The Canadian Refugee System

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Study in Canada 

Requirements?
What you need before starting?
Studying in the Province of Quebec
Things to think about 

Requirements?
More than 130,000 students come to study in Canada every year. This does not include people studying French or English as a second language. Foreign students bring a rich culture to our classrooms. Your knowledge and skills are welcome in our schools.

The provinces regulate schools in Canada. The provinces are also in charge of health care and medical services. Contact the school where you want to study for more information on living and studying in Canada.

You do not need a study permit if you are planning to study in a short-term program in Canada of six months or less.

Think carefully: We encourage you to apply for a study permit before you come to Canada if you are planning to continue on your studies in another program after the short program. Most foreign students will need a permit to study in Canada. Before you come to study in Canada you will need:

• A letter of acceptance from the school of your choice
• Proof that you have enough money to pay school fees and live near the school
• To establish that you will return home at the end of your studies
• To pass a medical exam if needed; and 
• To qualify as a temporary resident in Canada, including a temporary resident visa if needed. 

Medical Exam

You must pass a medical exam, if you

• Come from a country with high health risks or 
• Will be studying or working in a place where protection of public health is essential 
• Police clearance

You may also have to prove to Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) officers that you are a responsible person and that you do not have a criminal record.

Police agencies may do a criminal or security background check. These checks are done on anyone over 18 years of age who applies for a Study Permit.

There is a processing fee to study in Canada. For current rates, contact us to know the fees



What you need before starting?
You will need to decide where you want to study and what courses you need to take before applying. Contact us to out how to choose a school, college or university in Canada.


We will let you know what you need to apply
You should learn about living in Canada before you come to study. Will living in Canada be expensive? Do you need health insurance? Make sure you are prepared before you come.
 
You must be able to support yourself while you are in Canada. You may be able to work while you are studying .


Studying in the Province of Quebec
 If you wish to study in a school in the province of Quebec, you will have to apply for a Certificate d'acceptation du Quebec (Quebec certificate of acceptance, or CAQ). Please note that for students destined for an educational institution in the province of Quebec, obtaining a CAQ is a necessary prerequisite for the issuance of a student authorization. In order to reduce delays, the application process can be started simultaneously by the closest CIC office and Quebec Immigration. Your educational institution will give you all necessary information about the procedures that apply in Quebec. If the Quebec Immigration Service (SIQ) serves the country where you are living, you should apply there for your CAQ. Otherwise, you should apply for your CAQ at the Regional office of the Ministère des Relations avec les citoyens et de l’Immigration (MRCI) that serves your educational institution in Quebec. The Regional office will contact the Canadian Embassy or Consulate nearest you to confirm the approval of the CAQ. 

The following persons who plan to study in Quebec do not require a CAQ:

• Students chosen under a Canadian government assistance program for developing countries;
• Students enrolled in a part-time course of studies;
• Students enrolled in intensive French or English courses for less than three months and at least 20 hours per week; and
• Students enrolled in a general interest course in a private school. 

Things to think about:

School fees
Every post-secondary student in Canada has to pay tuition fees. The fees vary from school to school and from year to year – they can range from $3500-$9500 per year, depending on the course of study. The registrar will help you determine the fees required. 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.

Are you able to support your self?
You must be able to prove you can support yourself and your dependants before a student authorization can be issued. A letter from your bank, a bank draft or a letter from your source of funding will show CIC officials that you can afford to pay your expenses and, if necessary, the expenses of your spouse and dependants, while you are in Canada. These expenses include post-secondary tuition, food, clothing, shelter, books, and transportation, medical insurance, entertainment, personal or family needs and return trips home. The winters in Canada can be cold, so include warm clothing when calculating your living costs. The cost of living in Canada is different from province to province. CIC officials in your country will tell you approximately what it will cost to live in the province where you will be attending school. 

Language
Canada has two official languages: English and French. You will need to know one or the other to follow course lectures and reading assignments. Some post-secondary schools might ask you to take a language test. They may charge a fee for this test, which you will have to pay yourself. Each school sets its language requirements. School registrars can give you information on language requirements.

Health Insurance
Medical, hospital and dental care in Canada might be expensive. As a foreign student, you are not insured for these expenses by the Canadian federal government. The school you attend may provide health insurance for foreign students, but be sure to ask when you are writing for information. If the insurance provided by the school does not meet your needs, you should make your own arrangements before leaving home. 

Certain provinces (British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan) cover foreign students under their health-care plans or offer group insurance to educational institutions. 

Qualifying process
As soon as you have made up your mind on the courses you want to take, officials at the school where you apply will tell you if you qualify. If you are accepted, you will receive a letter of acceptance from the registrar, the school board or the school itself. To be acceptable to CIC officials, the letter should 1- be completed by the educational institution, 2- be the original, not a photocopy, and 3- include the institution's letterhead, full mailing address, telephone and fax numbers and, if available, e-mail and Web site addresses. Some information may not be applicable or may not be known at the time of the application. If the information is not applicable, N/A should be indicated. If the information is not known, N/K should be indicated. Keep this letter to apply for your student authorization at the CIC office abroad and to show to immigration officials when you arrive in Canada.