Canadian academic institutions welcome students from around the world, who bring cultural enrichment to the educational scene in Canada. More than 90,000 international students were enrolled in Canadian institutions in 1997, not including students taking short-term English and French as second language courses.

Foreign students must meet certain immigration requirements to obtain an authorization to study in Canada.

They must:

• present an acceptance letter from the educational institution they wish to attend;
• provide evidence of enough money to pay for tuition and living costs;
• satisfy a visa officer that they will return home at the end of their studies;
• pass a medical examination if required;
• meet other requirements for visitors, including a visa if necessary.

In Canada education is a provincial responsibility and students at the primary and secondary school level should contact provincial education authorities for information on standards and requirements. Students interested in studying in Quebec will need approval from Quebec.

At the post-secondary level foreign student fees and other requirements vary depending on the institution. Individual institutions can provide details of fees, academic requirements and programs of study, as well as information on cost of living and health insurance. Students should ensure that the institution being considered is acceptable for purposes of a student authorization.

In some countries, Canada Education Centres,  can provide assistance with finding and applying to member institutions. Many institutions attend education fairs in different countries.

Click here for information on Studying in Canada: A guide for International Students.

Click here for an application for a student authorization in Adobe® Acrobat format.

Immigration officials are working with the academic community to reduce processing times and paperwork. Improvements include expedited medical procedures at some key posts and longer validity periods for student authorizations.

In 1997, more than 70% of student applications were finalized within one month, and 21%were processed the same day.

  Canada Welcomes Foreign Students.

Foreign students may work only under certain circumstances, for instance:

• the work is part of the program of study;
• the work, up to one year after graduation, is in a field related to the studies;
• their source of funding is cut off through no fault of their own.

 
Links

Additional information on studying in Canada and helpful contacts may be found at the following sites:

• Alberta Centre for International Education
• Association of Canadian Community Colleges
• Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada (AUCC)
• British Columbia Centre for International Education
• Canada Education Centre Network (CECN)
• Canadian Association of Private Language Schools
• Canadian Bureau for International Education (CBIE)
• Council of Ministers of Education, Canada
• Council of Second Language Programs in Canada
• Marketing Canadian Education [Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade]
• National Association of Career Colleges
• Nova Scotia Universities and Colleges
• Provincial Ministries of Education
• Test of English as a Foreign Language

	Enhance Immigration and Documentation Consultants© 2001