Eligibility Criteria to Study in Canada For Indian Students

There is a long list of Eligibility criteria for studying in Canada for International students. It includes impressive academic performance, good scores in language proficiency exams and some approvals from local authorities. Also, every student need a valid Canadian student visa approved by IRCC.

Canada is among the favourite abroad destinations among students for higher studies. Immigration, student-friendly policies, world-ranked universities, decent tuition fees, etc. attract students worldwide. With the country gradually reopening for on-campus classes, students are amping up to start their application process to land in the country for upcoming intakes. Keep reading this article to know more about documents and exam requirements to study in Canada.

Study in Canada: Eligibility Requirements

• Students have to enroll at a DLI
• Prove you have enough money to pay for your tuition fees, living expenses, and return transportation.
• Obey the law, have no criminal record, and get a police certificate (if required).
• Good health and get a medical exam (if required).
• Prove to an officer that you will leave Canada when your study permit expires.
• Make sure, you do not have any backlog at the time of applying best Canadian universities.

Related Read: Canadian Universities Accepting Backlogs

List of Required Documents to Study in Canada

• Academics transcripts
• Acceptance letter from your Canadian college or university
• GIC (Guaranteed Investment Certificate)
• Letter of prescription from your doctor for the medicines you are carrying
• Vaccination and medical records
• Canada Student Visa
• Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL)

When to Apply?

Students seeking the September intake should ideally appear for these exams by November so they can apply before the first deadline. The universities you will be applying to will mention which exam results they will accept. However, if they give you a choice to go for either of these, then the choice depends on you. The time required to prepare for IELTS/TOEFL/PTE would depend on the existing English language proficiency. Candidates may require 2 to 4 months of preparation before the exam date.

Repetition of Exams

Students can appear for IELTS an unlimited number of times and IELTS Academic is conducted 4 times a month while General Training is conducted twice a month. TOEFL can be retaken as many times as desired, but cannot be taken more than once in a 12-day period. The same holds true for PTE; it can be taken as many times as one wishes. You must wait to receive your scores before you can book your next test. You can give GMAT an unlimited number of times, subject to five times a year and a gap of 30 days between two tests. You can take these tests with a gap of 30 days from the first time.

Also Read

• Exams required to pursue vocational courses in Canada
• Take the SAT exam in India to study in the US and Canada
• Average IELTS scores at the best Universities in Canada

English Language Proficiency Exams

TOEFL – Test of English as a Foreign Language or TOEFL measures the ability of non-native speakers of English to use and understand North American English. The TOEFL test has been developed and is administered by Educational Testing Service (ETS), which sets the questions, conducts the test, and sends each examinee the score report. TOEFL exam is required for admission at colleges and universities where the medium of instruction is English. Apart from academic purposes, many government agencies, scholarship programs, and certification agencies use TOEFL scores to evaluate English proficiency.

IELTS – International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is an English language proficiency exam that measures the language ability of students who are willing to study abroad or work in a country where English is the language of communication. The exam mainly assesses the ability of students to communicate in the four basic language skills – listening, reading, speaking, and writing. Apart from academic purposes, many government agencies, scholarship programs, and certification agencies use IELTS scores to evaluate English proficiency.

PTE – Pearson Test of English or PTE Academic is a computer-based test that assesses the Listening, Reading, Speaking, and Writing abilities of non-native speakers who need to demonstrate their English academic capability.  PTE is a leading English Language Proficiency test provider in Canada. This exam is accepted by most Canadian universities/colleges and is the best choice to get your Letter of Acceptance from a Canadian Designated Learning Institute.

CAEL – The Canadian Academic English Language Assessment (CAEL) is a standardized test of English designed to check the level of English language of students studying in English-medium colleges and universities. It allows students to experience what it is like to participate in a Canadian post-secondary classroom. The CAEL Assessment offers a unique alternative to other standardized tests of English because it is a topic-based performance test. It comprises an integrated set of language activities. Students read articles, listen to a lecture, answer questions and write a short essay – all on one subject.

General Exams

GMAT - Those who want to pursue business or management-related courses or MBA in Canada give the Graduate Management Admission Test or GMAT Exam. The aspirants are measured on English, mathematical, and reasoning skills.

GRE - The Graduate Record Examination or GRE is also a popular graduate exam taken by students applying to pursue MA or MS. In addition, many business schools in Canada also accept GRE scores for granting admission to pursue MBA or business or management courses.

LSAT - The Law School Admission Test or LSAT is a standardized test taken by students who want to study law in Canada. The students are evaluated based on reading and verbal reasoning skills.

SAT - The Scholastic Assessment Test or SAT evaluates the aspirants based on literacy and writing skills. This test measures how well the aspirants can solve problems-skills they learned in school, which they will be using further in college. The SAT exam is required to get admission to UG courses.

Students who are planning to continue their higher studies in Canada are advised to carefully go through the entry requirements of the university/college to which they are applying for admission then go for the exam accordingly. Many educational institutes accept some specific exams whereas some institutes allow students to give the exams of their choice. Therefore, before preparing for the exam students should check with the university they aspire to enter.