A study guide to Canada for Bangladeshi Students

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.