How to Apply to a University in Canada in 2022?



Canada has emerged as one of the top global ed destinations with the most reputed universities and the quality of education that they offer. Today Canada has a few of the world’s best universities and educational institutions that offer a great education along with the right platform for path-breaking research and excellent research opportunities.

This global ed destination today hosts almost half a million international students and has one of the best education systems around the world. The other top reasons that make Canada the favourite destination for higher education by Indian students are the adventures that await international students in Canada and the quality of living.

From climate to culture to the way of life that you see in Canada is something that is beyond compare and very much unique to this beautiful land. Canada is one of the most welcoming and culturally diverse countries which will immerse you into the local culture in a way that best suits your personality. A high standard of living, and the best healthcare sector are a few other factors that make Canada the best choice.

High-quality education with a relatively low cost of living globally recognised degrees, and availability of better career opportunities after studies are a few other reasons that attract the international student community to Canada.

This second-largest country in the world is an endless source of natural beauty with a surface area that is 14 times larger than that of France; the country is also home to a magnificent landscape and most scenic places like Niagara Falls in Ontario, Lake Louise in Alberta, Jasper National Park in Alberta and Whistler Mountain in British Columbia.

So, it will not be surprising if you are an international student looking forward to studying in Canada, which is a complete package of everything that is the best. If you are confused about where to start your global ed journey and the criteria you should follow while applying to a university in Canada, then we are here to help guide you through every step.

Here we explore how to apply to a university in Canada in 2022.


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How to apply for a university in Canada for international students


Presently over 30 Canadian universities are ranked in the top 300 global universities in the world by prestigious ranking agencies like Times higher education, shanghai university, and Q.S. ranking. Every year the number of applicants applying to universities in Canada is increasing, and there is a wide variety of study options available for international students in Canada at present.

There are many things that you should keep in mind while applying to a university in Canada, and you should also ensure to have a proper checklist of things that are to be taken care of while applying to universities in Canada as an international student. Every university has its own criteria for admission but what is common about a lot of universities is the way in which you apply and the documents that you will have to submit to the universities.

Also, there are a few government regulations that you should comply with even before applying for the universities and for your educational visa. Today let’s explore all these steps in applying for a university in Canada in detail and make your global ed journey much more seamless and effortless.

There are few universities in Canada that will ask you to submit additional materials or essays other than your educational qualification, whereas some universities may ask you to submit very few details and information. So, before you decide on one particular university, it is advised to research the course of your choice and the essential eligibility criteria.

Our step-by-step guide will help you make your research job much easier as we will tell you what things you should take care of while applying for a university.

Steps to applying to a university in Canada

Step 1: Ensure you meet all the basic requirements


Admission requirements of each and every University in Canada can differ, and it is always safe to start planning things much in advance or at least a year in advance as this will give you enough time to contemplate your decisions and also to seamlessly do the whole process of applying to the right university.

You should first look at the various requirements for the course of your choice and the documents required to apply for the course. If you have multiple colleges in mind, you should keep in mind that depending on the province, there can be differences in the document required and also basic eligibility criteria.

Basic things asked by the universities will be as follows:

  • Details related to funding and meeting of expenses. This should clearly state who will be funding your studies and how much money will the agency or person provide for your education abroad.
  • A certificate that will prove your language proficiency, this can be English, French, or any other required language depending on the course and province.
  • A valid and up-to-date passport
  • Few universities might ask for entrance exams along with extracurricular certificates.

Step 2: Choose the Institution and course of your choice


This is the most important step in your global ed journey. Choosing the best university and finding the best course of your choice will be the most time-consuming and also the most rewarding step that you will be taking in your global ed journey. While you think of the course of your choice, you should give importance to your subject of interest and the field of study that you are passionate about.

If you need any help in this section, we are always there to help you, get in touch with us, and we will help you find the best and most suitable course for you. There will be a separate fee for each university and for the course that can apply and you can always apply to multiple universities at the same time.

You can get in touch with us to know about the university ranking and course rankings to look out for the best universities in Canada and then apply for the course of your choice.

Step 3: Take the required language proficiency test


To apply for a Canadian student visa through the SDS visa process, it is mandatory to have an IELTS score of 6.5 overall. This is one of the most fundamental parts of applying to a Canadian university; you will have to prove your language proficiency by taking up language exams. In Canada, there are two languages of Instruction: English and French.

Depending on the institution and course preference, you can look for the language exams that you will have to appear before applying for the visa. Most students take IELTS, TOEFL, and other language proficiency tests, and IELTS and TOEFL are the most popular exams that are accepted by a lot of universities across the globe.

IELTS is the most preferred language proficiency exam that assesses your listening, speaking, and writing skills. This is the best choice of exam that can provide the most accurate assessment of your language proficiency. There are also exams like Cambridge English and a few other examinations which are accepted by a couple of universities.

All the above-said examinations prove your English language skill, but if you are planning to study in a French-speaking province or part of Canada, then you will have to take a French-language proficiency test. This is not a mandatory criterion, and you can always find the necessary details regarding this on the university website.

The most common and popular test to prove proficiency in the French language will be the TEF exam, but you can also take up exams like TCF, DALF, and DELF. You will have to register for all these examinations and spend around CA$100 or more to take up these language proficiency examinations.

Many universities where the medium of education is in English require the students to attain a minimum score in a standardised language test. In case your language skills are not sufficient to meet the needs of the university or a particular course, there are a host of Canadian programs you can enroll for before applying to the university.

This program will be offered by the university or a private institute to improve and then assess your language proficiency. But this program might not be offered by all the universities.

Here is a list of the top English language proficiency tests :

  • IELTS Academic
  • PTE Academic
  • C1 Advanced
  • TOEFL
  • CAEL (Canadian Academic English Language Assessment)
  • CanTEST (Canadian Test of English for Scholars and Trainees)
  • MELAB (Michigan English Language Assessment Battery)

Here is a list of the top French language proficiency tests accepted by the university.

  • DALF
  • DELF
  • TEF
  • TCF

Step 4: Applying to the University


The application process of universities differs from one another. And also from course to course. Universities prepare their application packs which consist of everything that you should know while applying to the university. You can get in touch with our well-researched team at T.C. Global to learn more about application processes and what are the certain requirements specific to a particular university.

Canada has both pocket-friendly and expensive universities, so before applying to a university of your choice, you should know how much it will cost per semester or year to study at that particular university. The application fee can range from CA$100 to CA$250 so before you send your application, just be sure about their eligibility requirements and all the other requirements, as the application fee of almost all the universities is non-refundable.

After completing the application form, you will have to attach the necessary documents or prepare to mail them to the university. Grades also play an essential role in deciding your future at a university, the higher your grades are, the more chance you have to get into the university. Many of the universities require a grade of 60% or above to pursue the best courses, so before you apply to any of the universities, just see their cut-off and other academic requirements as well.

For a few courses, you will have to have job experience, or if you have graduated two years before then, you will have to provide a work experience letter for the two years.

Here is a list of a few mandatory documents that you will have to submit to the universities during the time of admission :

  • Filled-in application form
  • Resume or CV
  • Graduation certificate/diploma
  • A letter of intent
  • Financial statement
  • Experience certificate, if any

Here is a list of a few pocket-friendly universities in Canada where the tuition fee will be significantly less

  • University of Manitoba
  • University of Northern British Columbia
  • University of Saskatchewan
  • Saint Mary’s University
  • University of Waterloo
  • John Molson School of Business, Concordia University
  • Sprott School of Business, Carleton University
  • Ted Rogers School of Management, Ryerson University

Step 5: Deadlines and Fees


Deadlines for applying at the university can vary, but it is advised to apply at least eight to twelve months before the deadline as this is considered a safe time period for you to prepare all the necessary documents and gear up for your study abroad. In general, there are two intakes, one is in September and the other in January, so depending on the intake that you would like to get in, you should be ready with all the necessary arrangements.

There are also universities that have rolling admission, which means the admission process for international students will occur throughout the year, but this might be a little time-consuming. Usually, the application deadline for winter enrolment will be on September 1st, and summer enrolment will start on January 15th for both bachelor’s degree and master’s degree courses.

This can vary between institutions and different programs at the same university, so even the same university can have different deadlines. The offer letter will be usually sent one or two months after the application has closed, and then you can look for the next steps.

Step 6: Apply for University Scholarships in Canada


Now that you have applied to the right university, you will have to wait for the results to be out. Usually, the results are declared two months after the deadline or by the end of spring. Private universities send an offer letter along with the fee payment receipt to confirm the admission, or they will send an official letter of admission for visa purposes and other particular information about studying in the particular university.

Now that you have secured admission to a Canadian university, it is time for you to look for the best available scholarship for an international student. You can also apply for the scholarships at the time of applying for the chosen course. Most of the universities and students’ visas in Canada require the candidate to apply for scholarships beforehand. Applying for the best and right scholarship will be your key to studying in Canada at a very minimal cost or even for free. There are Canadian universities that directly offer students scholarships if their academic performance is excellent, and there are also government and other private scholarships available for students. Canada offers many scholarships for international students, so it’s good to have a clear idea about this when applying for a course.

Here are popular scholarships available for international students :

  • University of Calgary International Entrance Scholarship
  • The University of Winnipeg President’s Scholarship
  • Carleton University scholarships
  • President’s Scholars of Excellence Program by the University of Toronto
  • Concordia University scholarship
  • Brock University Scholarships
  • Alberta Graduate Excellence Scholarship

You can also look for scholarships from the Canadian government and also from your own government. Some countries offer financial aid for students who have an excellent academic track record and who wish to study abroad. T.S. Ambedkar Overseas Vidya Nidhi Scholarship is one such scholarship available for international students from India.

You can, at the same time, also apply for external scholarships. An external scholarship is an umbrella term used for the source of funding for students that comes from an external organisation or association outside of the university or the Canadian government, or the home government.

Step7: Apply for your study permit


The next important thing you should do is to apply for a student visa; you can apply for your visa online or in person at the visa application centre. A student visa will cost around CA$150, and this should be paid by the student at the time of visa processing. For the visa processing, you will need to submit the acceptance letter from the DLI, a valid passport, and also proof to show who will support the financial needs.

For students applying in the province of Quebec, you will need to provide a ‘certificate d’acceptation du Québec’ (CAQ), which will be sent by the university, or you can find it on the government website. A study permit is needed if you intend to study in Canada for six months or longer, and this should be applied much in advance. In some cases, you will also need to pass a medical examination that proves you are in good health and you don’t have any health issues.

At the time of the visa interview, you should be able to convince the visa officer that the primary reason for coming to Canada is to attend university, and it is for education, and you will leave Canada at the end of your studies. Students from India can apply for Canada through the SDS process introduced this year; this process speeds up the Canada study permit process and has very less paperwork compared to the earlier processes. In case your application is not eligible for the SDS processing method, it will be processed in the normal way.

Step 8: Working while studying in Canada


From 2014 all the newly arrived full-time international students with a valid study permit can work in Canada without a work permit. Your course duration should be for more than six months, and the international students are allowed to work for 20 hours per week during the study session and full time during the spring breaks and vacations. So you can do part-time jobs along with your education to kick start your earnings and to have good pocket money.

International students who want to work while studying in Canada should obtain a social insurance number SIN for service Canada. Students can start working as soon as they receive their SIN. If students want to work as part of a co-op or an internship program and the work is in a part-time mode, the student can get a work permit in addition to their study permit and start working.

The Canadian government also allows students to work after their course, the Post-Graduation Work Permit Program (PGWPP) allows international students who have graduated from a program of at least eight months or more duration at a Canadian university to get work experience in the country. This will allow students to work in the country for the same duration as their university program and the maximum duration of this program is for three years.

Step 9: Start planning your journey well in advance


Your university application has been accepted, and your study permit is also approved, so now what you can do is start packing your suitcase and start planning for your global ed journey.

Firstly you should double-check the start and end date of your passport and visa; this will help you ensure that you arrive in the country within the allowed time periods. Now you can also look for accommodation and travel options which are available for you.

Also, it’s time for you to purchase your transportation to Canada and get the best deals for your flights as you are trying to book this much in advance. Depending on your financial status and needs, you can look for halls or houses and look for university student accommodations. If you are travelling for the first time with your parents, don’t forget to travel around the country to see some of the jaw-dropping places and other attractions. You can look for conducted tours for this matter.

Step 10: Arrive in Canada to begin your global ed journey


Now that you are starting your global ed journey in Canada, there are a few things that you should take care of; firstly, keep all the documents in a very safe and easily accessible place in your hand luggage or the small pouch that you can buy online. At the immigration office and different offices in the airport, you will have to hand over your passport or produce your visa, so you should always have your passport handy to hand over to the authorities.


With TC Global, study anywhere in the world with just a few clicks!


The best place for you to start your global ed journey is with us, at TC Global.

We are a brand that simplifies international education, learning, and mobility through connecting students, universities and a global community on a single platform. The platform enables students to study anywhere in the world in just a few steps while powering education providers to market and recruit global students at scale. There are over 1000+ education providers and over 80,000+ courses on the platform.
Explore courses and start your journey here.

Also Read: How to Study in Canada for Free in 2023?


Date added
04.07.2022

Filed under:

Global Ed

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