It is not really difficult to understand that the aspects of safety and living cost are the primary deciding factors and rightly so, while zeroing on the study destination for your child. And these are exactly what make Canada one of the most sought after destinations for aspiring Indian students looking to pursue their higher studies abroad.
While the history says that the UK and the USA have remained the most popular study destinations for students, especially Indian students; Canada has fast emerged as a befitting reply to these counterparts. And the statistics very well confirm that the low crime rates and affordable living costs are what have been attracting students from across the world. The United Kingdom and the United States are often considered the go-to education destinations for students seeking their first international study experience. Statistically, the safety index of USA has been found to be 53.27, that of UK to be 56.36 and 60.52 for Canada. The cost of living plus rent index of USA is found to be 56.30, that of UK is 47.81 and Canada is 50.04.
The very thought of sending their kids away from home and that too to a foreign land is scary for parents, and the kind of security and stability Canada offers, it largely solves these anxiety issues of the parents. The homely and friendly environment this country extends to its international students makes this country an extremely popular choice for parents and students alike.
Now comes another aspect, which is the quality of education! As per the general norm where countries with lower living costs offer a relatively lower quality of education, it is really not the case with Canada. University of Toronto, which is unarguably one of the best in the world according to the QS World University Rankings 2018, students around the world aspire to be part of the student community at this prestigious institution. According to this survey, University of Toronto has been ranked 31st amongst top universities across the world.
As the icing on the cake, Canada has gained immense popularity since the country announced the student visa in 2016 that has a provision for international students to stay and work in the country after completing their education. Talking about the number of top colleges Canada boasts to house in its bosom, you can find at least 20 top colleges in Ontario alone, with over 5000 programmes and more than 200 fields of study.
Students have an option to choose from one-year certificate programmes, to two and three-year diploma programmes – and at least 200 full degree programmes. These courses are known to provide not only theoretical knowledge but also practical experiences that go a long way and contribute a great deal in career prepping. Canadian universities also offer transfer opportunities which immensely helps students to utilize their existing credits and take off from wherever they have left.
In fact, living in Canada for your pre-university qualifications helps students become much better prepared for their forthcoming university years in the country. Pre-university prepping living in the country certainly enables students to visit the universities and acclimatize with the cultural environment and other important living conditions.
Now here are the top seven reasons that make Canada one of the better countries to study at!
1. Canada offers the highest standard of living where all its major urban areas boast of vibrant and modern shopping centres, restaurants, parks, theatres, etc. Safe and clean beaches and other leisure activities are also easily accessible giving a stress free environment to its inhabitants.
2. In comparison to other popular study destinations like the USA and the UK, the tuition fee in Canadian colleges are lower. And Canadian universities have been able to achieve this while maintaining the quality of education at their highest level.
3. Canada by and large is a peace loving nation and over the years, its crime rate has also decreased significantly. Canada’s “Walk Safe” programmes that helps people access public transportation is another great step by the country in maintaining the crime rates at a low.
4. English being one of the main languages (read official also) spoken in Canada, makes the country extremely friendly and comfortable for international students. While French is also an official language in the country, it is mostly spoken in the province of Quebec as here is where most French speaking Canadian natives reside.
5. Canada’s natural beauty is certainly one of the major aspects to be discussed when talking about why it is an extremely conducive place for students. Its wild landscape, the Rocky Mountains, the rugged mountains and the picturesque province of the coast along with the Great Lakes.
6. Another great thing about studying in Canada is the permanent residency and Canadian immigration. International students have the option of applying for permanent residency which takes up to 15-18 months. To qualify for this, the students need a minimum of 67 points.
7. Students studying in Canadian universities are allowed to work on campus on a part time basis for the first six months and off campus thereafter. Many universities offer a co-op program where they give their students a hands on experience of the industry. The students can work for a year after their one-year programme and for two – three years after their two-year study programme.
We at Study Destinations aim to offer a completely unbiased view of the overseas education system and this article has been written with a view to provide a holistic picture of the study abroad scenario. You can get in touch with our expert team for guidance on how to go about the most important step of your life. We are always here to help you!
