How to Find the Right Educational Institution for You

How to Determine Which School is best for you in Canada

When deciding to come to Canada to study, there are several important steps that must be done prior to applying for a study permit. For instance, you should make sure you choose the right educational institution for you and your preferences. This is one of the most important steps to ensure as if you are accepted as a student in Canada, you will have to spend most of your time there. Therefore, in this article, I will explain how to find the right educational institution that best suits you, the different educational institutions you can choose from, and other important information.

How to Find the Right Educational Institution

Luckily, Canada has several different educational institutions to choose from. However, it can be somewhat overwhelming, especially if you are intending to study in Canada as an international student. One of the first steps you should consider when looking for the right educational institution is the type of study program you would like to take. For instance, you should determine whether you would like to complete a degree, diploma or certificate. Another factor to consider is how that degree, diploma or certificate will enhance or change your career or life in the long run. Choosing a program is important for your short-term and your long-term goals.

There are resources available for international students that can help with this process. For example, you may want to attend an information session or a tour at the educational institution or you may want to speak with a school representative or current students to get a better idea of what the school offers. However, if you cannot attend in person because you live overseas, you may research on the school’s website to research resources for international students and/or reviews from current international students.

The moment you decide which program of study you are interested in, the next step is determine which educational institution is right for you. There are certain factors you should consider when looking at the educational institution, such as:

• Location of the school
• Costs of living
• Tuition costs
• Health insurance costs
• The ratio between professors and students
• Size of classes
• The variety of student organizations
• Social life
• Safety
• Resources and support for international students

Please note that health expenses are not paid for by the Canadian government for international students. The public health system in Canada is strictly only for its citizens and permanent residents. Health coverage varies between each province and territory in Canada. Therefore, it is advisable to contact your educational institution prior to applying to see what options they have available for international students.

When selecting your educational institution, you should also consider any personal preferences you may have. For instance, if you would prefer to attend a school that focuses on theology and religion, then you may want to specify your search. Another example is whether you would like to attend a school that is co-ed or single-sex. As aforementioned, there are many different educational institutions that you can choose from that specialize in different areas, so it is vital for your studies in Canada for you to choose the right educational institution that suits your personal preference and needs.

Furthermore, if you successfully determine the educational institution you would like to attend, you can apply to study there. Additionally, if you are caught in between a couple of educational institutions, you may apply to all of them and see which ones accept you. This gives you a higher chance of getting accepted compared to only applying to one.

Different Institutions to Choose From

As an international student that desires to study in Canada, you have many choices to choose from. There are a variety of colleges, universities and technical schools that Canada offers. As aforementioned, it is important to determine if your program is offered at the college, university or technical school you are applying to. Also, there are different sets of rules and regulations on how to apply for each educational institution. They may also have eligibility requirements regarding your language ability, whether in English or French. Keep in mind, English and French are Canada’s official languages, therefore, it is important you know at least one of these languages.

Furthermore, there are also language schools that you can attend to improve your language ability in either English or French. It is important to first find out whether the language school is recognized as a designated learning institution before applying. The reasoning behind the importance of finding out whether it is a designated learning institution is because in order to obtain a study permit from Immigration Canada, you must be accepted into an educational institution that is listed on the designated learning institutions list. This applies to any educational institution that you are applying to – it has to be on this list.

To find out whether your educational institution is listed on the designated learning institution list, you may visit Citizenship and Immigration Canada’s (CIC) website as they have a detailed list of all the educational institutions.

Contact Akrami & Associates

If you would like to apply for a study permit but are unsure which educational institution you would like to apply to, it is important to take all of the aforementioned information into consideration before applying. Study permit applications are difficult to pursue on your own, especially if you are unfamiliar. Therefore, it is highly recommended that you seek out professional and experienced help before attempting to apply. Here, at Akrami & Associates, we work and have experience with many different immigration issues. We have helped many of our clients obtain study permits for the right educational institution that suits them. If you believe that you may be eligible to apply for a study permit, please feel free to contact Akrami & Associates at our office at 416-477-2545 for more information or if you would like to book a consultation with an immigration professional for more advice.

With Akrami & Associates, there is always a way!