Studying | Healthcare | Accommodation | Travel | Visa | Student Voice
Study in Canada is an excellent resource to help you find the right university, college, career college, language school or secondary school.
The Canadian Bureau for International Education is an invaluable site for international students searching for information regarding Canadian education.
Healthcare Canada has a predominantly public-financed health care system which is privately delivered. Canada's healthcare system is best described as an interlocking set of ten provincial and two territorial health insurance plans. Known to Canadians as 'Medicare', the system provides access to universal and comprehensive coverage for necessary hospital services, as well as in-patient and out-patient physician services. Over 95% of Canadian hospitals are operated as private nonprofit entities which are run by community boards of trustees, voluntary organisations or municipalities. The following provinces cover international students under their Provincial Health Care Plans. Ensure that you check any costs payable. Alberta: Under the Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan, students must register within three months of their arrival. British Columbia: Under the British Columbia Medical Services Plan (MSP), a student must hold student authorisation upon entering Canada to be eligible for medical coverage. A new medical regulation states that international students with a student authorisation of six months or longer must be covered under the province's medical service plan. Saskatchewan: Under Saskatchewan's medical plan, students must register immediately upon arrival. Coverage, which is free, is available for students and their dependents for the duration of the student's authorisation or visa. The following provinces do not cover international students under their Provincial Health Care Plans. International students studying in these provinces must arrange for private medical coverage through their private insurance: Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Québec.
Many institutions have accommodation conveniently located on or near their campus. Campus accommodation is an ideal way to become involved in campus activities and meet other students.
If you decide to live off-campus, prices can be quite high in the major cities. Many institutions offer an off-campus housing service, which can provide affordable listings that are near the campus and offer a roommate search facility.
Canada's main international airports are located in Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal and Halifax.
If you choose to travel by rail, there are three main rail routes from the USA: New York-Montreal, New York-Toronto and Chicago-Toronto. If you are travelling by bus, the Greyhound bus network in the USA connects with most major destinations in Canada, but involves a bus transfer at the border. If you are travelling by car, there are numerous road border crossings.
Remember, Canadians drive on the right side of the road.
Depending on your country of origin and the type and length of study, you may be required to hold a visa, a student authorisation, or both.
For those of you studying languages for under three months, you will not require student authorisation. All other programs do require student authorisation.
Student authorisation
This can be obtained from the Canadian Embassy, High Commission or Canadian Education Centre in your home country. Applications for such authorisation can only be made at the point of entry if you are a U.S. national, a permanent resident of the US, a resident of St. Pierre and Miquelon, or a dependent of a person who is in Canada on employment or student authorisation.
The following documents are needed for your visa application:
- Proof of identity: photocopies of a valid passport or travel document or identity document that guarantees re-entry to the country that issued it.
- Visa officers may also wish to see the actual passport or travel document and will inform you if this is the case.
- Four passport photos with your details written on the back.
- Proof of financial support. This document must show that you will have enough money during your stay in Canada to cover tuition fees, return transportation and living.
- Proof of acceptance by an approved educational institution, containing the following information: full name, date of birth, mailing address of student, the course for which the student has been accepted, the estimated duration or date of completion of the course, the date in which the course begins, the last date on which the student must register for the course, the academic year which the student will be entering, whether the course is full or part-time, the tuition fee, any conditions related to acceptance, clear identification of the educational institution, and licensing information for private institutions. This letter must be signed by an authorised representative of the academic institution.
Learn from the experiences of other students and share your experiences of going overseas at International Student Blogs and Forums.
