Quality Education
Canada holds a proud international reputation for
high educational standard. Canadian degree's are internationally
equivalent to degrees from the United States or Commonwealth
countries. To ensure quality standards are met, all academic
programs are subject to periodic review by the institutions that
offer then, and in some provinces, government bodies.
Organizations like the Association of Universities and Colleges of
Canada (AUCC) have rigorous membership
standards that must be met before membership is granted.
Programs to Suit your Needs
Post secondary institutions in Canada offer a wealth of program
types and disciplines. Colleges offer certificates, diplomas,
co-op placements, apprenticeships, and graduate certificate
programs. While universities offer three and four year
Undergraduate Degrees, Master's programs and Doctorate or PhD
programs. Thanks to new trends in education many colleges and
universities are coming together to offer collaborative programs
which offer the combination of hands-on learning that colleges are
known for with the more theoretical approach of university
studies.
Most importantly, each school has a style all its own. You can
choose to study at a large, research-intensive campus in an urban
centre, or if you'd prefer, you can enroll at a small liberal arts
institution with a focus on undergraduate education, or find a
middle ground where you fit best.
Value for your Money
There is no question that studying aboard is a huge financial
undertaking. While it is important to think of your education as an
investment, you should be realistic about how much you can afford
to spend. Did you know that the cost of living in Canada is lower
then countries like Australia, England or the United States?
Toronto is considered the most expensive city in
Canada, yet it is still 25% less per year then life in London,
England. Furthermore, according to the Mercer Cost of
Living report, living in Toronto is less expensive then New
York, Sydney, Los Angeles and Chicago.1
Where you study makes a difference in tuition costs as well.
International students who attend an American Public 4-year college
Undergraduate program will most often pay "out-of-state" tuition
fees, which averaged $15,778 in the 2006/2007 academic year
2. These costs are even higher for anyone who wishes to
attend a Private College. Conversely, all Canadian universities
receive public funding through the provincial governments, which
not only ensures all universities adhere to a code of academic
standards, but allows for lower tuition fees. In the same
2006/2007 academic year, international students who enrolled in
Canadian Undergraduate programs paid an average of
$13,2053 . That's a savings of over $2,000 dollars!
Choose your School; Choose your Language
Canada is a bilingual country speaking both English and French
which gives you an ability to choose your primary language of
instruction. Schools like the University of Western Ontario,
University of British Columbia and St. Fancis Xavier offer
instruction in English. Other schools like College
universitaire de Saint-Boniface, Universite du
Quebec or Universite de Moncton offer
instruction in French. Others still, like the University of
Ottawa, the University of Alberta, and
York University, offer instruction in both French and
English. Many of these schools also offer English as a Second
Language or French as a Second language programs.
A National Respect for Multiculturalism
Canadians are very proud of the diversity in their nation. In
1971, Canada was the first country in the world to adopt
multiculturalism as an official policy. This means Canada
recognizes the potential, value and dignity of all people
regardless of their racial or ethnic origins, their language, or
their religious affiliation.
According to a 2001 census, there are 34 ethnic groups which at
least one hundred-thousand members each, and in 2007 it was found
that allophones (people whose native tongue is neither French nor
English) accounted for one fifth of the country's population 3
4 . What does that mean to you? It means you can be yourself
while feeling no pressure to assimilate to prescribed values.
They've got Technology and They know how to use it
Canada is one of the most connected countries in the world, and
it shows in their education system. All schools have computer labs
on campus, and have embraced technology in the classroom. From
entire classes taught via distance education to using “clickerâ€
technology in classrooms to allow for instant student polling
technology is changing the way students learn, and Canada remains
at the forefront of this trend.
Technology also takes focus outside of the classroom. A number of
Canadian schools participate in worldwide technology challenges,
like the North American Solar Challenge, which is the world's
longest solar car race. In this competition, schools must design
and build cars that are both fully solar powered, and will adhere
to local traffic laws. Currently six Canadian universities are set
to partake in the 2008 challenge which will be taking place in the
summer.
Student Services you can use
Undertaking higher education is not a task to be taken lightly,
and schools truly want to do what they can to help their student's
succeed. That's where student services come in. Although they may
differ in availability from campus to campus the goal remains the
same: provide service and support to ensure the success of students
on campus. Student services range from personal counselling,
health and medical services, to accessible learning services such
as arranging note-takers, or offering study skill building
workshops.
Quality of Life that Can't be Beat
Canada is currently ranked 4th on the United Nations Human
Development Index â€" an annual survey that uses a number of
factors (life expectancy, literacy, education, standard of
living,and GDP per capita) to determine
quality of life.6 They also have the highest ranking
cities in North America - according to the Mercer Human Resource
Consulting Worldwide Quality of Living Survey 2007, which ranks
cities based on safety and stability. Five Canadian Cities ranked
with in the Top 25 cities: Vancouver, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal and
Calgary. Moreover, Calgary took top honours for being the most
sanitary city in the world!6
Living in Canada Means Living it up!
Never forget there's life outside of your campus too, and Canada
has plenty to explore. As the second largest nation in the world
Canada has a lot of outdoor activities to offer in many different
climates. From skiing in fresh powder out in BC, to whale watching
off the coast of Newfoundland, or hiking one of hundreds of trails
in Ontario, there is something to please any outdoor
enthusiast.
Prefer a little culture in your life? With hundreds of art,
music, theatre, food, and drink festivals happening in each
Province and territory you don't have to travel fare to find fun
and adventure waiting for you.
There's a Community Just for you
Education comes from many places, not just the classroom.
Universities and Colleges around the country offer many clubs and
campus activities that will help complete your education
experience. Improve your public speaking by joining the school's
toastmasters society. Learn about Student Government and work to
improve your campus by joining your school's Student Union. Join a
sorority or fraternity and become involved in the proud traditions
of Greek life. Or, find some friends who share your particular love
of early 1920s swing music and start your own campus club!
Ready to find the school that's perfect for you? Use LearnHub's
Canadian
School Finder to match you to a school offering your desired
program.
References and Notes:
- Living in Canada: Cost of Living in Canada, 2006
<http://www.livingin-canada.com/cost-of-living-in-canada.html>
- Sandy Baumm and Jennifer Ma, Trends in College Princing
2007 (Washington: The College Board, 2007)
- Statistics Canada: The Daily, September 1, 2006.
<http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/060901/d060901a.htm>
- Wikipedia: Canada, January 15, 2008.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canada#Demographics>
- Statistics Canada: The Daily, December 4, 2007.
<http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/071204/d071204a.htm>
- Wikipedia: Human Development Index, January 15, 2008.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_Development_Index>
Post Comments