Please, this advice is based on my
Canadian experience. This might apply to some schools in other countries
but I have never tried them. Also, remember that some aspects in each
applicant's requirement could be different. I'm only covering a general
situation.
To begin your application, ensure you really want to do this because it
is a doorway into a totally different part of your life. A friend of
mine once said that getting into Canadian schools can be hard but
becomes easier once you are in (especially if you intend to stay back after you graduate). The degree of hardness here is probably just a mere 3 out of 10 (or less even). Nothing that will stress you enough to look like my friend on the right :).
Please, read till the end. Some factors through this post might change something in your application. If you read this carefully, and the corresponding posts about migrating to Canada, you will not need an agent to do this for you. It is always best to make these applications yourself because you know yourself best and know what you need.
STEP 1 - Timeline
Now, you have made up your mind to study in Canada. Good for you.
Check your school's application deadline and have that in sight before starting your application. This will organize you to for your Visa (Study permit) application deadlines as well. Your Visa application needs your admission letter; you cannot start your Visa application before your program admission.
STEP 2 - Finances
Once you have your timeline in sight, prepare your finances.
Someone I know started this way - gradually saving to have enough living expenses then her father of course started saving in his personal account to have a great Sponsor account.
Why is money important? As an International student, the embassy need to be certain that you have enough funds for the duration of your stay in Canada. Some applicants have been asked to pay all their tuition fees before their VISAs were issued as well so it is wise to be prepared.
Ignoring this step could lead to frustration when your admission into your dream Canadian school is approved and you start running around like a headless chicken to source for funds. Oh! The number of candidates with successful school admissions that did not make it into Canada due to finances (I bet almost 90%).
Who is your Sponsor? This is anyone you indicate on your VISA form that will cover all your finances. If your father can comfortably sponsor you, then focus on your school and VISA application. However, if you are sponsoring yourself, you will need to have your school fees and about $10,000 of living expenses ready. (I will advise that you have more than the expected $10,000 in your account).
Important note about your sponsor - Embassies prefer direct family member sponsor (not uncle's uncle or long lost friend or puppy). The reason behind this obvious. They need to guarantee that your sponsor will not up and leave you once you are in Canada.
STEP 3 - What course do I study?
No one can make this decision for you except you.
However, with the instability in the economy, people advise that you make this decision wisely. I know someone with Biochemistry degree that eventually changed to IT (he got his M.Sc then took some IT courses). He decided Biochemistry might quite limited with respect to job opportunities and sought another option. This is just something for you to consider - ensure you do not just follow the crowd. Make up your mind based on your capabilities while balancing it with both current and future market demands.
Another factor that might be confusing is choosing between a course-based or thesis-based graduate program (the Masters degree is popularly called Graduate degree in North American schools).
Course-based: your typical one-year program. It is an intensive, instructor-taught crash program. You do not need a supervisor for this as you will be taught by several under various courses. From my experience, this program will stress you emotionally, intellectually, physically and otherwise so ensure you are sound. With a course-based program, get your finances ready like I said in the beginning and get your mind ready for school work then commence your application.
Thesis-based: usually research-based, two-year program with few courses taught, intensive research under a supervisor and a level of teaching assistance (TA) expectation from you. You will also need to contact a supervisor in your field of study to see if they need candidates for their research. If you need to know if your Professor is lazy or a mean, dark spirited, horrible soul, check www.ratemyprofessors.com for your Professor to see what students think about him or her.
With this program, you might be paid some stipends, your school fees might be covered under your supervisor's research funding. You see, Professors usually have funding for their research and it also somewhat covers their students and their research (you kind of work for them).
If your funding covers your school fees and some of your living expenses as well, then you will need a copy of your contract with your program supervisor for your VISA application.
All the best.
 |
| The diversity in the pool of International students in Canada Image from the web |
 |
| Image from the web |
Please, read till the end. Some factors through this post might change something in your application. If you read this carefully, and the corresponding posts about migrating to Canada, you will not need an agent to do this for you. It is always best to make these applications yourself because you know yourself best and know what you need.
 |
| A Canadian University. Image from the web |
Now, you have made up your mind to study in Canada. Good for you.
Check your school's application deadline and have that in sight before starting your application. This will organize you to for your Visa (Study permit) application deadlines as well. Your Visa application needs your admission letter; you cannot start your Visa application before your program admission.
STEP 2 - Finances
Once you have your timeline in sight, prepare your finances.
Someone I know started this way - gradually saving to have enough living expenses then her father of course started saving in his personal account to have a great Sponsor account.
Why is money important? As an International student, the embassy need to be certain that you have enough funds for the duration of your stay in Canada. Some applicants have been asked to pay all their tuition fees before their VISAs were issued as well so it is wise to be prepared.
Ignoring this step could lead to frustration when your admission into your dream Canadian school is approved and you start running around like a headless chicken to source for funds. Oh! The number of candidates with successful school admissions that did not make it into Canada due to finances (I bet almost 90%).
Who is your Sponsor? This is anyone you indicate on your VISA form that will cover all your finances. If your father can comfortably sponsor you, then focus on your school and VISA application. However, if you are sponsoring yourself, you will need to have your school fees and about $10,000 of living expenses ready. (I will advise that you have more than the expected $10,000 in your account).
Important note about your sponsor - Embassies prefer direct family member sponsor (not uncle's uncle or long lost friend or puppy). The reason behind this obvious. They need to guarantee that your sponsor will not up and leave you once you are in Canada.
 |
| I welcome you to Canada with our flag |
No one can make this decision for you except you.
However, with the instability in the economy, people advise that you make this decision wisely. I know someone with Biochemistry degree that eventually changed to IT (he got his M.Sc then took some IT courses). He decided Biochemistry might quite limited with respect to job opportunities and sought another option. This is just something for you to consider - ensure you do not just follow the crowd. Make up your mind based on your capabilities while balancing it with both current and future market demands.
Another factor that might be confusing is choosing between a course-based or thesis-based graduate program (the Masters degree is popularly called Graduate degree in North American schools).
Course-based: your typical one-year program. It is an intensive, instructor-taught crash program. You do not need a supervisor for this as you will be taught by several under various courses. From my experience, this program will stress you emotionally, intellectually, physically and otherwise so ensure you are sound. With a course-based program, get your finances ready like I said in the beginning and get your mind ready for school work then commence your application.
Thesis-based: usually research-based, two-year program with few courses taught, intensive research under a supervisor and a level of teaching assistance (TA) expectation from you. You will also need to contact a supervisor in your field of study to see if they need candidates for their research. If you need to know if your Professor is lazy or a mean, dark spirited, horrible soul, check www.ratemyprofessors.com for your Professor to see what students think about him or her.
With this program, you might be paid some stipends, your school fees might be covered under your supervisor's research funding. You see, Professors usually have funding for their research and it also somewhat covers their students and their research (you kind of work for them).
If your funding covers your school fees and some of your living expenses as well, then you will need a copy of your contract with your program supervisor for your VISA application.
All the best.
(Expect another post; Applying for schools in Canada - Part 2)
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