in Canada? The answer is that it depends.<\/p>\n Canada has a\u202fPost-Graduation Work Permit Program<\/a>\u202f(PGWP) that allows you to gain Canadian work experience and potentially apply for permanent residency down the road. These work permits are valid for anywhere from eight months to three years, depending on the length of your program. If your program was two years or more then you qualify for the full three years.<\/p>\n To be eligible, you must have:<\/p>\n Some things make you ineligible:<\/p>\n Want to be a permanent resident? You can apply directly for permanent residency after you graduate or you can apply for a PGWP first then apply for permanent residency while you hold a PGWP.\u00a0Here\u2019s a guide for applying for permanent residency.<\/a><\/p>\n While moving to a new country to start a degree involves a lot of bureaucratic hoop jumping, it\u2019s worth it for the educational opportunities you\u2019ll get. While the process may seem tedious, take it one step at a time using this guide and you\u2019ll get it all done.<\/p>\n You\u2019ve got this!<\/p>\n Legal Disclaimer:<\/strong>\u00a0This article is provided for information purposes only. It is not to be relied upon as financial, tax or investment advice or guarantees about the future, nor should it be considered a recommendation to buy or sell. Information contained in this article, including information relating to interest rates, market conditions, tax rules, and other investment factors are subject to change without notice and The Bank of Nova Scotia is not responsible to update this information. All third party sources are believed to be accurate and reliable as of the date of publication and The Bank of Nova Scotia does not guarantee its accuracy or reliability. Readers should consult their own professional advisor for specific financial, investment and\/or tax advice tailored to their needs to ensure that individual circumstances are considered properly and action is taken based on the latest available information.<\/p>\n
\n<\/em>Updated on September 19th, 2022 at 08:53am EDT<\/i><\/em><\/p>\nFirst things first: Choose your school!<\/h3>\n
Step 2: Make sure you qualify and get your documents organized<\/h3>\n
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Step 3: It\u2019s time to apply for a study permit<\/h3>\n
Step 4: You\u2019re here! Time to get set up<\/h3>\n
Step 5: Settle into your school community<\/h3>\n
Step 6: You got your degree. Now what?<\/h3>\n
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The bottom line<\/h3>\n
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