Study in Canada

Types of higher education institutions
Community College (College of Applied Arts, College of Technology, Technology Institute) -
institutions offering vocational higher education; 1-3 years full-time study leading to diploma
College d'enseignement général et professionel (CÉGEP) - Québec institutions offering vocational higher education and 2-year preparatory courses which are required by the Québec universities before accepting a student
University/Université – institution that offers academic courses on all the three levels
University College - university institution offering courses only in specific fields, sometimes only undergraduate study

Structure of university studies
The academic year at Canadian 2-semester institutions starts in September and ends in April-May. Some universities divide the studies into three semesters during the whole year. The languages of instruction are English and French.

Universities
1st level - 3-4 years full-time study
* Bachelor/Baccaulauréat (B.A., B.Sc., etc.)
2nd level
- 1-2 years full-time study
* Master/Maîtrise (M.A., M.Sc., etc.)
3rd level - at least 3 years full-time study and research
* Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Note: Some courses lead to the first degree till at the second level (law - Bachelor of Law, medicine - Doctor of Medicine - M.D.)

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Application procedures
- students should begin the application process about 12 months before they hope to enroll
- in almost all cases you must apply directly to the registrar of undergraduate studies or to the dean of graduate studies of the particular university in order to obtain information on application procedures
- Ontario has a central system of application for undergraduate studies only; all students must apply through the Ontario Universities Application Center
- students wishing to attend a university in British Columbia must apply through Post-Secondary Application Service (applying also possible through Internet)
- proof of English (TOEFL) or French proficiency is required
- most universities require specific secondary-school diploma, and an official transcript of student's secondary-school marks
- students wishing to attend a university in Québec are advised to contact the local Ministry of Education
- students accepted for a university in Québec must obtain separate approval from the province in addition (through Québec Government Office in Brussels)
- for admission of international credentials contact the Canadian Information Center for International Credentials
- some of the universities offer the preparatory seminars for foreign students
- it is very difficult to be accepted for the medical studies as a foreign student

Financing of university studies
- tuition at Canadian universities vary from CA$ 2,700 to 9,500 according to the fields of study (teaching and engineering studies are more expensive, up to CA$15,000)
- the living expenses in Canada are about CA$ 8,500 - 11,700 for an academic year (the highest are in British Columbia and Ontario)
- universities seldom have funds available to help foreign students at undergraduate studies
- most awards offered by universities and by Canadian government are restricted to postgraduate studies
- for information on financial assistance offered by a particular institution, write to the university one year before enrolling
-information on scholarships can be obtained from the Canadian Bureau for International Education and Direction générale des affaires universitaires et scientifiques
- students may be given permission to work while attending school

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Health insurance

It is absolutely essential that you arrange a special insurance plan. Most post secondary institutions in Canada require international students to join a Canadian group insurance plan for life, accident, and sickness insurance. Ask the institution you will be enrolled at for details. In Québec you must purchase medical insurance before you can obtain a Certificat d' acceptation du Québec.

Visa
Students do not need student visas to enter Canada if their planned stay will not exceed three months. You should apply for a student authorization from the Canadian Embassy. If you plan to study in Québec, you must obtain, as well as the authorization of this province, the Certificat d' acceptation du Québec. The Ontario universities (except the University of Windsor) are involved in a system of compulsory health-insurance for international students - the University Health Insurance Plan - UHIP.

Important addresses
Délégation générale de Québec
avenue des Arts 46
7e étage
1040 Bruxelles
Belgium
tel. +32 (2) 5120 036
fax +32 (2) 5142 641

Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada (AUCC)
350 Albert Street
Suite 600
Ottawa, Ontario
Canada K1R 1B1
tel. +1 (613) 563 1236
fax +1 (613) 563 9745

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Canadian Bureau for International Education
220 Laurier Avenue West
Suite 1100
Ottawa, Ontario
Canada K1P 5Z9
tel. +1 (613) 237 4820
fax +1 (613) 237 1073

Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials
252 Bloor Street West
Suite 5-200
Toronto, Ontario
Canada M5S 1V5
tel. +1 (416) 964 1777
fax +1 (416) 964 2296
e-mail: info@cicic.ca; cicic@cmec.ca  

Ministere de l’Education
Edifice Marie-Guyart, 11e étage
1035 rue de la Chevrotiere
Québec G1R 5K9
Canada
tel. +1 (418) 643 7095
fax +1 (418) 646 6561

Direction de la coopération
Direction générale des affaires universitaires et scientifiques
Édifice Marie-Guyart, 19e étage
1035, rue de la Chevrotiere
Québec G1R 5A5
Canada

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Ontario Universities’s Application Centre
650 Woodlawn Road West
Box 1328
Guelph, Ontario
Canada N1H 7P4
tel. +1 (519) 823 1940
fax +1 (519) 823 5232

Comparative Education Service
Room 202, 214 College Street
Ontario
Canada
tel.: +1 (416) 978 2185
fax: +1 (416) 978 7022

Post-secondary Application Service of British Columbia
4th Floor, Douglas Street
Victoria, British Columbia
Canada V8W 3K4
tel. +1 (604) 828 4730
fax +1 (604) 828 4861
http://www.pas.bc.ca

Useful publications
title: Awards for Study in Canada/Bourses pour étudier au Canada
published: Canadian Bureau for International Education 1994
title: Canada’s Universities: Notes for Students/Les universités au Canada: Notes aux étudiants
published: AUCC 1996
title: Destination Canada: Information for International Students
published: Canadian Bureau for International Education
title: Directory of Canadian Universities (in English and French)
published: AUCC 1997
title: Québec Cooperation Program with Central and Eastern Europe
published: Ministere de l’Éducation, Québec
title: Studying in Québec
published: Ministere de l’Education, Québec 1994

Internet addresses
http://www.aucc.ca - Canadian universities' programs
http://www.intergov.gc.ca/psectud/psecndxe.html - alphabetical index of Canadian universities
http://www.accc.ca - Community Colleges programs
http://www.uhip.mercer.ca - information on health insurance in Ontario
http://ouainfo.ouac.on.ca - Ontario Universities’s Application Centre
http://www.pas.bc.ca - Post-Secondary Application Service of British Columbia
http://www.cicic.ca - Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials - CICIC (general)
http://www.cicic.ca/indexe.stm - CICIC (information in English)
http://www.cicic.ca/indexf.stm - CICIC (information in French)

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