Canada - Education System

The Canadian higher education system consists of over 75 degree granting and non-degree granting institution. The Canadian education system is as follows:

Higher education
Degree granting institutions
Universities - Canadian universities are degree-granting institutions (BA, BSc, MA, MSc, PhD, etc.), offering the same professional training and research opportunities available at four-year American colleges.
University programs follow the Anglo-American model where there are three levels of degrees - bachelor's, master's and doctoral.
Colleges, schools and specialized institutes, also grant degrees.

Non-degree granting institutions
Colleges - Canadian colleges are non-degree granting institutions and are further subdivided into different categories:
- community colleges, similar to American junior colleges, offering certificate and diploma programs in career and vocational training;
- colleges of applied arts and technology, or technology institutes;
- colleges d'enseignement geranial et professional (colleges of general and professional education) or CEGPS, unique to the province of Qu閎ec, offering three-year vocational/career-oriented diploma programs and two-year pre-university programs.
The applied name for these institutions is community colleges.
Community colleges are mainly teaching institutions, although there is a limited amount of research at some institutions.
Colleges typically offer career-oriented and technical training, as well as university transfer programs and general education leading to diplomas or certificates.
These courses typically last for two or three years of full-time study.
A university or college may be associated with another university as a federated, affiliated, or constituent institution.

Undergraduate programs, usually last three or four years in duration, and normally lead to Bachelors degrees. An honors baccalaureate degree usually signals a higher degree of concentration in the honors subject, as well as a higher level of academic achievement. At some universities, an honors degree may require an additional year of study.
Professional degree programs (medicine, law, dentistry, etc.) usually follow three or four years of undergraduate study, although in many cases, a Bachelors degree is not a strict prerequisite.

Postgraduate education
A master's degree typically requires two years of study after successful completion of an honors baccalaureate. Some master's degree programs include a strong research component and a thesis; others rely more heavily on advanced course work.
MA, MSc or MBA programmes usually take at least one year of full time study and consist of a thesis or research paper.
It is possible to direct master degree students straight to PhD programmers after one year.
Many community colleges offer specialized postgraduate diplomas to students who already have a diploma or degree.


The doctorate
The doctorate takes a minimum of 3 to 5 years of study, research and dissertation to complete.
The degree is generally known as a PhD; however, doctoral degrees may also be granted in particular fields of study such as music (DMus) or law (LLD).

Qualification required
Admissions procedures for undergraduate programmers vary: some faculties accept applicants directly from high school, but others require one or two years of general arts or science courses at the university level before students may switch into the specialized programs.
In Quebec, graduation from a two-year CEGEP program is required for entrance to university.
Admission to community colleges for technical and semi-professional diploma programs, as well as for general and university transfer programs typically require secondary school graduation.
An honours degree and high academic standing are the normal criteria for admission to a master's program. A similar level of achievement at the master's level is typically required for admission to a doctoral program.
Language requirements
Both English and French is the official language in Canada. Most universities use one or the other.
All English language universities need proof of English proficiency, which can be assessed by TOEFL. French language universities assess applicant抯 proficiency on an individual basis. Please contact the individual institute for language requirements.
Cost
Each of the ten provinces in Canada set it抯 own rate of fee for overseas students.
Undergraduate tuition fees range from C$4,000 to C$14,000.
Graduate tuition fees range from C$3,000 to C$18,000.
Living expenses make up the largest part of the cost, ranging from C$12,000 to C$18,000 per academic year per person.
A C$125 student authorization fee per individual is payable. There is no fee for a visa when it is issued with a student authorization.
Medical, hospital and dental care in Canada can be expensive. Overseas students, you are not insured for these expenses by the Canadian federal government. Some provinces or universities can cover overseas students under their health care plans. Please make sure you have adequate medical cover before you leave the country.

Application procedure
It is advisable to apply early to ensure that all deadlines will be met.
Application forms for graduate programmers are obtained direct from the graduate Department/ University.
Applications to graduate programmers are usually evaluated as soon as application information is complete, and offers are made well before the deadline.
Finding accommodation
Private accommodation ranges from C$300 to C$1,000 per month per person depending on the location and size of accommodation.
A limited number of student accommodation (halls of residence) is available if any.