Students

If you are a prospective student:

Canada is home to some of the best schools in the world. 

Before  you decide on Canada as your study destination, you need answers to  some important questions. Which colleges or universities should you  consider? How much money do you need to study in Canada? Is your program  offered where you hope to study? The UIC immigration team have taken the time to find and gather vital details on the schools or programs that interest you, where they are located and what they cost. 

The possibilities are infinite when it comes to finding study programs in Canada. Choose to study here and you’ll encounter immensely diverse experiences – from Vancouver and the West coast ski slopes of British Columbia across the prairie provinces (which are home to UIC) and East toward cities such as Toronto, Montréal and Québec City to the Atlantic provinces – Canada’s culture is famously polite (and apologetic – sorry about that!), friendly, tolerant and multicultural. 

Canada is known for its pristine natural beauty – few nations in the world can boast anything close to our richness of forests, lakes and mountains – and for our proud multicultural diversity. The country is officially bilingual, with English and French used concurrently in government and official documents. 

We're also known for our sparse population (even though we are the world’s second-largest country by land area) and for our harsh winters. In some parts of Canada, snow covers the ground around half of the year or it can become too cold to snow (which should be no surprise at the amount of Canadians on tropical winter vacations)! 

The  number of international students studying in Canada is over 450,000 and constantly growing. Many of these students are selecting Canada over other developed countries because of advantages that studying here can bring – both career wise and culturally. 

Studying in Canada provides you with a top-quality and internationally accepted education, preparing you for professional pursuits in Canada or abroad. Still, the cost of tuition and living fees in Canada are lower than in comparable countries, such as the United States. 

The quality of our education system, in general, is recognized as one of Canada's greatest strengths. 

Any minor child (under 18) legally residing in Canada may study at the preschool, primary or secondary school level without a study permit. This extends to the children of  authorized students or workers, as well as Canadian citizens and  permanent residents. This does not apply to children of temporary residents (visitors) who are not entitled to work or study in Canada. 

Elementary Schools 

Canada's elementary schools will provide your child with a safe and supportive learning environment under some of the best teachers in the world. 

Children  in Canada attend elementary (or primary) school for the first 8 grades of school. School starts with kindergarten at ages 4 or 5, and move onto high school, usually in 9th grade.

Canada ranks 3rd in quality of education among the world’s wealthiest countries. Our strengths lie in delivering exceptional programs at the elementary and secondary school levels in reading, math and science. 

Our  primary students are high achievers thanks to our teachers. Canadian teachers create interactive, supportive learning environments and  integrate innovative learning methods  to strengthen learning.

Canadian  teachers have at minimum a bachelor’s degree and practical teacher training before entering the classroom. All  teachers must maintain and upgrade their skills with professional development. 

Public school is free for residents of Canada. If you’re sending your child to Canada to study, please contact UIC regarding fees for international students. 

Secondary Schools

High School (also known as secondary school), runs from grades 9 to 12 in most Canadian provinces and territories. After successfully completing high school, students can go on to post secondary education. 

Canada  also has private secondary schools who charge fees for attendance. Private schools must deliver the same curriculum as public schools in the province or territory. This ensures that students complete the same course of study as they would in the public school system. 

Class sizes in private schools are often smaller than public schools where students may benefit from specialized programming. Some private schools will have a religious program as well as standard school subjects. Sometimes, private schools are set up for boys only or for girls only. 

Private  high schools include boarding schools, alternative schools, international baccalaureate programs and specialized sports programs or schools for students with learning  disabilities. 

Educational Excellence

Canada  has one of the strongest records of student achievement in the world. That’s why we’re an excellent choice for education. Canada’s  teenagers are among the best educated in the world. 

Canada’s provinces and territories oversee education, and each of their  ministries of education recognizes the importance of maintaining high  standards. We make major policy decisions and design initiatives using their provincial and territorial counterparts as benchmarks. This ensures quality and consistency in the education system. 

As far as excellence in education, we currently rank 3rd among 15 of our wealthiest peers. We also have the 2nd highest rate of high school completion worldwide.

There are several ways  to come to Canada as a student. For example, you can apply to study in Canada with a Study Permit. It is also possible, in some cases, to study in Canada without a study permit - although this is only for short-term programs. While you studying in Canada, you are usually permitted to work up to 20 hours per week. However, the first step is to decide where you would like to attend and find a study program that matches your goals and ambitions.