Explore Canada as a Study Destination

Welcome to Canada!

Canadians are widely regarded as being honest, friendly, polite, well educated, and also health conscious. In fact, Canada has consistently ranked among the top 10 countries in the United Nation's Quality of Life Index since 2004. Overview: Canada is divided into many geographically diverse parts. The weather is also very different in all these parts. Ontario: Ontario is the most populous province in Canada. It offers something for everyone, from vibrant and multicultural cities to vineyards and museums. Québec: Canada’s French-speaking province has a rich heritage. British Columbia: This province is world-renowned for its breath-taking natural scenery of mountains, oceans, and rainforests. A sport-lovers’ paradise, BC has an activity for every season, from mountain biking to sailing to skiing. Alberta: Alberta is home to the Rocky Mountains, Banff, and Jasper. Prairies (Manitoba and Saskatchewan): During the summer, these provinces are home to fantastic fishing and canoeing. The northern-most parts of this region are also famous for their polar bears. Maritimes: Home of legendary hospitality and spirit, the Maritime provinces boast quaint fishing villages and eco-adventures galore. Northern Territories: This place experiences breathtakingly beautiful, cold, snowy Canadian winters.

Society and Culture

Canadians are generally tolerant, polite and extremely community-oriented people. Although they are individualistic in terms of their basic cultural traits, they nevertheless place a great deal of emphasis on the individual's responsibility to the community. Canadians tend to be very hospitable, welcoming people – particularly in provincial and rural Canada. Visitors to Canada may find it difficult to tell the difference between its English speaking provinces and the USA. Living in Quebec would require fluency in French.

Climate

Canada's climate is characterized by its diversity, both from region to region and from season to season. In the north, the temperature goes below 0°C every year. But most Canadians live within 300 kilometers to the south, where hot summers and the pleasant weather stays for at least seven months. Canada has four distinct seasons: Spring (March-May) Summer (June-August) Fall (September-October) Winter (November-February)

Education

A Canadian degree, diploma or certificate is globally recognized as being equivalent to those obtained from the United States. The quality of education and living standards in Canada are amongst the highest in the world, and the cost of living and tuition fees for international students are generally lower than in other countries such as the United States (US) and the United Kingdom (UK). Canadian universities are globally recognized to be of a high standard, with four Canadian institutions in the QS Top 100 university rankings, and 10 in the top 200.

Accommodation

In Canada, most students prefer living in dormitories. They are usually located near the university and typically have a shared kitchen, bathroom and laundry facilities. Some dorm accommodations offer optional cafeteria meal plans where students pay and receive two or three meal tickets per day. A listing of private accommodations (apartments, flats, or rooms) is usually available through the housing office or student’s union of most universities and colleges across Canada. It is best to visit the location in person and make sure you ask any questions you might have before committing to a lease.

Cost of Living in Canada

Meal at inexpensive restaurant: 12.99 C$ Meal at McDonald's: 8 C$ Coffee: 3.50 C$ Water (1.5 liter bottle): 2 C$ One-way Ticket(Local Transport):3 C$ Taxi (1km): 1.84 C$ Petrol (1 liter): 1.30 C$ Internet(6 Mbps,Unlimited Data):48 C$ Cinema (1 Seat): 12 C$ Apartment(1 bedroom)in City Centre: 1,000 C$ Apartment(1 bedroom)Outside of Centre:800 C$

Money matters

It is advisable to open an account in Canada, as most major banks offer student accounts with good services that can help you save on international transaction charges. A basic bank account costs approximately $5/month and most include personalized cheques that can be used to pay for large amounts like rent and bill payments. Internet banking is also quite common and has become a widely accepted method for bill payments and other transactions. Most banks are open Monday to Friday.