how study in canada

Search for the right program.

Step 1

• Search for the right program. It’s important to choose a program that interests you and will lead to a job or career you want.
• Decide where you want to study and what program you want to study. The next step is to find out where the school, college or university is located, make sure it offers your program, and check its website for information about tuition fees, deadline dates, admission requirements and more.
• Make sure that the program is accredited (recognized) by Canada’s provinces or territories (this means it meets their standards). If it isn’t recognized yet, check if the program has applied for accreditation.

Figure out all your costs.

It is important to evaluate your financial situation and understand the costs of applying for and attending university. The tuition fee is only one of many expenses you need to consider when planning your budget. Other costs include books and supplies, health insurance, accommodation, meals, transportation and personal expenses. You should add up the costs for your first year of study then divide by 12 to get an estimate of monthly expenses.

Create a budget before you get there.

Creating a budget is a key step in managing your finances. Sit down and write out all of your monthly expenses, including rent, food, entertainment, and so on. Even one-off or irregular payments should be included here—you never know when you’ll have an emergency expense to deal with.

This helps you plan for the unexpected as well as make sure that you’re leaving enough room in your monthly budget for savings.

Find housing and a place to live.

Housing is usually the biggest expense for students. It can be difficult to find an affordable place to live in some parts of Canada, especially in large cities. You should look for a place to live before you arrive in Canada.

• Some people choose to live on campus while they study. Living on campus refers to living at your school or university, and is often the most convenient option for students because everything a student needs is usually located on campus and within walking distance, such as:

● classes and lecture halls;

● libraries;

● computer labs;

● bookstores; and

● food services.

Take care of your health.

You’ll need to take care of your health once you move to Canada. This means buying health insurance. Health insurance covers all or part of the cost of prescriptions and visits to a doctor, emergency room, dentist and so on.

Health insurance in Canada is not like what you may have been used to in your home country. You may have a policy or be covered by your employer, but that will no longer work when you move to Canada—except for some people who are from Quebec or from certain countries with special agreements with Canada.

In other words, if you don’t already have health coverage, you’ll need it before coming to Canada. Your provincial health card will cover the medical costs of many services and treatments (including doctor visits), but it won’t cover everything. For this reason, many people choose private supplemental insurance through a plan offered by an employer or purchased directly from an insurer.

Make sure you’re covered in case something happens.

Once you’re in Canada, it’s time to get coverage for your health care. While Canada’s public health care system is generally excellent, it doesn’t cover everything. For instance, if you’re a student from another country, then most likely you won’t be covered by the Government Health Insurance Plan (GHIP). Thus, it’s important to purchase travel insurance that covers emergency medical expenses and will pay for any necessary medical treatment while you are in Canada.

When looking for a travel insurance provider online, here are some things to think about:

• What is the best plan? Most reputable insurance companies provide several different travel plans and options to choose from. Review all of the plans carefully and select the one that best meets your own needs.
• How much does it cost? Premiums can vary greatly depending on the level of coverage being purchased as well as applicant age and medical history. Applicants should write down their questions and do thorough comparison shopping before selecting a carrier or policy type. After comparing rates among several different companies or plans using an online tool like our Travel Insurance Finder™, applicants should have a good idea of what they can expect to pay before contacting a carrier directly for assistance with their application or purchase.

Comply with the conditions of your study permit.

There are certain conditions that you must follow while studying in Canada:

• You must stay enrolled in school. If you need to switch schools or programs, you must notify Immigration Canada by email at [IRCC_Studypermits-Permisdetudes@cic.gc.ca](mailto:IRCC_Studypermits-Permisdetudes@cic.gc.ca).
• You cannot work off-campus without a valid work permit or be employed for more than 20 hours per week during regular academic sessions, and full-time during scheduled breaks (for example winter and summer holidays, and spring break). There are some exceptions to these rules based on the type of program you’re studying in, so make sure you check before accepting any job offers.
• Don’t overstay your visa. Your study permit is only valid for the duration of your program plus an extra 90 days. Be sure to apply for an extension if necessary
• Don’t do anything illegal! It’s tempting to break the law when no one is watching but seriously—you don’t want to end up deported from this beautiful country because of a mistake while smoking weed or drinking underage!
• Don’t change your address without informing immigration authorities through the Immigration Canada website using their “My Account” feature at [www1.canada1immigration-visas0services6online5aspx0com/en/account/login](http://www1\.canada1immigration-visas0services6online5aspx0com/en/account/login)

You can earn a good degree in Canada, and it’s worth it to do your research first.

Of course, you can always do your research online and reach out to program staff via email or phone. If this is the case, make sure to have all of your questions ready before making contact so that you don’t have to schedule a second conversation.