What are the Requirements to Study in Canada?

Canada is the world’s third-largest destination for international students and immigrants. Its immigration and student-friendly policies to allow direct flights with no quarantine hassle has eased cost pressure on international travelers. With the country gradually reopening for on-campus classes, students are amping up to start their application process to land in the country for upcoming intakes. Keep reading to know all the documents, exams, and COVID- travel requirements to study in Canada post-pandemic!

Why Study in Canada?

We always hear a lot of young Indian students opting for Canadian universities. In fact, according to TOI, Canada has accepted study permits of more than 67,000 Indian students in just the first 4 months of 2021. Also, 30,000 international students were given permanent residency in Canada out of which 1/3rd are Indians. This tells us a lot about the Indian-Canadian camaraderie. 

There are a lot of other student-friendly reasons that tell us why studying in Canada is a reasonable choice to make:-

• Affordable: A decade ago, studying abroad was only for affluent Indian families. But Canada’s tuition fees and living expenses are affordable for most Indians. Tuition fees can be as low as Rs.1.25 lakh per year.
• Quality of life: According to EduCanada, Canada ranks best in terms of quality of life. Student-friendly cities of Toronto, Ontario and Montreal make it easier for international students to adjust to a new country.  
• Practical education: Most of the graduate degrees in Canada are offered in a co-op format. This means that Canadian universities emphasize a lot of skill development through internships as well as theoretical education. 
• Cultural diversity: 1.37 million of the population in Canada is Indo-Canadian. So as an Indian student, homesickness will seldom occupy you. 

Canada Student Visa IELTS Band Requirements

Application Process

The application process for studying in Canada is very simply laid down in the following steps: 

• Choose your preferred university and course
• Go to the university website and check their dates of application
• Fill the online application form
• Attach the required documents like the college transcripts, letter of recommendations, SOP and IELTS/TOEFL to your application
• Wait for your acceptance letter from your DLI
• Apply for your student permit (Visa).

There are just 6 hurdles between you and your dream university in Canada. Apply to Leverage Edu and assign your 6 hurdles to us! 

Letter of Acceptance by DLI

DLI means your Designated Learning Institute. It refers to the university that accepted your application and is ready to give you admission. A letter of acceptance is a crucial document that you may receive via mail after your online application has been mailed. Acceptance depends upon how much your application matches the candidate’s expectations. A letter of acceptance will be required while you apply for a Canadian student permit. It will take around 1 to 2 months after the applications for you to receive a Letter of Acceptance. 

Pro Tip- To increase your chances of acceptance, we suggest that you apply 8 to 9 months before the semester starts.

Letter of Explanation

This letter helps the visa officer to understand you and your goals. It explains: 

• why you want to study in Canada and
• that you understand your responsibilities as a student

Students have to include that they have applied for a study permit, even if they may not be required to do so for their studies.

Certificat d’acceptation du Québec

Students planning to study in Quebec for longer than 6 months, must produce the Certificat d’acceptation du Québec (CAQ) issued by the Gouvernement du Québec. Students can visit the official university website to know the application process and fees.

If your application for a CAQ got approved by the ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration (MIFI), but you’re still waiting to get the CAQ, you can apply for your study permit with the approval letter from the MIFI. You don’t need to wait for the CAQ to apply.

Canadian Study Permit

In India, you are required to apply for a study permit to study in Canada. We suggest that you apply for the student permit at least 4-6 months before your semester starts. The application may take approximately 35 working days to be processed. 

To apply for the study permit, you have to pay 150 CAD or Rs. 8770 as application fees. Once your application is analyzed, you will be called for a visa interview.

Once your study permit is successfully given to you, the duration of the permit is your course time plus an additional 3 months. 

Proof of English Proficiency

As an Indian student, one of the requirements to study in Canada is your proof of English proficiency. Most Canadian universities accept IELTS as the standard test for non-English speaking nations. While TOEFL is also a popular choice, for a Canadian study permit it is recommended to give the IELTS exam. You will require an IELTS score of 6-6.5 or even higher for acceptance to a Canadian university. 

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Proof of Funds

Proof of funds is one of the key requirements for the study permit. It is a document that will prove that once on Canadian soil, you will be able to take care of yourself as a student. You can prove your financial soundness via the following evidence- 

• Bank statements of the last 4 months
• Proof if you have already paid your tuition and housing fees
• Loan letter if you have taken a student loan from any bank
• In case a financial institution from Canada is providing for your education, a Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) is required
• Documents that prove your scholarships/funding 

Want to study in Canada on a scholarship? Apply to the Leverage Edu scholarship now and bring your dreams closer to reality!

Immigration Medical Exam

Folks at the Canadian embassy take the Immigration Medical Exam extremely seriously. If you plan to study in Canada for more than 6 months, an IME is compulsory. Your doctor cannot perform a medical exam for you. You have to contact the Canadian panel of physicians who will assign you a doctor. The medical exam can be done before applying to universities as well.

From your medical history to your eyesight, everything is checked before you are given your results. Once your medical results are mailed to you, they are valid for 12 months. So you have to fly to Canada in that period or get a new medical exam done. The IME fees have to be paid by you.  

Police Certificate

For some nationals, producing a police certificate is a necessary requirement to study in Canada. A police certificate is submitted as proof that you do not have a criminal record and hence are fit to study in the country. A police certificate is a background check that visa officers may need to ascertain your credentials and process your application faster.

Statement of Purpose

If you’ve liked writing long essays in your high school, consider SOPs the king of long essays (500-1000 words). Here you pour your heart out about why you’d like to study in a Canadian university and how mutually beneficial it can be. It also tells the university about your academic writing skills and written English prowess.

SOPs have to be well-curated as it becomes the basis of your application acceptance. A good SOP might get you admission even if your resume is comparatively mediocre. 

Must read: Life in Canada for Indians

Guaranteed Investment Certificate  

A Guaranteed Investment Certificate of CAN$10,000 is another requirement to study in Canada, especially if you are studying in an SDS college. It is a short-term investment that colleges require students to make to provide proof of financial funds for 12 months or more. Most Canadian banks offer GIC programs to international students at varied interest rates. Here are some documents you may need to provide for a student permit:

• a letter of attestation;
• a GIC certificate;
• an Investment Directions Confirmation or
• an Investment Balance Confirmation

Eligibility Requirements for Bachelor’s Degree

To pursue a bachelor’s degree in Canada, the following are the requirements:-

• High school transcripts and a 70% in 12th grade with maths
• IELTS/TOEFL certificate/Test d’évaluation de français (TEF)  
• Online Application form
• Proof of funds
• Statement of purpose
• Updated CVe

Must Read: Know the entire process of doing a bachelor’s in Canada.

Eligibility Requirements for Master’s Degree

For a 1-2 year master’s degree in Canada, the following are the requirements:-

• Graduation degree equivalent to a bachelor’s degree in Canada
• GMAT or GRE score
• IELTS or TOEFL score
• Letter of Recommendations
• Statement of Purpose

Also Read: Master’s in Canada for International Students

Eligibility Requirements for MBA

MBA, a highly sought after course in Canada, asks for the following requirements from international students:- 

• Graduation degree equivalent to a bachelor’s degree in Canada
• GMAT or GRE score depending upon the university
• Work EXperience of a certain period, also dependant on the university you apply to
• A minimum score in IELTS/TOEFL or PTE

Must Read: Want to pursue an MBA in Canada without giving the GMAT?

Eligibility Requirements for a Doctorate

Want to pursue a PhD in your field and be called a doctor? Know the requirements for you to study in Canada here:-

• Postgraduate degree in your relevant field
• A research proposal within your statement of purpose
• Letter of recommendation
• Minimum score in IELTS/TOEFL
• GMAT or GRE depending on your field
• Updated resume

COVID Requirements for Travelling to Canada

 Canada eased travel restrictions for all fully vaccinated students and international travelers. Indian students can travel to Canada via third-country and get a test before boarding the Canadian flight. International students must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 with a WHO-approved vaccination. Vaccines like Bharat Biotech (Covaxin) and Sputnik V have not been authorized for use by the Canadian government and international travelers are advised to administer Covishied produced by Serum Institute of India. 

• Direct flights between India and Canada are available for international students and job seekers travelling to the country.
• International students must hold a valid CAQ and study permit or study permit approval letter from a DLI list-educational institution.
• International students must produce a negative COVID-test taken within 72 hours before boarding a flight.
• Travelers may also be selected at random to conduct a COVID-19 test upon arrival in Canada.
• Fully vaccinated travelers are exempted from 14-day quarantine but can be asked to if they do not meet the requirements upon arrival. 
• International students who have not been fully vaccinated are required to quarantine for a period of 14 days upon their arrival. Partially vaccinated travelers have to take a test upon arrival and on day 8 of quarantine.
• As per the vaccination rules for students, travelers who have tested positive for Covid-19 must present proof of a positive Covid-19 molecular test result taken within 14 to 90 days prior to arrival in Canada as part of the pre-arrival test requirements.

Also Read: Study in Canada After 10th for International Students

All students are required to fulfill all the aforementioned requirements to study in Canada! If you are planning to study in Canada for the January intake then book a free session with our Leverage Edu experts and shortlist your dream universities.

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