A study guide to Canada for Bangladeshi Students
Are
you planning to study in Canada from Bangladesh in 2023? There are many reasons
why international students choose Canada as their target for receiving higher
education abroad. It is one of the most popular study destinations for overseas
students. Canada, as a destination, harbours the world’s top-ranking
universities, which have made their way into the top spots of QS World
University Rankings. Canada is also a highly multicultural place where foreign
students can feel welcomed and have an easier time adjusting to their
surroundings. Canada consists of ten provinces, each with a capital city. The
most popular and sought-after provinces for international students are Ontario,
British Columbia, Quebec, and Alberta, which are home to some of Canada’s top universities,
for example, the University of Toronto, Simon Fraser University, McGill
University, and the University of Alberta.
How to apply to Canadian Universities?
There
is an endless list of universities, colleges, and technical schools, applied
arts and science institutions in Canada that offer diverse educational
possibilities. While Canada has long been recognised for its postgraduate
diploma programs, which provide students with a three-year work permit,
Bachelor’s degrees have recently become popular among students who want to
study for three to five years to improve their job prospects.
The
first step to applying to universities in Canada is to develop a shortlist of
universities with good rankings and offer a good curriculum for your desired
area of study. The next step is to look through the admission requirements of
each university. The admission requirements vary from university to university;
therefore, looking at each one’s specific needs is essential. Overall, high
grades are critical since this ensures admission to top-ranking universities.
For Undergraduate or Bachelor’s
Degree
In
Canadian Universities, completion of high school or qualification up to 12th
grade and having proficiency in one of the two official languages (English and
French) are the two most basic requirements for admission. Some other basic
requirements for applying include an overall grade percentage of 70% in 12th
grade or HSC/A levels, a minimum score of 580-600 in TOEFL, and a minimum score
of 6/6.5 in IELTS. There are various fields of study to choose from in
undergraduate courses, ranging from mathematics and science to history and
psychology.
For Postgraduate or Master’s Degree
In
Canadian universities, in most cases, an undergraduate degree is needed to get
admitted into a postgraduate program. However, there may be a few exceptions.
Students must have a core theoretical understanding to carry out their
independent studies because graduate degrees require (in most cases)
independent research and minor coursework. Students must generally have a
supervisor verify their suitability for graduate school. Typically, this is
accomplished by an interview between a potential graduate student and several
supervisors, during which the student tries to match their study program with a
supervisor interested in a related topic. Suppose graduate students can
financially support themselves during their graduate program (either through
securing a scholarship or fellowship or with the supervisor granting financial
assistance from their grant resources). In that case, they have a better chance
of being accepted. Most graduate institutions will not accept students unless
they already have their finances. Additional requirements are a full-time
working experience of 2-3 years, a minimum IELTS score of 6.5, a minimum TOEFL
score of 580-600, and a four years Bachelor’s degree with an overall average of
at least 70%.
English requirements for Canadian
universities
For
both Undergraduate and Postgraduate levels, the language proficiency of
candidates is an essential aspect of the application process. Postgraduate or
Master’s Degrees in Canada are taught in French and English, so you must show
proficiency in the language you want to complete your education. The English
proficiency tests accepted by most of the top Canadian universities are the
- IELTS Academic,
- IELTS Academic for UKVI,
- PTE Academic,
- C1 Advanced and the TOEFL iBT.
- Some other accepted English tests that a few universities accept include CAEL (Canadian Academic English Language Assessment), CanTEST (Canadian Test of English for Scholars and Trainees), and MELAB (Michigan English Language Assessment Battery). The accepted French language tests are DALF, DELF, etc.
Financial requirements for Canadian
universities
The
average tuition fee for international students pursuing an undergraduate degree
in Canada is CA$29,714 (~US$22,500) per year. Average tuition fees for
postgraduate degrees are a bit less, which is CA$17,744 (~US$13,437).
The
living expenses per year vary from person to person and city to city and depend
on Canada’s location and each person’s living habits. Larger cities, such as
Toronto and Vancouver, tend to be more expensive, with higher rents.
On-campus
accommodation costs up to CA$3000-7500 (~US$2271-5680). Private shared
accommodation costs up to CA$8400 (~US$6361), with additional yearly bills.
University accommodation tends to be cheaper since they often include meal
plans. Compulsory health insurance must be purchased upon acceptance by a
university, costing approximately CA$600- 800 (~US$455-607) per year. A study
permit is also necessary to pursue education in Canada, which costs CA$150
(~US$114). Application fees to universities will vary, with the average fee
being CA$118.50 (~US$89.70) for international applicants. The admission fee can
be waived for students applying from developing countries. Additional costs for
winter clothing should be considered in the final calculations.
The
estimated financial support students should show from their families as proof
of financial eligibility to study in Canada is CAN$13,134 on average. Evidence
of unencumbered available cash to cover tuition and living expenses is
necessary to obtain a Canada Study Permit. This can be proved by the following:
- Proof of Canadian bank account
showing the money you have transferred.
- Guaranteed Investment
Certificate (GIC) from a Canadian bank. (For SDS Countries only)
- Proof of a student or education
loan from a bank.
- Your bank statements for the
past four months.
- A bank draft that can be
converted to Canadian dollars.
- Proof you paid for tuition and
housing.
- A letter from a person or
school giving you money.
- Proof of funding paid from
within Canada, if you have a scholarship or are in a Canadian-funded
educational program
Grants & scholarships available for Bangladeshi students
Many
undergraduate grants are offered to help students manage their study expenses.
If a student applies for Bachelor’s degree programs, they may be eligible for a
scholarship of up to 60,000 CAD.
These
scholarships can be categorised as:
- Merit-based Scholarships
- Entrance Scholarships
- Provincial Government
Scholarships
- Need-based grants by college
- Tuition fee waivers
- Commonwealth Scholarships
- Private / Organizational
Scholarships
Benefits of Bangladeshi students studying in Canada
Many
reasons prove why the temptation to pursue higher education in Canada is
beneficial and worthwhile for Bangladeshi students. It provides top-notch
education of the highest quality from some of the world’s highest-ranking
universities. The expenses needed to study in Canada are more affordable and
cheaper than the fees and living expenses in other places like the USA and UK.
This provides an excellent chance to get a competent, well-rounded education
that can open up a bright world full of opportunities to pave the way to a
successful career. Moreover, the environment in Canada is very diverse and
multicultural since many international students go there to seek their
education; this can make any Bangladeshi student feel at home in a foreign
country hundreds of miles away from our motherland. It is also comparatively
more straightforward to obtain permanent residency (PR) in Canada than in
famous destinations like the USA or UK. After completing the Post-Graduation
Work Permit Program (PWPP), international graduates from Canadian universities
can work in Canada for one to three years.
Canada
also provides endless research opportunities in many fields such as
telecommunication, medicine, agriculture, etc. This is a good chance for those
interested in working in the research sector after graduation. Suppose all
these reasons did not seem convincing enough. In that case, the most exciting
benefit of studying in Canada is the freedom and chance to experience a
vibrant, versatile, and colourful campus life on state-of-the-art university
campuses. That boasts world-class architecture and pleasant campus
environments, where you can enjoy your youth to the fullest alongside getting a
quality education.
