Cost of Living

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For most visitors, the largest expense will be accommodation. Food prices are generally much lower than those in Western Europe, but are a little higher than those in the USA. If you stay in budget accommodation and eat in cafes, expect to spend around C$90 a day, not including long-distance transport. If you stay in motels and eat at restaurants occasionally, you're looking at around C$160 a day.

It's best to change money at companies such as Thomas Cook, which specialises in international transactions. If you can't find a money exchange office or booth, try a bank. American Express and Thomas Cook are the best travelers' checks to have, and you should make sure they are either in US or Canadian dollar denominations. Credit cards are widely accepted, especially Visa, MasterCard and American Express.

A 7% Goods & Services Tax (GST) is applicable to all transport, accommodation, restaurant meals and just about anything else you're likely to purchase, including newspapers. On top of this, in most of Canada, a provincial sales tax also must be paid. This can, in some provinces, add 15% to the quoted price, so factor it into your expenses so you don't get a nasty surprise at the cash register.

It's considered normal to tip 15% of the bill. Tips are usually given to waiters, cab drivers, hairdressers, hotel attendants and, by savvy drinkers, bar staff.

Education System Overview

Canada is a confederation of ten provinces and three territories and under the Canadian constitution each of the provinces and territories have their own responsibility for education. As a result, Canada has no national or federal department of education. Public education is under the jurisdiction of each of the ten provinces and three territories. Although there are many similarities in the 13 education systems across Canada, each reflects the diversity of its own regional history, culture, and geography. Admission requirements, program and course offerings, and fees vary from one institution to another. However, standards across the country are uniformly high. It is advisable that the student directly contacts the institution for more details.

The Canadian education system encompasses both publicly funded and private schools, from kindergarten through to university. The academic year generally runs from September to April.

he following sections provide an overview of the Canadian Education System.

1) Universities & University Colleges

Canada has a large selection of universities and university colleges. Canadian universities are largely publicly funded; as a result they are of a consistently high quality, regardless of location or area of study. As well, they all retain a high degree of academic autonomy. They offer a broad range of courses and a full range of degrees from undergraduate to doctorates, and can also offer certificates and professional degrees. The university year usually runs from September to May. Some universities are on a semester or trimester system, with all courses available even in the summer. University Colleges offers university degrees as well as college diploma and certificate programs. Students get a wide range of program choices at university colleges, including English as a Second Language (ESL) programs.

2) Community Colleges

The Community Colleges offer certificate and diploma programs in career and vocational training. College-level institutions may also be known as colleges of applied arts and technology, technology institutes. There are about 150 Community Colleges in Canada.

3) Career Colleges

A technical/career college is a privately owned and operated school with the main objective of preparing students for the job market after a short period of instruction. The emphasis at technical/career colleges is on practical skills over a broad range of programs. They may specialize in specific areas such as business, computers and secretarial skills. Although privately owned, these schools are provincially approved and regulated, ensuring that program standards and quality are maintained. Career colleges have highly competitive fee structures.

4) Language Schools

International students can come to Canada to study either English as a Second Language (ESL) or French as a Second Language (FSL). Many people choose to study ESL in Canada because of the many excellent ESL schools across the country. International students can study ESL for general, business or specific purposes. Students can receive training in the teaching of ESL. Almost all universities and community colleges have ESL programs. In general, most private ESL schools are very flexible in terms of program requirements and intake dates.
FSL programs are offered both through private and public institutes. Most, of the FSL schools are located in the province of Quebec. Students can usually enter a FSL school program at any time of the year for any length of study.

5) Elementary / Secondary Education (K - 12)

Preschool programs or Kindergartens, operated by local school authorities, provide pre-elementary education for 4-5 year-olds. Kindergarten programs are offered in elementary schools in all provinces and territories. The Grade organization varies among the ministries / departments of education. In some areas, it involves Kindergarten to grade 8 (elementary grades) and grades 9-12 (secondary level). Most school systems have an intermediate level of school - junior high school or middle school. Following elementary or middle level grades, school children proceed to secondary school, high school, or senior high school, where they continue to grade 12 (grade 11 in Quebec). Curriculum at the secondary level includes both academic and vocational programs. Secondary school diplomas are granted to students who pass the compulsory and optional courses of their programs.

Information can be obtained from the chosen institution's Office of the Registrar (for undergraduate studies), the Dean of Graduate Studies, or from the International Student Adviser on campus. In the case of secondary study, information can be obtained from your selected school board's international student office, for private schools, from the school principal or director.

Requirements

Admission Requirements vary from Institution to Institution, therefore for specific requirements students are encouraged to check directly with the institution(s) they are interested in.

The following list provides a general outline of requirements for students interested in applying to a university undergraduate program in Canada.

	Successful completion of the equivalent of a Canadian secondary school academic program with strong marks.
	Proof of strong proficiency in English (or French if studies in French). Students may be required to provide proof of language proficiency by way of a language proficiency test (For example TOEFL- Test of English as a Foreign Language administered by Educational Testing Service in USA, IELTS - International English Language Testing System administered by the British Council). Generally, Francophone universities require international students to complete their own test of French proficiency.
	Some institutions have other forms of English or French language assessment; they may offer their own language proficiency test or, may admit students to academic programs on the basis of having successfully completed that institution's language program.

There is no Canada wide entrance test as each university sets its own admission standards and assesses the qualifications of each applicant individually.

Getting a Student Visa

Only once you have been accepted to study at an eligible Canadian institution you can begin your application for a student authorization i.e Student Study Visa. Your application will go through Citizenship and Immigration Canada, by way of your nearest Canadian embassy, high commission or consulate. The best place to get all your information on this procedure is directly from Immigration Canada's web site: www.cic.gc.ca. Citizens of many countries require a visitor's visa, as well as the student authorization to study in Canada. A listing of those countries is available at Immigration Canada's web site.

Get An Application for a Student Visa

At Immigration Canada's site you can also get the application that you will need to submit to the Canadian authorities. You must print the form, read it carefully and answer all the questions. It can be returned to a Canadian Embassy, high commission or consulate. Canadian consulates will also supply them. If your internet access is limited, you may want to contact the embassy before you intend to submit your application to ensure you are clear about the requirements.

Give it Three Months

You should begin your application for student authorization at least three months before you intend to begin school. If you do need a visitor's visa, apply for it at the same time as your student authorization and they will be issued together.

To submit an application, you will need three documents:

	A valid passport;
	A letter of acceptance from a Canadian institution
	Proof that you have enough funds to cover tuition and living costs in Canada (this can either be a letter from your parents/ financial supporters, a letter from your bank, an up-dated bank statement, or a scholarship/fellowship contract) Plus, Apparently, if you support you application with a letter of reference from someone important in you community ( a religious leader, a member of government, a doctor etc.), then your request will be looked upon favourably. When you apply from some countries, the consulate will also ask that you supply them with the results of a medical examination.

To Study in Quebec

If you are accepted to an institution in Quebec, you will need to receive a Certificate of Acceptance of Quebec (certificat d'acception or CAQ), before seeking a student authorization from Canada. To get this, you must contact Quebec's ministry of immigration, the ministerie des relations avec les citoyens et de l'immigration. The process varies depending on where you are applying from, as the Quebec ministry has international offices in Austria, France, Hong Kong, Mexico, Monaco and Syria. If you reside in any of these countries you will send your application form there or submit it in person. If you live in the U.S., Greenland or St.-Miquelon, you may send your application directly to Montreal, along with a copy of your letter of acceptance, $100CDN, proof of health insurance and evidence of sufficient funds. From any other country you will also submit your application to the Montreal office, but without health insurance documents or evidence of funding.

Student Visa Fees

The current fees for student authorization processing is $125, while a visitor's visa will be either $75 or $150 for single or multiple entry visas respectively. If you plan to study in Canada for a long period then the multiple entry visa will be worth the cost, as you might have opportunity to visit the United States while you are here. These fees must be submitted with your application to begin the process.

To Maintain Your Status

Once you enter the country, you must be sure to inform the Canadian authorities if any of the information on your student authorization changes, or if you need an extension. Circumstances where this applies are as follows:

	A change in your course of study or institution
	Your authorized period of study will end soon
	If you seek employment off-campus, or
	If you terminate your studies

It is the student's responsibility to keep Immigration informed about these changes.