Canada has a large selection of universities and university colleges located
in both urban and rural settings in every region of the country. Our
universities are internationally known for the quality of teaching and research.
Degrees from Canadian universities are considered to be equivalent to those from
American and other Commonwealth universities. Canadian universities are largely
publicly funded; as a result they are of a consistently high quality, regardless
of location or area of study. As well, they all retain a high degree of academic
autonomy.
Full-time student enrolments at individual universities range from over
35,000 to less than 1,000. In addition, most universities have a large number of
part-time or continuing education students. They offer a broad range of courses
and a full range of degrees from undergraduate to doctorates, and can also offer
certificates and professional degrees. Fees for universities differ depending on
the province, institution and program of study.
The university year usually runs from September to May. Some universities are
on a semester or trimester system, with all courses available even in the
summer. There is no Canada-wide entrance test: each university sets its own
admission standards and assesses the qualifications of each applicant
individually.
As Canada has two official languages - English and French - an international
student can take a degree either at an English language or French language
institution. Some universities offer instruction in both languages. However,
students do not have to be fluent in both languages to attend a Canadian
university.
To qualify for a degree program at most English-speaking universities,
students for whom English is not a first language must have passed an English
examination test. The TOEFL is commonly accepted but Canadian universities often
have their own tests for students or may accept other English examination tests
such as the IELTS.
Your local Canadian Education Centre (CEC) can provide valuable information
on English examination tests acceptable to Canadian universities. CEC staff can
also advise students on whether they may qualify for an exemption from English
examinations. In addition, CECs have extensive materials on Canadian schools and
can also provide counselling to students on finding the appropriate institution
and applying for study in Canada.
If you are interested in studying at a French language institution, please
note that there is no standardized French language test that international
students are required to pass in order to qualify for a degree program. French
universities, however, will determine the level of a student's French language
skills on a case-by-case basis, and may choose to administer their own written
tests if language skills are in question.
Program Transfers
In some cases, it is possible to complete only one or two semesters of
undergraduate study in Canada, and then apply your studies towards a degree
program in your home country. You may also be interested in transferring to a
Canadian university to complete you studies. In either case, it is important to
ask the advisors at the Canadian institution you are planning to attend, as well
as your home university or college, about equivalencies specific to your program
of interest. ( http://www.studycanada.ca/english/universities_canada.htm
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