Studying and Living in Canada –

Studying and Living in Canada – For all that Canada has to offer, the cost of living in Canada is comparatively low, lower than in many developed countries. Cost of living in Canada:  The cost of living in Canada is moderate, compared with other countries. Some prices of typical goods and services are as follows: One month's lodging, one-bedroom apartment: $400 Bus fare, one way: $1.50 Local telephone call: $0.25 Modest restaurant meal: lunch $7/dinner $14 Movie: $7 Canadian winters are chilly, an adequate warm clothing budget is essential. Budget around $250 - $350 US for proper winter wardrobe. You will need approximately $11,000 Canadian dollars to cover your expenses for an academic year. This is inclusive of your tuition and living expenses but exclusive of your air-fare. Please remember that this figure is an average only. Actual expenses may vary depending on the region of the country you live in, the tuition fees at the university you attend and your field of specialization.  Employment opportunities Employment opportunities for international students are limited. You should not plan on earning substantial money from a part-time job to help pay for your studies. On campus: Though international students are allowed to work on the campus of any publicly-funded, degree granting institution, these jobs are often difficult to obtain and do not provide sufficient funds to sustain education costs. Practical Training: In addition, there may be opportunities for practical training which entail a period of authorized employment, designed to allow foreign students to have professional work experience related to their field of study. Accommodation Each institute has its own policy for housing and may offer a range of options for single and married students. Most common types of accommodations are: School-Provided Home stays: A home stay usually consists of a Canadian family hosting a student in their home while the student attends classes in Canada. This includes meals as well as a private, furnished room. (Cost: CDN $ 400 - $ 800 per month) School-Provided Residence/Dormitory: Many schools have accommodation conveniently located on or near their campuses. There is usually an option of either shared or private room or dormitories. (Cost: CDN $ 3000 - $ 7500 per year)Off Campus Housing: Usually many students share or rent apartments to save costs. Listings of available apartments or homes are published weekly in local newspapers. Rents vary greatly according to the location and time of year. (Cost: CDN $ 250 - $ 700 per month)

Health Insurance  This is another very important criterion to take care of while doing financial planning. Most Canadian Institutes require that all students including international students be covered by an insurance policy that will protect them against medical, hospital bills if they get sick or are injured while studying at the college, as health care is very expensive. Some provinces like Alberta, British Columbia and Saskatchewan cover international students under their provincial health care plans. Students studying in other provinces must arrange for private medical coverage through private insurance companies, which approximately costs about CDN $ 35 per month. Cultural events  Another advantage that Canadians enjoy is a large immigrant population (in fact, everyone in Canada, except aboriginal Canadians is an immigrant or descended from immigrants). Besides the mixture of British, American and French cultures, Canada has large Chinese, East Indian, Korean, Italian, African and Middle Eastern populations. Canadians of all kinds gather to help celebrate and take part in events that highlight Canada’s multicultural society. Participation in these events can be a nice opportunity to socialize with the local population. Commuting and Public Transit One can drive, carpool or bike, walk or take public transportation. Generally, public transit is run by the municipality, city, or town. In larger cities with a lot of commuters, there may also be provincially-run transit such as the GO trains and buses in the Toronto area. In most towns and cities, public transit means buses. Some cities also operate ferries, streetcars, and/or a metro, subway (underground) or elevated train system.

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Posted in: British Columbia,Canada,Canadian dollar,Education,International student,List of universities in Canada,Student,Tuition payments

About Canada

Canada Is the second largest country in the world is a collection of ten fairly large provinces and three territories. In the recent survey of international students for higher studies, it has been found that Canada has surpassed the Countries like USA, U.K & Australia and been ranked first amongst the best education destination continuously for last few years due to its strong economy growth, best quality education system & Safe Multicultural environment.

This country enrolls students from various countries, backgrounds, race and culture and the admission is done entirely on the basis of merit and performance. It has been observed that about 130000 students from all over the country every year come to Canada to enroll themselves in various higher education institutes. Diversity in education is the chief feature of the education system of Canada. Consistently it is ranked as the best place to live. The international students studying in this country enjoy high standards of living. The welcoming environment in Canada is often an attraction for the international students. It is also considered to be a relatively safe and a peaceful place. Thus, the international students studying in the various Canadian universities experience a sense of safety and security.

After the introduction of New SPP Scheme in India, Canada has become the first choice for Indian students too. Student Partnership Program known as SPP was started in April 2009 as a Joint pilot project between Canadian High Commission in India and twenty community Colleges of Canada. This program was started with the goal to increase the visa success ratio for Indian Students. The program has become very successful in the initial period only and today there are 43 participating community colleges/Universities of Canada under SPP. The Canada government has extended student Partner program till Jan 2012.

— Requirements for SPP

·         IETLS 6 bands or higher

·         Last Academic with 50% or higher (Minimum Second class is required)

·         No academic gap of more than 4 years

·         Educational loan

·         Pre payment of first semester tuition fees

— Benefits of applying under SPP

·         High Visa Success ratio

·         No need to show Income Documents

·         No need to show Bank Balance

·         Get visa approval within 1 week

·         After completing 2 years of education, get 3 years open work permit

Students do not wish to apply under the SPP; they can submit their application under General Category

•  The population of Canada is around 35 million residing in 10 province & 3 territories of Canada
• Ottawa is capital city of Canada. Toronto,  Montreal, Vancouver,  Winnipeg, Edmonton, Calgary, Windsor, Quebec, Halifax, Victoria are some of the major cities of Canada
• Second largest country in the world after Russia
• Canadian dollar is the currency of Canada, cad $1 is equal to approximately rs.45
• The per capita income of Canada is cad $ 30000 to 32000 p.a.
• Nearly 80% of Canada's population is situated near US border.
• Maple-leaf is the national flag of Canada
• There is a strong presence of Gujarat as well as Indian community in Canada.
• According a United Nations (UN) survey, for several years Canada has been rated no#1 country as "the best places to live-in" on performance indicators like it's to education, highlife expectancy, low crime and violence, beautiful environment.
• Canada is among leading manufacturing countries with its economy spread in petroleum coal products, primary metals paper and allied products, fabricated metals, petro-chemicals and chemicals, fabricated metals, food & beverages, heavy machinery, automobile, aerospace, telecommunication etc.
• Canada has its strong presence in computers and information technologies with
  excellence in telecommunications, transportation, hydroelectric and nuclear
  power generations, finance, insurance, banking etc.
• Canada spending highest amount of funds on education in the world.

Strong immigration program after study.

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Posted in: Canada,Canadian High Commission,Education,Higher education,India,International student,List of universities in Canada,United States

Frequently Asked Questions for Canada Visa and Study Visa

1. Is health insurance mandatory requirement?

Ans: You will have to arrange for medical coverage before you arrive in Canada. Medical coverage varies from province to province and sometimes from university to university within each province. International students planning to study in Canada are often required to arrange for private medical coverage through private insurance companies

2. What are the tuition fees?

Ans: Tuition fees for international students vary from province to province and depend on your faculty of choice. To average, it would be nearing 12,000 $ per year. You must also budget for personal item like books, instruments, student activity fees, food, housing, travel/transportation, health care, clothing, laundry and entertainment.

3. What are the rules and regulations for working off Campus in Canada?

Ans: Full time students become eligible to work after 6 months of their stay in Canada.

4. How foreign student can apply for work permit to work off campus ?

Ans: To work off-campus, you must apply for a work permit. Do not begin to work off-campus until you have received your work permit. The work permit allows you to work up to 20 hours a week during regular academic sessions (15 hours a week in Quebec), and up to 40 hours a week during regular breaks (e.g., winter or summer holidays and spring break).
To be eligible for an off-campus work permit, you must:
· have a valid study permit;
· be a full-time student at a participating public post-secondary institution · have been a full-time student for at least 6 months at one of those institutions;
· be in good standing at your institution;
· sign a consent form that allows CIC, the institution and the province to share your personal information;
· complete a work permit application provided by your institution; and 

 

5. What are the accommodation facilities like in Canada?

Ans: Most universities offer the option to live on-campus either in residences designated for international students or in residences generally available to all students on campus. However, acceptance at a Canadian school does not ensure accommodation in a residence.

6. What is TA (teaching assistantship) / RA (Research assistantship) means?

Ans: Teaching assistants assist a professor by teaching an undergraduate class or checking exam papers. They are paid for this job, which covers most of their expenses while at the university. Research fellowship/assistantship is an award that allows you to work in the capacity of an assistant to a professor on the research project assigned to him.

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Posted in: Canada,Education,Insurance,International student,Quebec,Teaching assistant,United States,Work permit

Study in Canada

Canada Education System

The structure of Canadian education system includes kindergarten, elementary/junior high/middle school, secondary/high school and post-secondary education. Education in Canada is administered by each provincial and territorial government hence there are some differences between the education systems in each province and territory. All provinces and territories offer free and universal elementary and secondary schooling for 12 years, except Quebec where it is up to 11 years. Education is mandatory to the age of between 15 and 18, based on the province.

Kindergarten

Education generally begins with kindergarten. British Columbia and Ontario also provide Junior Kindergarten. In some areas, kindergarten is either not needed or it is not available at all. Generally, five years old children enter kindergarten.

Elementary

Elementary school generally includes grades one through six (for students aged approximately six to 12 years), when junior high school is the next step. In some areas, elementary school is stretched up to grade eight.

Secondary

Secondary school, often called high school, generally runs grades 9 through 12. In regions having middle school and junior high, it also includes grades 7 and 8.

Post-secondary

Post-secondary education is also termed as Career College, Vocational School, Community College, University and Grad School. At this level you can earn a Bachelor\'s degree, and can continue studies to acquire a Master\'s or a Doctorate degree. Vocational students can earn certificates and diplomas that can count as an added skill in various trades.

Public and Private

Canada\'s education system encompasses public schools, which are free and funded by the government, and private schools, for which students have to pay. At the post-secondary level, public colleges and universities still need students to pay tuition, but it is comprehensively less than tuition at private universities.

Life in Canada

Canada is a large country. The land area of 9,984,670 square kilometers makes it the second biggest country in the world. Canada perhaps is the only country in the world that is rarely in the news for any controversial issues. It is known to be a peace loving and one of the most preferred countries to migrate to. Following are a few fun facts about Canada, that make this country stand apart from the rest.

• An unusual fact about Canada is its name origin, it comes from a St. Lawrence Iroquoian word, kanata, which means village or settlement.
• An interesting fact about Canada is that it\'s the world\'s largest country area wise (including its waters),
• It also has the longest coastline in the world, about 243,000 kms in length.
• The country shares the world\'s longest common border with the United States of America, which is also the only unprotected border in the world
• An interesting fact for kids, is that Canada is widely believed to be the home of Santa Claus.
• The belief that the North Pole is owned by Canada is false. No country owns the North Pole.
• Canada is also the largest producer of a refreshingly sweet dessert wine called Icewine.
• It features in the list of top five world\'s producers of gold, copper, zinc, nickel, aluminum, and natural gas.
• A funny fact about Canada\'s city of Montreal, sometimes called The City of Churches, is that it has more churches than houses!
• Canada is also home to the world\'s smallest jail, located in Ontario. It is only 270 square feet.
• It also has the highest tertiary education enrollment in the world, which includes locals as well as international students.
• Toronto is the largest city of Canada, with a population of more than 5 million people. Toronto dwellers hold more university degrees than any other big city in the world.
• Despite being a really big country, it has the fourth lowest population density in the world, with only three people living per square kilometer! Almost half of the population in Canada was born in other countries.
• Here\'s a weird fact about Canada, it produces so much energy, that it provides it to the US too!
• The Ice Hotel in Quebec, known as Hotel de Glace is created every year using 400 tons of ice and 12,000 tons of snow. It melts away every summer and is recreated every winter.
• Canada has just one desert in British Columbia, towards the southernmost corner of the Okanagan Valley in Osoyoos.
• The desert is only 15 miles long, with over 100 rare plants, and over 300 rare animals. It is also the only desert in the world that has a long boardwalk, for people to walk on!
• Canadian winter temperatures fall below freezing point, with snow covering some parts of the country for nearly six months!
• In 1883, the baseball glove was invented in Canada.
• Many inventions including basketball, the electric light bulb, the electric range, the electron microscope, the telephone, standard time, the television, and the zipper, and the first snowmobile were invented in this remarkable country.
• The Niagara Falls, one of the largest and most popular waterfalls is in Ontario.
• Half of Canada is covered with forests, which should not be surprising, considering one-tenth of the world\'s forests are here. It is also home to the polar and the grizzly bear.
• Canada has two national sports; Lacrosse as the country\'s national summer sport, and Ice Hockey as the national winter sport. Its citizens invented the game of Lacrosse.
• Canada is also known to have the highest quality of life in the world, according to the United Nations Human Development Index.

Multicultural Society

Being a multicultural society Canada allows you to understand each other and does not encourage hatred and violence. Canada is high on tourist preferred destination itineraries, as it offers a unique peek into its multi-cultural and bio-geographical diversity. It is relatively free from all sorts of discrimination and divide, a fact most Canadians are proud about. Canada advocates multiculturalism by encouraging all Canadians to participate in all aspects of life. Everyone in Canada is treated as equal. Everyone has a right to say. Hatred is not encouraged in Canada. Everyone has a right to preserve and protect their own tradition and people there respect each other’s right to do the same. They will respect and accept anyone who respects and accepts them.

Canada celebrate religious freedom

The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms protects your freedom to practice your tradition and religion. It advocates that you must be respectful of others’ beliefs as well.Canadians use their right to vote and decide who will govern the country. Canada is a democratic country. People in Canada have several rights to amend laws and the governments.

Canada’s public health care system

Canada’s health insurance system is set up to address people’s requirements for health care rather than their ability to make the payment. Often termed as Medicare, the system is tailored to ensure that all residents of Canada have easy access to health care facilitations from doctors and hospitals. All Canadians and permanent residents may get health insurance. Getting a health insurance allows you to get medical treatment without making direct payment. They are paid through your taxes. Simply presenting your health insurance card to the hospital or medical clinic will get you medical services.

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Recognition

WIES represents several leading State / community Colleges / Universities of Canada, the UK and Australia. As a policy, WIES also submits itself to statutory or standards oriented certification procedures in order to qualify as genuine education counselors for each country or academic institution.

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Hallmark

Student Services

Our services commence even before the student has registered and remitted the counseling charges and continue well beyond he is comfortably settled at destination:

Complete and thorough Vitae of a student’s past-performance and future preferences is obtained and fed into a specially developed ‘match-making’ data-base; the Counselor extracts global options to suit what a student desires and deserves and prepares a check-list of entrance essentials

The student is offered essential coaching to fulfill the qualifying criteria like language proficiency (IELTS/TOEFL) and entrance (GRE/GMAT) tests using the latest coaching equipment, technique and support material; we try to ensure that the student scores high enough to be able to get admission in the desired institution as well as adequately impress the Visa officers

We provide detailed information on available scholarships and financial assistance and help students in application process

A senior executive maintains liaison with local banks and guides the desiring student to apply and procure education loan for overseas education

Our team provides guidance in compiling application packets

We guide the students in applying for visa and provide help in preparing their presentation during the visa interview

Our team headed by Chief Executive Officer tracks the progress of each case on a daily basis

Pre–departure briefing to acquaint the students with destination country is an important feature of Winny service

Our students benefit from our post-landing services, which include Airport pickup, temporary/permanent accommodation and preliminary orientation.

We maintain vital contact with the student even after the student reaches his destination institution and provide support services and help in resolving teething-troubles one may face in a foreign land.

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Credentials

We have gained recognition from official Establishments, thanks to our excellent services and track-record.

• Winny Education Services is an American International Recruitment Council (AIRC) Certified Agency to recruit students for over 100 leading American Universities who are Institutional Members of AIRC
• Mr. Pranay Shah, our CEO and Director is the ONLY consultant certified in Western India by the Canadian Society of Immigration Consultants - M041127.
• Mr. Shah is also a Fellow of Canadian Migration Institute
• We represent several leading international universities and colleges of repute
• As a matter of policy, we recommend only reputed, recognized and accredited academic institutions

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Study in USA

Winny Immigration and Education Services PVT.LTD has been awarded Certification by the American International Recruitment Council (AIRC).  To achieve AIRC Certification, WIES has successfully undergone a rigorous external review process which evaluates its business practices, and the effectiveness of the services rendered in recruiting qualified students to accredited educational institutions in the United States of America.

Why Study in the US?

The first destination that strikes while pondering the options to select the destination for higher education is - US.

Why So?

There are myriads of international students who prefer to earn degrees in the US over another country!

Does the US still accept international student?

The US hosts more international students than any other nation across the globe.

What are your US study choices?

Basking in the glory of consistent high ranking of the US universities, colleges and schools, are more sought after destination for aspiring students. Harvard, West Point, MIT, Kellogg, Stanford and Berkeley are some of the most renowned names that welcome international students.

The US offers the most rewarding, exciting and vivid range of study program to the international students across the planet. International students choosing to study in the US are gifted with almost unlimited choices. The professional value of an American qualification offers worldwide recognition with unparallel respect.

There are many other reasons why USA has been the choicest study destination for plethora of international students since years

• Benefits
• US Education System
• Life in America

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Life in America

What Americans generally believe

Americans offers an equal opportunity in life to all. They treat everyone fairly and with the same level of respect. This is the basic principle of American philosophy. Self entity and freedom to express are encouraged. Competition brings out the best talent in people and in businesses. Competition is another basic principle of American culture. It is believed that you are responsible for your future and determining your future. Believe in luck or fate is not encouraged. They pride their individual achievements. They are open to change which they believe is necessary for development. Tradition is less valued in America compared to other cultures. They prefer to be honest and straightforward. In several cultures, it is termed as impolite to speak too directly. Americans prefer to speak openly, even when delivering bad news. Rationality is more important for them than emotion in decision making.

What Americans love

They love their country and are very patriotic. They also offer great respect to those who serve or have served in the armed forces. Americans are mostly busy compared to people in some countries, but they aptly value what they have. Their high class life style is evidence to their work culture. Whenever free they will prefer to spend time doing something for themselves, family, or community. Weekends and vacations bring lot of activities.

The US government preserves large chunks of land and utilizes it for the enjoyment of all. They enjoy outdoor activities the year round. Depending on the region, famous activities include hiking, mountaineering, sailing, skiing, and camping.

The United States has given more professional athletes participating in a larger number of international levels of sports than any other nation. They love to watch sports. They also enjoy participating in sports, and there is plethora of leagues for players of all ages and skill sets.

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US Education System

American education system is different from the education systems of any other country! Are you planning to earn degree from American university? The US education system offers foreign students most diverse set of education options which may vary from microbiology to film and design. American education opportunities are virtually endless!

In many niches and sectors, the American education system offers the most advanced, latest and highly technical programs at the world's best schools. That is why getting education from an accredited American school and being exposed to the nuances of the US education system is worth an investment for your bright future.

Whether you aspire to study at a top USA university, college, or at a USA ESL, a thorough understanding of how the American education system functions is mandatory. Let’s see how exactly the US education system functions.

Primary School

American children go to school at the age of five years which is called kindergarten. The second year at school is termed as first grade. In America, the terminology grade stands for the score obtained on an exam or in a course, and a year of schooling in primary or secondary school. Primary school generally consists of five years of education.

Secondary School

After completion of fifth grade, they advance to secondary school, which typically consists of seven years, from sixth through twelfth grades. The ninth through twelfth grades are generally termed as high school, at the end of which the high school diploma certificate is earned. The students must acquire a high school diploma prior to admission into university or college. Foreign students must have completed coursework equivalent to American high school and must consider how their selected high school can enable them access to the best colleges.

Undergraduate School

Students aspiring to attend college or university after completion of high school must attend undergraduate school. These schools offer either a two-year Associate degree or a four-year Bachelor degree in a specific course of study. That course is called the major. Although most schools offering a four-year degree, will accept students who have not chosen a major, all students are required to choose (or declare) a major by their second year at school. After completion of an Associate degree the student can continue to study at a four-year school and finally earn a Bachelor degree.

Graduate School

After obtaining a Bachelor’s degree student can continue to pursue one out of two types of degrees. One is a Master’s degree which is generally a two-year degree that is highly specialized in a particular field. Students willing to advance their education in a specific field can pursue a Doctorate degree, called a PhD. This degree may take between three and six years to complete, based on the course of study selected, the potential of the student, and the thesis being selected.

Some courses of study are only available at the graduate level in America. The most popular of these are dentistry, law, and medicine. Bachelor’s degree is the first requisite to pursue these specific fields.

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Benefits of US Education

The United States has been the destination of choice for international students across the world. The major benefits of higher education in the USA are as under:

Academic Excellence

The United States boasts more institutions of higher studies compared to any other nation. Top-notch study programs equipped with highly qualified teaching staff are the specialty of US universities. They also offer cutting-edge research faculties.

Unlimited Educational Opportunities

The US is a huge country with diverse resources and offers almost every field of study in the country. This diverse nature of selection attracts the foreign students to obtain their training in the USA.

Global Recognition

Colleges and universities in US are facilitated with professional accreditation by various governing bodies. Most schools are accredited, though it is advisable to check for the accreditation before taking any decision.

World Class Training, Teaching and Research

Being a resourceful country, the opportunities for practical training in diverse domains of study are unlimited. Most universities have affiliations with researchers and employers in various genres of study, thereby offering various avenues for students to earn hands-on and valuable experience.

People and Culture

Most Americans are very hospitable, friendly, and generous. In general, the people are humorous, innovative, gregarious, and keen to learn. These are faculties that many international students grasp and take home with them.

Cutting-Edge Technology

Irrespective of what degree a student selects to pursue in school, he or she will have to use computers and other latest technologies to succeed. Several universities include the latest technology into their curriculum, encouraging students to acquire proficiency beforehand.

Flexibility

Since the USA school system generally accepts working students and utilizes credit units, the academic programs are flexible. In short, one can select the timings to attend classes, number of classes to enroll in each semester, elective or optional classes to take, etc.

Global Exposure

Focusing on the global aspects of each subject, American colleges and universities prepares students with global view point in their respective fields. Most US education institutions have recognized this and provide a more vivid and international curriculum to meet these new setups.

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