Top 8 reasons why you should study in Canada

Authentic maple syrup, fresh air, and genuinely friendly people  — what other reasons do you need to study in the Great White North? Believe it or not, there is still a laundry list of qualities driving people to research opportunities across the country and study in Canada.

Canada is a bilingual country, where French and English are both spoken. It’s also a vast nation, with thousands of kilometres of beautiful land to visit and explore. From the Rockies in British Columbia, to the shores of Newfoundland, to the world famous Niagara Falls — Canada is not short of natural beauty. 

For international students, we take a look at the best reasons to study in the world’s second largest country — from an abundance of scholarships, to being one of the safest countries in the world.  

Take a look with us at why it could benefit you to study in Canada:

Academic excellence and internationally recognised degrees

Canada is an internationally recognised ideal destination for higher education studies for international students. Universities from Canada have a stellar reputation in terms of global academic performance, competing among the world’s best higher educational institutions in global rankings. 

University of Toronto which is a huge capital in Ontario known for the tall skyscraper and high-rise buildings. Source: Valerie Macon/AFP

University of Toronto, McGill University, and University of British Columbia are all stellar performers, finishing among the world’s top universities according to QS rankings. However, it’s not just about the top three — there are many more excellent schools across the country. You can even learn French as a second language alongside your English studies. 

Research opportunities

You can rest assured that if you study in Canada, you will be in one of the ten leading countries for scientific research among places like China, Switzerland and Japan. There is also an association of Canadian public research universities called the U15 — home to world-class researchers using the latest research technology to make innovative discoveries. Last year, they conducted over CAD$8.5 billion worth of research. Notably, this year association member McMaster University contributed in the fight against COVID-19 by developing saliva-based asymptomatic testing to limit the virus’ spread.

Scholarships for international students

The financial stress of loans can burden any college student, especially international students, who have to take into account added living costs incurred being far away from home. Canada has a wide variety of scholarships that will help you take a bit of that weight off your shoulders. 

An abundance of students flock to study in Canada and live. Source: Eric Thomas/AFP

More affordable tuition fees

As an international student you can expect more affordable tuition fees if you study in Canada compared to countries like the United States. Professional degrees, including MBAs and healthcare courses can be a fraction of the price compared to the US. Check out the stats for tuition fees in Canada here.

Work while studying

There are many ways to work while you study in Canada — on-campus, off-campus, internships and co-op placements. Generally, depending on the institution and type of visa you have, international students are allowed to work 20 hours a week during a normal school session and 40 hours per week during school breaks. Who wouldn’t want to make money while studying?

Welcoming immigration rules

Foreigners can look forward to a comparatively open and an organised immigration system if they decide to study in Canada — a top destination for immigrants. The Post-Graduation Work Permit Programme (PGWPP) allows students from eligible Candian institutions to obtain an open work permit in order to undertake valuable work experience there. 

Peaceful and safe

COVID-19 safe yoga in Toronto, Canada is known to be one of the most safest countries in the world. Source: Cole Burston/AFP

If you study in Canada, not only will you be among the highly globally ranked academic institutions, you will also be safe. The country has a low crime rate, with a recent poll showing that Canadians are 8th in the world in terms of safe feelings of personal security.  

Diverse culture

To study in Canada as an international student, you will be part of enriching its vast cultural diversity. Canada is a country that boasts a multitude of ethinic, religious and linguistic groups, living together in harmony. It’s the first country to officially adopt multiculturalism as a policy, and Canada’s diversity statistics show that it has the highest percentage of foreign-born citizens than any other G8 (the eight highly industrialised nations) country in the world.